close menu

Die Antwoord’s “Ugly Boy” Video Features Jack Black, Flea, and Marilyn Manson

If you are not already familiar with Die Antwoord, the fascinating and controversial South African rap-rave group, then this video, for the track “Ugly Boy” off their latest studio album Donker Mag, may be a bit shocking. Heck, even if you are familiar with Die Antwoord, this video may be a bit shocking. In addition to the blood and viscera, fetishized body modding, and aggressively creepy staging to which we’ve grown accustomed, this latest installment from the zef-culture poster-children (made up of rappers Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, and backed by DJ Hi-Tek) is additionally shocking for its stupefying rolodex of celebrity cameos.

Among the featured guests of the Ninja-directed “Ugly Boy” are Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack Black in crazy face-scar makeup, Aphex Twin (whose “Ageispolis” is the main sample here), the ATL Twins, Marilyn Manson, as well as Manson’s ex-wife Dita Von Teese and model Cara Delevingne (neither of whom are ugly, nor boys). The inclusion of such familiar faces in their video suggests Die Antwoord’s forceful and self-congratulatory push into mainstream acceptance, without having to compromise their distinctly counter-culture aesthetics. That being said, “Ugly Boy” is also a smoother, more accessible, pop-leaning track than much of their earlier work.

This video debuted out the same day as the trailer for director Neill Blomkamp’s robo-adventure film Chappie, in which both Ninja and Yo-Landi co-star as criminals who kidnap, and then help raise, a thinking, feeling robot. Basically, it’s like Short Circuit, but with a South African grittiness. Check out the trailer on EW.

One last, fun, little anecdote about Die Antwoord: our very own Dan Casey tells me he once was at a restaurant where Ninja and Yo-Landi were dining with a large group at the next table over. They encouraged all the kids at the table to make musical noises and lay down a beat, and then Ninja began some G-rated freestyle rapping over it to the delight of all. Anyone know if they’re available for birthday parties?

Image: Die Antwoord

The Mysterious Medical Condition That Gives People Dragon Faces

The Mysterious Medical Condition That Gives People Dragon Faces

article
Hundreds of Real Doctors Have Famous Fictional Doctor Names

Hundreds of Real Doctors Have Famous Fictional Doctor Names

article
What is Wrong with MAD MAX’s War Boys?

What is Wrong with MAD MAX’s War Boys?

article

Comments

  1. YULU says:

    Everything in the video analyzed…except the blackface. 

    • Matty says:

      Oh fuck off, just because it’s considered ‘racist’ in the US doesn’t make it racist everywhere.
      What about the 2 Black girls with White face, not gonna mention them?  No, of course not…cunt.

  2. Whitney says:

    Dita von tease is in it beacuse she loved an ugly boy! (Marilyn) 

  3. Orionsangel says:

    Wow, Die Antwoord are becoming more famous! Good for them! \m/