A few weeks after South African band Die Antwoord released videos for “ZefSide” and “Enter the Ninja” (video embedded below), NYMag.com interviewed the band about their rapid viral success.
Die Antwoord consists of lead rapper Ninja, female singer Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek. Ninja was formerly known as Waddy Jones but changed his name to Ninja because “it’s more me. I’m a rapper,” he says. “When I was a boy, I wanted to be a Ninja. Now I am a man, now I am a Ninja.”
Leon Botha is featured in their music videos and is a victim of progeria, a disease that causes rapid aging at a young age with a life-expectancy of about 13 years. Ninja says that “Leon is a good friend of ours… [and] also a Jedi mind-f— scratch D.J.” He performs as D.J. Solarize and often opens for the band.