Die Antwoord release 2nd album Ten$ion

Die Antwoord’s debut album $0$ was billed as rap-rave and heralded with a covert guerrilla campaign of online promotion. When debut single Enter the Ninja went viral, garnering millions of views within months, the future looked rosy for the South African band. 

But Die Antwoord’s newest offering, Ten$ion, suggests they may have somewhat lost their mojo. Whilst there are still elements of fun in songs like Hey Fatty Boom Boom and Fok Julle Naaiers, which features the immortal line, “I’m Zef like a young Hugh Hef”, the whole album lacks the brilliance of the first. $0$ was clever and enticing, but Ten$ion is too commercial and shocking for the sake of being shocking. 

With their shaved heads andhome-drawn tattoos peppered liberally over their body, bothsinger Ninja and his female counterpart, Yo-landi Vi$$er, have the capacity to change the South African music scene. Yet this album lacks the energy and freshness which characterised the first and created the Die Antwood sensation.