Die Antwoord hypnotize the Tabernacle

On March 25, South Africa's favorite rave-rap trio Die Antwoord brought its gritty, singularly bizarro world to the Tabernacle. It's been five years since Die Antwoord (Afrikaans for "the Answer") exploded onto the Internet based on the strength of its grim-yet-goofy videos. At first, it seemed the trio would blow up and soon be replaced by the next viral sensation. Yet here we are, five years later, and Die Antwoord is three albums deep into its career. And if the sold-out, absolutely ballistic crowd at the Tabernacle is any indication, these viral wunderweirdos have a long life ahead of them.

Die Antwoord's stage setup is barebones, but the trio transforms it into an arena-ready blowout. A large platform with steps on either side covers the stage, adorned with many of the demented squiggly drawings seen throughout the "Enter the Ninja" video. A large screen creates the backdrop where many of the songs' iconic videos are played in tandem with the songs. After waiting for an hour or so, the crowd freaks out when the shirtless, super-muscular DJ Hi-Tek emerges onto the stage.

Hi-Tek is a natural hype man. He gives the crowd what they want. Unfortunately, what the crowd wants kind of sucks. He starts with an ear-piercing sample of "DJ Hi-Tek is gonna fokk you in the ass," played ad nauseam until the crowd hits a fever pitch. It's not the profanity that's annoying, it's that his use of it is somehow seen as edgy or unique when it's just juvenile and uninspired. Thankfully, Die Antwoord's superstars Yolandi and Ninja hit the stage and the real show begins.

From the first high-pitched squeal of Yolandi's rap, it's clear why people still care about Die Antwoord. The energy is impossible to ignore. Ninja and Yolandi's chemistry is unmatched, evoking the electricity of classic hip-hop duos such as El-P and Killer Mike, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, and Mos Def and Talib Kweli. They prowl the stage commanding the mic with ferocity and spontaneity.

Their set covered the hits: "Fatty Boom Boom's" tribal pulse, "I Fink U Freaky's" techno firestorm, and "Cookie Thumper's" club-crushing chorus were all there. Yet, in the midst of a full set of Die Antwoord songs, it's clear just how much filler populates the group's discography. But Yolandi and Ninja's enduring energy carried even the most lackluster numbers.

Aside from the insanity of their aesthetic, Yolandi and Ninja are fantastic rappers. It is difficult to fully grasp the light-speed complexity of their verses until witnessing them flawlessly spat out live. And as many DJs, rappers, and musicians are wont to do on an Atlanta stop, they gave ample shout-outs to the trap. Ninja gave at least two impassioned speeches proclaiming, "Y'all bring the music we respect right now!" Considering the similarities between Die Antwoord's homeland of Johannesburg ghettos and Atlanta's trap breeding grounds, his shout-out rang with sincerity.

The raw power of Die Antwoord's performance revealed a truth that's decidedly not weird at all. The show won't make any converts of those who never believed in the group from the beginning. But at its core, Die Antwoord is sturdy and consistent. Given the incredible levels of showmanship Yolandi and Ninja used to hypnotize the Tabernacle crowd, consistent is the best thing they can be.