image source metalbox.co.za

Die Antwoord hit the internet like a nuclear bomb, the energetic South African group (parody?) has been making a huge splash with their eclectic videos, being most recently featured on Attack of the Show. There is more than just the surface appeal to Die Antwoord though, they bring a whole new flavor to rap that is catching people’s ears across the globe. Group DJ Hi-Tek brings some seriously catchy and dance based beats to their music giving it a well produced sound that matches well with their schizophrenic mix of styles and influences. Waddy Jones (aka. Ninja) is an impressive and lyrically accomplished MC, able to lay down some aggressive, tight, and often endearingly self aggrandizing lyrics with a style that may seem silly at times, but always lead one to believe that there may be more parody and commentary going on than you first realize. He seems to walk the line between GZA and GG Allin at any given moment.

Keep an eye on their style as well, Yo-Landi Vi$$er may be slated to become the Fergie of the alt scene, like a punk/sexy Lady Sovereign possessing a deconstructed and often thrift store chic style mixed with some interesting twists that very well may get quickly picked up by those in the know looking for something different (I guarantee that her hair style, my current coif obsession, is an early precursor to some styles I am already starting to see make it into the zeitgeist, I cannot wait to see some more runway shows and editorials rocking a look like that).

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A fun, grimy, and dark video for Ascii.Disko. I will now be obsessed with thoughts of a latex clad fox woman stalking me through dark tunnels in some sort of post-rapture Japanese reality television show. There is something about this track combined with the visuals that’s quite disorienting, like a Fukui or Tsukomoto film scored by Vitalic. In many ways Ascii.Disko’s video does share a common flavor with Japanese cyberpunk films, especially with something like Fukui’s Rubbers Lover, albeit with a slicker and more modern visual style.

- Luke

Julian Casablancas of The Strokes solo project has been a bit of a guilty pleasure for me as of late.  It’s the kind of fun, smart, and well informed pop rock that, while prevalent in the musical landscape right now is rarely done this well.  But he locked my admiration with the video for “11th Hour”, the first single from his solo album.  A mish mash of eclectic imagery; electric 80s neon lightening juxtaposed with Adam Antesque imagery of Julian in highwayman garb and a healthy dose of post apocalyptic sci-fi pirate radio.  Casablancas’ voice is perfectly suited to this style of music, and while not as raw as the garage inspired sounds of earlier Strokes material, I find myself liking his solo outings and non-Strokes collaborations more and more.

- Luke