Die Antwoord - Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid

Die Antwoord
Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid
2016
Google Play

Die Antwoord as a lasting presence in the hip hop game has always been a bit of a laughable proposition. The South African duo have always asserted that their personas are not interested in just creating "art-rap" but as Ninja said in a recent interview "We are here to rip the rap game a new asshole". Sure these kinds of platitudes spill out of rappers' mouth all the time but few people have been able to cultivate a persona quite as well as Die Antwoord have. However on this new album Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid we are starting to see some of the cracks in the facade. On "Shit Just Got Real" featuring Sen Dog from Cypress Hill, Ninja sounds so incredibly under prepared to be rapping with Sen Dog it is incredible. The song takes whatever credibility as gangsters the duo had and smashes it to pieces right before your very eyes. "Gucci Coochie" which features burlesque icon Dita Von Teese speak singing the hook is so overtly offensive to women it's shocking either would want to be a part of it. Die Antwoord have always railed against PC culture but it was done with satire and always a wink to the audience that they understood what they were doing. This album however the jokes aren't as funny anymore, and the weak bars over heavily EDM influenced tracks just don't work anymore.

One of the signs that Die Antwoord may have jumped the shark is their downtempo choices on Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid. The most successful piece to their music is pure energy thrown right into your face. This album however lets us take a longer look at them and their style doesn't hold up to that kind of scrutiny. To cal Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid sophomoric would be the understatement of the year. "Wing on My Penis" and "Do U Like Boobies?" feature Tommy Terror and might as well be idiot 6th graders talking in the halls. It's not witty, it's not cutting it is just stupid. "Rats Rule" which features Jack Black is some version of a dark sided kids song that makes both artists look silly. "Stoopid Rich" is one highlight despite it being a slowed down trap journey for Ninja. It is easy to be shocking and mesmerizing when you are new, but eventually if you keep doing the same thing people are going to catch on. That is what seems to have happened to Die Antwoord on this record, their own style got in their own way and the results were boring, childish and uninspired. The hardcore fans might still remain but I highly doubt Die Antwoord converts will be coming anytime soon.

5.2 out of 10