# Evil Boy

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Boy
> Source revision: 1353218453
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use South African English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Evil Boy
| cover      = Die Antwoord Evil Boy cover artwork.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [Die Antwoord](/source/Die_Antwoord) featuring Wanga
| album      = [$O$](/source/%24O%24)
| released   = 8 October 2010
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [Hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music), [rave](/source/Rave_music)
| length     = 4:32<br>4:56 (F**k You In The Face Mix)
| label      = [Interscope](/source/Interscope_Records)
| writer     = Tony Cottrell, [Watkin Tudor Jones](/source/Watkin_Tudor_Jones), [Justin De Nobrega](/source/Justin_De_Nobrega), Hugo Passaquin, [Thomas Wesley Pentz](/source/Diplo_(DJ)) (Diplo), [Yolandi Visser](/source/Yolandi_Visser)
| producer   = Diplo
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  = 
}}
"'''Evil Boy'''" is a song by South African hip hop group [Die Antwoord](/source/Die_Antwoord) featuring rapper Wanga. It was written by Tony Cottrell, [Watkin Tudor Jones](/source/Watkin_Tudor_Jones) (Ninja), [Justin De Nobrega](/source/Justin_De_Nobrega), Hugo Passaquin, [Thomas Wesley Pentz](/source/Diplo_(DJ)) (Diplo), and [Yolandi Visser](/source/Yolandi_Visser),<ref>{{cite web|title=Evil Boy (Legal Title)|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=13393838&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118152522/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=13393838&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2013|publisher=[Broadcast Music, Inc.](/source/Broadcast_Music%2C_Inc.)|accessdate=4 October 2012}}</ref> and was produced by Diplo. It was released by [Interscope Records](/source/Interscope_Records) and it serves as the final single from their album ''[$O$](/source/%24O%24)''.

An extended version of the song titled "Evil Boy (F**k You In The Face Mix)" was [digitally](/source/Music_download) released as a single on 8 October 2010 in certain countries.<ref name="AUitunes">{{cite web|title=Evil Boy (Fuck You In the Face Mix)|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/evil-boy-f**k-you-in-face/id397420375|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710051111/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/evil-boy-f**k-you-in-face/id397420375|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2014|publisher=[iTunes Store](/source/iTunes_Store)|accessdate=4 October 2012|date=8 October 2010}}</ref>

== Background ==
[Diplo](/source/Diplo_(DJ)), who took an interest to [Yo-Landi Vi$$er](/source/Yolandi_Visser), contacted the group before sending them a beat which [Ninja](/source/Watkin_Tudor_Jones) enjoyed, eventually collaborating on "Evil Boy".<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web|last=Dombal|first=Ryan|title=Director's Cut: Die Antwoord: "Evil Boy"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/40540-directors-cut-die-antwoord-evil-boy/|publisher=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_Media)|accessdate=4 October 2012|date=29 October 2010}}</ref>

== Lyrical content ==
{{Listen
| filename    = Die Antwoord Evil Boy sample.ogg
| title       = "Evil Boy"
| description = A 30-second sample of "Evil Boy" featuring Wanga's chorus and Yolandi's rap verse.
| pos         = left
}}
The lyrics of the song discuss tribal [circumcision](/source/circumcision). In an interview, Ninja described a particular ritual for males over 19 that involved having "your penis chopped up with a kitchen knife. No disinfectants; no pain killers."

{{Quote|We've known Wanga since he was a street kid. He lives in this house in Cape Town and squats on a farm. This year, Wanga was supposed to go to one of these rituals because he wasn't circumcised. We thought maybe he just shouldn't go because 60 kids fucking died this year because their penises didn't work properly afterward and shit. So I asked him what would happen if he didn't go to the bush, and he said that he wouldn't be a man and he wouldn't be able to speak to the other men. So I asked him why he was speaking to me and he said, "Because you're cool, Ninja." Then he looked at my tattoo and said he wanted to be "Evil Boy for life."|Ninja<ref name="pitchfork"/>}}

== Critical reception ==
''[Complex](/source/Complex_(magazine))'' complimented Diplo's "creeping synth hook that captures the group's silliness without turning them into a joke" and included the song on a list of Diplo's best productions.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=20. Die Antwoord "Evil Boy" (2010) — The 20 Best Diplo Productions|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/06/the-20-best-diplo-productions/20-die-antwoord-evil-boy-2010|magazine=[Complex](/source/Complex_(magazine))|date=13 June 2012|accessdate=4 October 2012}}</ref>

A.R. Rowe of [MTV](/source/MTV) wrote "No '[We Are the World](/source/We_Are_the_World)' tracks for Die Antwoord. No [Bono](/source/Bono) charities. These guys are taking some of the most unaddressed, difficult issues in the world, and sticking them right in your face without apology."<ref>{{cite web|last=Rowe|first=A.R.|title=Die Antwoord's Crazy Video For "Evil Boy": A Statement On Forced Male Circumsicion?|url=http://www.mtviggy.com/blog-posts/die-antwoords-crazy-video-for-evil-boy-a-statement-on-forced-male-circumsicion/|publisher=[MTV](/source/MTV)|accessdate=4 October 2012|date=7 October 2010}}</ref>

== Music video ==
The music video was directed by Ninja and Rob Malpage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Evil Boy|url=https://vimeo.com/17607134|publisher=[Vimeo](/source/Vimeo)|accessdate=4 October 2012|author=Die Antwoord|date=8 December 2010}}</ref> It contains major influence from [South Africa](/source/South_Africa)n culture, sexuality, as well as mythology, such as the [Tokoloshe](/source/Tokoloshe). It features a [cameo](/source/Cameo_appearance) by producer Diplo.<ref name="pitchfork"/>

=== Reception ===
Craig Hlavaty of the ''[Houston Press](/source/Houston_Press)'' said the video makes "[Lady Gaga](/source/Lady_Gaga) seem like [Celine Dion](/source/Celine_Dion)" and warned "If you don't like random erections, wooden erections, talking breasts, breasts with no nipples, words that aren't English, mud, grime, gold lame pants, clean and strong peni, machetes, more erections, jackets made of rats, monsters with erections, questionable facial hair, and prostitution, don't watch this video."<ref>{{cite news|last=Hlavaty|first=Craig|title=Die Antwoord's "Evil Boy": More Disturbing Than Gaga?|url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2010/10/die_antwoords_evil_boy_more_di.php|newspaper=[Houston Press](/source/Houston_Press)|date=7 October 2010|accessdate=4 October 2012}}</ref>

As of March 2019, the video has over thirty million views on [YouTube](/source/YouTube).<ref>{{cite web|title=Die Antwoord - Evil Boy (Explicit Version)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbW9JqM7vho|publisher=[YouTube](/source/YouTube)|accessdate=23 March 2019|author=Vevo|author-link=Vevo|date=11 October 2010}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
;Digital download
#"Evil Boy (F**k You In the Face Mix)" &ndash; 4:56<ref name="AUitunes"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{YouTube|KbW9JqM7vho|"Evil Boy" music video}}

{{Die Antwoord}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2010 singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Diplo
Category:2009 songs
Category:Songs written by Diplo
Category:Interscope Records singles
Category:Songs written by Hi-Tek
Category:Die Antwoord songs

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Evil Boy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Boy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Boy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
