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Rapper M.I.A. sneaks past the censorsDespite her time on the US homeland security watch list, rapper M.I.A. (nee Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) has a new album out in the States today, and it's just the way she wants it.
"Progression for me wasn't about going through the shine machine and coming out with more lipgloss," M.I.A. says of her journey to make Kala (Interscope), in a recent Guardian story. There was plenty of temptation along the way, with folks like Timbaland advising her on how to be "huge" and Three 6 Mafia suggesting she sing about sex, but the stubborn star wants none of it. Instead, she outspokenly declares that she doesn't care about the charts or the fame and instead wants to be a "useful human being."
M.I.A. started stirring up controversy and good buzz a couple of years ago, with mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism and the full-length Arular. One of the singles off of that album, "Sunshowers," exemplifies M.I.A.'s unique mash-up of danceable beats and attitude — the line "Like PLO I don't surrendo" got the video banned from MTV's rotation, but the music is irresistible. M.I.A. has quite the history: She, her mother and her siblings scraped by first in war-torn Sri Lanka, where her father's role in the Tamil Tigers put them in particular danger, and later in London, where the family fled (father-free) when M.I.A. was ten. Although she started out as a visual artist, spending time at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and earning accolades for her graffiti-inspired work, music is now M.I.A.'s focus — and good thing, because if what the reviewers are saying is true, Kala is every bit as powerful, and perhaps slightly more polished, than Arular.
In defiance of online leaks, I haven't heard the full album, only the already-released "Boyz" and "Bird Flu." Take a look at the video for the former; I know, an ironic video to post on this site, but tell me you can stop your feet from moving — and then tell me what you think about it's statement on the origins of war. M.I.A.'s next few dates are in Europe, and she'll be in North America by September. Anyone out there seen her live shows and able to tell us why we should drop everything and go? Submitted by on August 21, 2007 - 12:51pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
MIA
she's incredible
she's an quite an interesting person, music aside, from everything i've read. an inspiring musician doing things in a genre that needs this kind of originality and meaningful self-expression.
thanks for the article!
///atxxx///
Finally
MIA
So excited!
I absolutely loved M.I.A.'s last album and am so excited to hear the she has another one!
One that is weird though is considering how it seems like she does not care about money or fame that she would allow her hit song "Galang" to be used in tv ads... maybe it was her record company's choice?
What are you suggesting? That she does it for free
One that is weird though is considering how it seems like she does not care about money or fame that she would allow her hit song "Galang" to be used in tv ads... maybe it was her record company's choice?
She might doesn't want to top the selling charts, but that doesn't mean she don't wont to make a living on her music
re: galang ad
i ain't gonna begrudge girl comin' from a war torn country her dues. she sticks to her guns and doesn't pull punches, plus she makes some of the most badass music i have heard in years.
as a musician myself, however poor i may be, i am privileged to live in the US, where i have the luxury to say that i wouldn't let my music be heard in a commercial. but my stance comes from a privilege that i acknowledge, and i cannot ask anyone to live by my rules when i don't know where they are comin' from...
"Useful Human Being"
What ads was it used in?
Not to agree or disagree but I guess you can say it spreads the word. Having her music used gets her message heard.
(oh god, so sorry didn't mean for that to rhyme.)
Can't wait! Thanks for the heads up - this is definitely a buyer!
The girl's got something to
I Love M.I.A!! I saw her
As someone who's also done more than her share...
+1 for intelligent music
As part of the generation that spawned and embraced vapid and almost always forgettable pop acts, I'm so excited that M.I.A. is at least moderately successful because she is one of the few musical artists from my generation who is socially and politically conscious, something that translates into her original and inspiring lyrics. It's incredibly refreshing to hear.
And, oh yeah, her music is seriously awesome, too. :)
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
Kala!
I've liked M.I.A. since I heard "Bucky Done Gun" for the first time a few years ago, but I didn't really fall in love with her until I was reading about some of the crap she's dealt with in the industry--not just from the ramifications of her politically-charged lyrics, but also because of how little credit she's actually gotten over her own work on Arular. Here's what she told Pitchfork earlier this month:
If you're a fan, I definitely recommend checking out that interview--she pretty much hands the interviewer his hat.
As for the album, I've got to say...I love it. She worked with a broader range of producers on Kala than she did on her debut, so the sound varies from song to song. Both her albums are like sonicly-led trips around the world--on Kala, you go from India to Sri Lanka to Liberia to London to Rome to Baltimore. It's unbelievable. I think it's better than Arular and maybe a bit more accessible to a wider audience, but I'm sure I'm in the minority on that.
I know MIA didn't want to go the Nelly Furtado route and do an entire album with Timbaland, but I can't listen to "Come Around" without imagining the possibilities. Dope!
"A
black manlesbian voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders." - Buddy WattsM.I.A. is...
...amazing. In a word. Her music is just so powerful and she's just brilliant. Sunshowers has been one of my favourite songs for ages.
She's playing Get Loaded in London this year - to be honest, I got a ticket just to see her, but won't be in town in the end. She's so definitely worth making the effort to go see though - I've never seen her live sadly, but her music's so forceful that I'd imagine she'd be much the same to watch in concert. The fact that she's stunning and obviously so creative doesn't hurt either, and I'm sure she's amazing to watch on stage. Especially if her videos are anything to go by!
I was Wondering...
MIA & Boyz
Hypnotic song...and sneaky message! Boys and war...yeah.
Discovered her sometime last year...was totally gobsmacked by her videos, which has so much of her art school influences, AND her Sri Lankan cultural heritage . Its original and in your face. LOVE IT.
Whoa! She is one pissed off artist in the Pitchfork interview. Thanks for posting Pecola. Then I read this other article in Telegraph (conservative UK paper), and I realise what she has to put up with re misrepresentation of her and her work. The title of the article says it all: The New World Music is about Partying, not Politics. @#$%^&
They're really trying to defang the bite and edgyness of her music. And the article was full of snide condescending put downs. Aghhh. Well, MIA, your fans like your stance and your music. Don't compromise. You go girl!
"You would think we would welcome a genuine dissident." Huh, Blasianbeatnik..? Maybe people would, but not the music industry. They've not been interested in dissent since the 60's. Look what happened to Sinead O'Connor in the 90's, and Dixie Chicks a few years ago! And even Lily Allen is having to respond to her anti-Bush remarks recently.
Missing In Action
i love m.i.a. i cant get enough of her new songs, i havent bought the album yet but i sure will...so far paper planes and jimmy are my favorite tracks from KALA...cant wait to see her in austin next month!