M.I.A.

May
10
M.I.A. Remixes ‘Bad Girls’ with Missy Elliott, Azealia Banks, and Rye Rye

M.I.A.

M.I.A. can do bad all by herself, but she’s taking it to another level with the remix to her single “Bad Girls” featuring a few fierce femcees.

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May
8
M.I.A. Designs Beck’s Beer Bottle Label, Talks New Album ‘Matangi’

M.I.A.

M.I.A. has been in the headlines for her Super Bowl stunt and controversial comments, but she’s turning the spotlight back on her art by designing a limited edition label for Beck’s Beer.

“I guess I’m most known for creating a lot of controversy,” said the “Bad Girls” rapper. “But I don’t want to be defined by that. I’m here to shift it back to the art.”

While she admits to not being much of a beer drinker, the “Live Beyond Labels” collaboration just made sense. “I was inspired by some sort of new, something abstract. A new beginning,” she told SPIN. “It was important to go there and start fresh, just letting go of everything. You get attached to what you were inspired by before and finding inspiration in what it is.”

The 36-year-old is putting the finishing touches on Matangi, the follow-up to her 2010 album /\/\/\Y/\. “I’ve been working on the songs by myself for awhile, and towards the end I got [producer] Switch to sort of bring it together and contribute new songs for it as well,” she said. “But I’m trying to work with tons of people, I don’t really wanna say any names because I haven’t actually chosen what songs are going on it yet.”

M.I.A.’s Beck’s label will be available this summer as one of six limited edition bottles created by artists from around the world.

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Apr
29
New Music: M.I.A. – ‘Come Walk With Me’

Come Walk With Me

M.I.A. is shaking things up with her bouncy new song “Come Walk With Me,” which she posted on YouTube. The pop rebel is eyeing a summer release for the follow-up to 2010’s /\/\/\Y/\, which may be titled Matangi. Preview the song and the dance that goes along with it below.

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Apr
17
New Music: Busta Rhymes f/ M.I.A. – ‘Bad Girls (Remix)’

Busta Rhymes and M.I.A.

Busta Rhymes lives fast and raps even faster on his unofficial remix to M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls.” “Ya’ll ni**as know who be the waviest/ Fuck ya’ll ni**as up again just like Giants did the Patriots,” barks the Cash Money rapper over the rattling Danja production. Listen to Busta bust out some new bars below.

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Mar
19
Behind the Video: M.I.A.- ‘Bad Girls’

M.I.A.

M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls” video earned praise from everyone from Rihanna to Tyler, the Creator upon its release last month. Now the pop rebel takes us behind the scenes of the brilliant clip, shot in Ouarzazate, Morocco. Director Romain Gavras drew inspiration for the high-speed scenes by watching YouTube videos of Saudis drifting on two wheels.

“Maya and I have had this video concept in mind for a while since we’ve worked on ‘Born Free,’” said Gavras. “We stumbled upon these videos on YouTube. We were mesmerized.”

M.I.A. added, “It was like the coolest shit I had ever seen.”

“The idea was to compile Arabic references—fantasized or not—into a pop video,” explained Gavras. “Pop videos usually show American kids in their element. Here you got Arab kids in an insane car rodeo element.”

The documentary-style clip includes commentary from the stunt car drivers, crew, and local residents who were on set.

Gavras acknowledges that it will be hard to top himself. “It will be hard to make something as grandiose as this. Next video needs to be shot on the moon.”

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Mar
16
M.I.A. to Release Autobiography in October

M.I.A. Book

M.I.A. is making her mark in the literary world with a new book. The “Paper Planes” hitmaker will release an autobiographical monograph this fall.

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Feb
10
Madonna Slams M.I.A. for Super Bowl Stunt, M.I.A. Apologizes

Nicki Minaj, Madonna, and M.I.A.

M.I.A. caused an uproar with her controversial finger-flipping moment during Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show. But not only did she offend some viewers, she also angered the pop queen.

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Feb
6
New Music: Madonna f/ Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. – ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ (LMFAO Remix)’

LMFAO and Madonna

Fresh off party rocking with Madonna at the Super Bowl halftime show, LMFAO remix the pop queen’s new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. The animated duo of Redfoo and SkyBlu turn the bubblegum pop confection into a rave-ready record, tacking on their own rap verses that will have you fist pumping all night long.

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