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M.I.A.- Kala |
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Written by Rafael Acero
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Tuesday, 15 January 2008 |
 The “alternative” genre can be broken down into so many categories that sometimes we overlook all of them and focus on the “indie” or on the rock and electronica tingued bands and artists. There’s a small group of artists out there that fit extremely well in the alternative music community. One of these artists is the Sri Lankan Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., whose work often features a range of elements of genres including grime, hip-hop, raga, dancehall, as well as electro.
Since the release of her debut album “Arular” in 2004, M.I.A. has turned heads her way because of her minimalist production, heavy beats, political lyrics and for simply speaking her mind without giving a rat’s ass. Her talent and hard work opened many doors and thanks to her stage presence, M.I.A. landed a spot in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Glastonbury Festival, among other big-time venues and festivals.
For her sophomore album M.I.A. was scheduled to record several tracks with Timbaland. Thanks to some immigrations problems (she supposedly had the profile of a terrorist), those plans where scratched out of the agenda and she traveled the world instead- India, Africa, Trinidad and the Caribbean. She didn’t escape the Timbaland bug though and ended up with the snoozer “Come Around”.
Inspired by the natives of the countries she visited, M.I.A. presents a world wide booty shaking album. Many identify “Kala” as a hip-hop album, and although it has a hip-hop feel to it, it has a rawness, international appeal, and political critic that makes it appealing even to those that can’t tolerate hip-hop.
She even sticks it up to Uncle Sam on “Paper Planes” where tells immigration and Uncle Sam to leave her alone, she’s just a bonafide hustler that’s making her name. It seems like “Paper Planes” has the wittiest, catchiest chorus out there- gun shots and cashier register sound effects included: “All I wanna do is [bang, bang, bang] and [ca-ching] take your money”. M.I.A. does a fine job representing the third world democracies out there.
Must [legally] download songs: Bamboo Banga, Bird Flu, Boyz, 20 Dollar, XR2, Paper Planes.
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Rafael Acero |
| Acerca del Autor: |
| Hi, my name is Rafael Alejandro Acero Hernandez, and I'm an alcoholic. I don't drink beer. I'm addicted to chocolate. I'm a bit bipolar and every once in a while obsessive/ compulsive. I have a really short attention span. I don't believe in labels, I'm not defined by what I do or by who I do- for that matter. I'm a writer, an actor, a dancer, BUT nothing is better than being a professional a$$hole. Soy un chilango incomprendido, y como tal- valemadrista a morir. | |
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