M.I.A. covers theme song from The Wire
M.I.A.'s latest music video, a low-budget collaboration with Blaqstarr, begins with the Genesis-inspired lyrics of Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole." The first shot, all in black and white, is a close-up of Blaqstarr's face. He sings, "When you walk through the garden / you gotta watch your back / ...If you walk with Jesus / he's gonna save your soul / but you gotta keep the devil / way down in the hole." The image monopolizes the screen until a crack of thunder shifts the focus to M.I.A. (her femininity emphasized in repeated, simultaneous close-ups of her lips--pictured... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsM.I.A. officially retires
Music lovers the blogosphere over have been nervously refreshing sites ever since M.I.A's startling retirement announcement at Bonnaroo. In terms of the stages of grief, we may need to bulldoze right on through to acceptance and pour a 40 out, because she has indeed confirmed that she's bowing out of the music game. That this comes right on the heels of a resurgence in interest in "Paper Planes" thanks to Pineapple Express seems somehow less-than-coincidental. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsM.I.A. fires back at DeLon for terrorism diss
Breaking updates in M.I.A-gate: the British hip-hop star born Mathangi Arulpragasam has responded to Sri Lankan rapper DeLon's accusations that she's embracing terrorist imagery: "I don't support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion."... read more
Found in: Music, NewsM.I.A. accused of terrorist imagery, Interscope sued
If Sri Lankan hip-hop maven DeLon is to be believed, M.I.A. might not have been kidding when she said... read more
Found in: Culture, News2008 Mercury Prize nominees announced
[Above: Perennial nominee Alex Turner (here representing the 2006-winning, 2007-nominated Arctic Monkeys) accepts a Mercury. His project The Last Shadow Puppets is up for nomination this year.]For many award events, the fervency of surrounding discussion seems as influential as the actual bestowing of accolades. The Mercury Prize, given to the best album by a British or Irish artist made in the previous year, is no exception. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsM.I.A. stops touring, maybe forever
Did you hear the one about the blogosphere that cried retirement? There was this creative artist, see, who canceled her European tour by announcing her last show at McCarren Pool and then went to Bonnaroo, anyway. In Tennessee, more rumor-fodder for the HTML-happy: She proclaimed that her last show for a while—or maybe ever. "I’m glad I’m spending it with all my hippies," she exclaimed.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsBonnaroo 2008 - Day 2
Photos by Rob Inderrieden... read more
Found in: Blogs, 1000 WordsM.I.A. cancels European dates
M.I.A. will literally be missing in action (sorry, we couldn't help it) from Europe this summer after recently canceling her June and July tour dates. She sparked cancellation rumors... read more
Found in: Music, News
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