M.I.A. “On the Verge” of Leaking Her Newest Album
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
This morning, British rapper and recording artist M.I.A. once again tweeted about the temptation to leak her forthcoming album, this time seemingly fueled by her frustrations at “big American artists” taking from her work without penalty. The musician hasn’t been reticent in the past about sharing her exasperation on social media towards her relationship with her American record label, as well as her struggles with touring and recording in the States, as she’s never been able to obtain a visa.
This time, M.I.A. wrote:
I hate it when big American artists take from me and my work and refugee sentiments from my work before it’s released – survivor !!!
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) July 11, 2016
SO ON THE VERGE OF LEAKING THIS LP – ESPECIALLY WHEN I GET TOLD TO “FIGHT UR OWN BATTLE” , “NOT YOUR MULE” REFUGEES GOT THEIR PLATFORM ETC
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) July 11, 2016
This isn’t the first time the “Bad Girls” rapper has threatened to leak her album, stating that “I would love to leak it. I wake up every day and think I’m gonna leak it,” in May. The slated release date for the album, according to her (though there’s been no official confirmation, nor a hint at a title), is sometime this month, so there’s not long to wait regardless.
Still, it’s hard not to feel for M.I.A., who’s dealt with her U.S. visa issues so publicly, and clearly is eager to share her new music with her fans in the States. Recently, her video for the song “POC THAT STILL A RYDA” was removed from YouTube over copyright claims from UMG. Hopefully, she can overcome this adversity and successfully debut her LP in America later this month, as she’s wanted to for so long.