M.I.A. New Album “Noize” Coming Soon?

M.I.A. just posted “Get ready for Noize!!” on her Facebook, with a link to www.miauk.com.

Is this the return of Maya aka MIA?

M.I.A. Joins Roc Nation Management!

Self proclaimed “bad girl” MIA just joined the Roc Nation family as a managed artist.  The Tracks have always been a huge fan of MIA since we saw her back in 2005 at Lollapalooza (see pic).  She’s brought her Sri Lankan fusion style to the scene for years, and the Roc Nation team seems a perfect fit to get MIA’s music to more people.

 

In 2000, the Sri Lankan born, London bred Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam was encouraged, by electro-clash icon Peaches, to make music on a Roland MC-505 Groovebox. Maya pulled lyrics from journals she had written during a 4 month trip to the Caribbean island of St Vincent. In 2005, she released Arular, selling 130,000 copies in the U.S. and reaching mainstream charts in Europe and the U.K. It was considered as much a political statement as a musical one.

In 2007, Kala was released. Once again, it received unanimous international critical praise. It topped multiple “Best of the Year” lists in publications around the world, which cite its deft mixture of politics, social consciousness, and inimitable genre-blending.

In 2008, the single “Paper Planes” brought Maya worldwide mainstream acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year in 2009.  The song was also featured in the film Slumdog Millionaire, in addition to M.I.A contributing vocals to the Oscar nominated track from the film, “O… Saya.”

 

2010 saw the release of, /\/\/\Y/\, which received early praise from the media with Rolling Stone commenting, “M.I.A’s latest is as challenging and awesomely out-there as the title of her album /\/\/\Y/\.” /\/\/\Y/\ went Top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on the Dance/Electronic chart.  On Dec. 31, 2010, she put out the acclaimed mixtape VICKILEEKX.

 

Now, as M.I.A. readies her fourth studio album, her new track “Bad Girls” made its debut on Pitchfork.com January 30^th and was released worldwide on January 31^st. “Bad Girls” was produced by Danja (Timbaland, Diddy, Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Pink). The “Bad Girls” video was directed by Romain Gavras (M.I.A.‘s “Born Free” and JUSTICE’s “Stress”) and premiered on Noisey – VICE’s music channel on YouTube on February 3rd.  Expect a full length release from M.I.A this fall!

Named one of the ten defining artists of the 2000’s decade by Rolling Stone and one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine, M.I.A. has been nominated for an Academy Award and two Grammys (“Paper Planes” and “Swagga Like Us”).

Rye Rye – Go! Pop! Bang! (8.4/10)

Rye Rye!

After a long stint as MIA’s “fly girl,” Rye Rye has finally released a solo album. A serious ball of energy, Rye Rye’s Go! Pop! Bang! recalls memories of MIA’s Kala and Arular. The Baltimore native gives a strong nod to the Baltimore bass club scene.

The 808 is in full effect throughout the album as she brings speaker shredding bass and great beats throughout. Her vocal delivery is very familiar to fans of MIA (like myself). Unlike MIA, Rye Rye can sing choruses in tune. Sorry MIA, we love ya, but your rhymes are MUCH better than your singing.

G! P! B! is chock full of guest appearances… Akon, Robyn, and yes.. MIA graces the album too. This is one of the more fun new albums that I’ve heard in a while. Perfect summer windows-open, car cruising club bangers from start to finish… Well, almost to finish. Robyn guests on the last track which brings the album to an abrupt halt. She shows some range by incorporating a slow track in her repertoire, but it seems to be very out of place on the album. IMO, the album would had total cohesion without the last track.

Go! Pop! Bang! is an album where you know the “backup singer” has it in them and just needs a moment to shine in their own light, and Rye Rye has shone. I expect this album to be on very heavy rotation on my iPod throughout the summer, and you should rock it too.

Thumbs up, Rye. Excelsior approved.

- Moe Train

NEW MIA Track: XXXO (Listen Here!)

MIA is slowing getting tracks out for her new album, and Tracks brings you her latest… XXXO!  She’s got 2 great albums to follow up on, and it sounds like she’s bound to put out another club banga!  If you haven’t seen her live yet, she’s a must see. Her dancing is a bit suspect, but she puts out incredibly danceable tunes!