M.I.A. - “Kala”
I first came across M.I.A.’s music about 6 months ago when I heard her on an Indy/College music station on SIRIUS. Her sound is nearly indescribable. She has an extremely mesmerizing voice and can be slightly compared to Missy Elliot’s sort of hypnotizing-monotone-cadence style of hip-hop. Her beats cover a wide spectrum of music styles including African drums, symphonic violinish melodies, hard hitting bass and electronic/experimental vibes. I guarantee you that you have never heard anything like this woman before. I am extremely picky about hip hop. In fact, next to country music I would have to say that it is my least favorite type of music. However, I was absolutely blown away by M.I.A. As some of you know, I have been moving into my new house over the course of the last two weeks. This has involved nearly 30 trips across the city of Omaha in my truck. I have had this album playing nearly the entire time. I can’t get enough of her.
M.I.A.’s real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam. She was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in that’s country’s horrible civil war. Not only is she a music artist, she is also an accomplished visual artist and designed the album art on “Kala.” Her father is/was a prominent political activist and militant in Sri Lanka. She spent a large majority of her younger years moving from home to home and country to country due to her father’s activities and the constant threat to his family’s safety and well-being. M.I.A.’s upbringing is really evident in her lyrics and music and (for me, at least) when one listens to her they develop such a strong respect and deep empathy for her. The album is very uplifting and poetic and touches on many issues such as self-identity, poverty, war, class struggles, refugees, cultural maintenance, censorship, immigration, prejudice, anti-War On Terror, violence, day-to-day survival and working to build bridges (metaphorically speaking) between developed nations and developing nations. Her music makes me feel cultured and smart. It makes me want to get up and be active and stand up for the voiceless. It makes me want world peace even more than I already do. It makes me want to start a revolution for revolution’s sake.
This is more than just hip hop or music. This is art. This is emotion. I sound like a damn hippie, but seriously this is an amazing album. I hope that I am blessed to see M.I.A. in concert one day. I hope that she continues to make music. Buy this album and I give you my personal guarantee that you will not be disappointed. If you don’t trust my guarantee then trust this: If you know anything about hip hop then you know that anything that Timbaland get his hands on or has a hand in producing pretty much turns into gold. Trust me, this one is golden.