Saturday, September 15, 2007
Music / Post No Bills M.I.A.'s helpers
Posted by Peter Margasak on Sat, Sep 15, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Diplo and Switch, the two DJ-producers that always seem to get mentioned in any discussion of the British/Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., both spin at Metro tonight. In an amazing Pitchfork interview this past August, Maya Arulpragasam excoriated tastemakers and the press for consistently short-selling her involvement in her own music while praising her collaborators:
"If you read the credits, [Diplo] sent me a loop for 'Bucky Done Gun,' and I made a song in London, and it became 'Bucky Done Gun.' But that was the only song he was actually involved in on Arular. So the whole time I've had immigration problems and not been able to get in the country, what I am or what I do has got a life of its own, and is becoming less and less to do with me. And I just find it a bit upsetting and kind of insulting that I can't have any ideas on my own because I'm a female or that people from undeveloped countries can't have ideas of their own unless it's backed up by someone who's blond-haired and blue-eyed. After the first time it's cool, the second time it's cool, but after like the third, fourth, fifth time, maybe it's an issue that we need to talk about, maybe that's something important, you know."
After spending a few hours revisiting Diplo's stuff, including The Boogie Down Bottle Nose Dolphins, a new set of his characteristic mashups as Hollertronix (with partner Low Budget), and some remixes and a mix CD by Switch (Dave Taylor)--who's much more involved than Diplo with M.I.A.'s brilliant new Kala (Interscope)--I can't fathom why anyone wouldn’t give Arulpragasam all the props in the world. While there’s no doubt both of these guys are technically stunning and creative, there's no evidence of the things that are so great about M.I.A.'s record—the global array of beats, the wicked pitch-shifted shenai samples on "World Town"—in their solo work.
Showing 1-3 of 3
i can't fathom why anyone gives M.I.A props at all. seriously. there is no evidence of greatness on any record. vastly overrated, overpraised and overhyped. exoticism at its most ridiculous & shameful level. its rehashed hip-hop to my ears. just because she's sampling shenai's and other "global" sounds & rhythms doesn't make it innovative or interesting to me. and her utterance of revolution and other empty, vague slogans makes her come off as nothing more than a poseur.
I love M.I.A. I was listening to Adam and the Ants the other day - Kings of the Wild Frontier to be exact - and it kind of reminded me of it in the way that it was exciting music made my conceptual artists and the presentation was really inspiring and killer. What I'm trying to say is, I love M.I.A. and I love Adam and the Ants.
"And I just find it a bit upsetting and kind of insulting that I can't have any ideas on my own because I'm a female or that people from undeveloped countries can't have ideas of their own unless it's backed up by someone who's blond-haired and blue-eyed." take heart maya, at least identity-politics bullshit and RACISM cross all boundaries ... even if you're a female, undeveloped-country-bred RACIST.
Latest in The Blog
-
11/9 — Free "So You Think You Have Nerves of Steel" Kickoff at the Whistler
The first in what will be a regular monthly Monday series at the Whistler, one featured writer a month riffs on the question "so you think you have nerves of steel?" in whatever manner he or she deems appropriate.
- Nov 7, 2009
-
Locust Music Hosts an Eclectic Saturday Showcase
Chicago's eclectic Locust Music label hosts a typically diverse showcase—with Starless & Bible Black, Stephen Titra's O.W.L., Paul Metzger, and more—at the Empty Bottle on Saturday night.
- Nov 6, 2009
-
Lynda Barry, Matt Groening, Chris Ware, and Jules Feiffer in a discussion Saturday at Parker
Matt Groening, Lynda Barry, Chris Ware, and Jules Feiffer join the Reader's Michael Miner for a discussion on the declining business of weekly comics.
- Nov 6, 2009
- More»
Author Archives
-
The List, October 8-14, 2009
Critics' Choices and other notable concerts: Maxwell, Miguel Zenon, Gojira, the Murder City Devils, Califone, Kurt Vile, and more
- Oct 8, 2009
-
Sweet and Sour Options for Saturday Night
Saturday-night music that didn't make the List: Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs at the Old Town School and Lightning Dust at Schubas
- Sep 10, 2009
-
Von Freeman and Barry Harris Take It to the Parks
Jazz greats Von Freeman and Barry Harris play a free concert in La Follette Park on Friday.
- Sep 30, 2009
- More»
Comments (3) RSS