First Listen: M.I.A. – Kala

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


mojo-photo-miakalalarge.jpg

Track # / Title Sounds Like Lyrical Excerpt Rating /10
1. Bamboo Banga mojo-photo-miat1.jpg “M.I.A. comin’ back with power power” 8
2. Bird Flu mojo-photo-miat2.JPG “What’s the point of knocking me down?” 6.5
3. Boyz mojo-photo-miat3.JPG “How many no money boys are crazy?” 10
4. Jimmy mojo-photo-miat4.JPG “Take me on a genocide tour” 7.5
5. Hussel mojo-photo-miat5.jpg “I hate money cause it makes me numb” 8
6. Mango Pickle Down River mojo-photo-miat6.jpg “I like fish and mango pickle” 7
7. 20 Dollar mojo-photo-miat7.JPG “20 dollars ain’t s*** to you” 10
8. World Town mojo-photo-miat8.jpg “Hands up, guns out” 7.5
9. The Trun mojo-photo-miat9.JPG “I’m trying to do my best” 6
10. XR2 mojo-photo-miat10.JPG “Where were you in ’92?” 9
11. Paper Planes mojo-photo-miat11.JPG “All I wanna do is (bang bang) and take your money” 6.5
12. Come Around mojo-photo-miat12.JPG “The beat goes on…” 7

M.I.A.’s Kala is out 8/21 on Interscope.

Owned by no one—except you.

We just keep seeing it happen: Newsrooms owned by billionaires and corporations are spinning their own narratives, overwriting the truth, following only stories that keep them in the pocket of those with even more power.

Not here. We’re not owned by anyone. We’re not part of any cult that demands our allegiance to a bottom line. We’ve spoken up and spoken out while other newsrooms changed their stories—or cut them altogether—to keep the C suite happy.

Our mission is to find the truth and amplify it. That’s why we’re independent, nonprofit, and, crucially, funded by readers. The investigations on our website will always be free to read, watch, and listen to, but our newsroom is powered by readers who pitch in what they can so we can keep asking the hard questions.

Can you chip in today?

Owned by no one—except you.

We just keep seeing it happen: Newsrooms owned by billionaires and corporations are spinning their own narratives, overwriting the truth, following only stories that keep them in the pocket of those with even more power.

Not here. We’re not owned by anyone. We’re not part of any cult that demands our allegiance to a bottom line. We’ve spoken up and spoken out while other newsrooms changed their stories—or cut them altogether—to keep the C suite happy.

Our mission is to find the truth and amplify it. That’s why we’re independent, nonprofit, and, crucially, funded by readers. The investigations on our website will always be free to read, watch, and listen to, but our newsroom is powered by readers who pitch in what they can so we can keep asking the hard questions.

Can you chip in today?

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

INDEPENDENT. BECAUSE OF YOU.

Mother Jones has no billionaires calling the shots—just readers like you making fearless reporting possible

Donate