N.A.S.A feat. M.I.A, Spank Rock, Santigold and Nick Zinner
Shout-out, like I know you, to N.A.S.A. This music video for their track “Whatchadoin,” featuring Spank Rock, Santigold, Nick Zinner and M.I.A., is so dope. They’re also on the cover of URB magazine, so check out the article and let us what you’re thinking! URB Review: N.A.S.A. began work on The Spirit of Apollo with a mission: make funky beats with crazy knock and throw anyone they felt was right onto every track, no matter how strange the pairings seemed. The result is an innovative, head-nodding piece of work from two producers who were brought together at an industry party 7 years ago. Sam Spiegel (aka Squeak E. Clean) and Ze Gonzalez (aka DJ Zegon) were united by their shared fascination with vintage Brazilian soul and funk. This is the backbone of the N.A.S.A. sound – an international jungle funk dressed up for the club. You can hear it in the stand-up bass themed “Money,” featuring some fiery bars by the great Chuck D, and in the percussion of tracks like “The People Tree.”
But the real talking point to N.A.S.A.’s signature sound is those bizarre collaborative pairings. Karen O makes an appearance with the late ODB on his last recorded song. The RZA and Barbie Hatch prove to be an eerily pleasing combo over the dark drums and drugged out electric guitar loop on “Way Down.” “Spacious Thoughts” features possibly the strangest of the album’s collabs as Tom Waits growls savagely between Kool Keith’s abstract verses. N.A.S.A. even takes a bold stab into the electronic medium with the upbeat sing-along club banger “Whachadoin?,” featuring MIA and Santogold (the former arrived unannounced with the latter and jumped into the both).
N.A.S.A. seems to dabble into a bit of everything, but somehow it all sounds as if it grew from the same soil. This versatility in their sound is the other amazing thing. You could throw this album on in the club and play it from start to finish and the dancefloor would stay packed. At the same time, it’s sonically rich and a pleasure to listen to as headphone music. The Spirit of Apollo is what happens when the imagination is let out of its cage. Good things happen.
Out on magazine stands, cop one, today!
Jeremy Scott for Adidas
Awesome new video of Jeremy Scott’s latest designs for Adidas. Jeremy Scott is a really famous fashion designer who graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. He’s the guy behind all those funky colors of M.I.A., Santigold, Rhianna and what-nots. The track in the back is music from Esau Mwamwaya featuring MIA and Santigold, called “Get It Up.” Check out his latest collection for Adidas with this awesome video directed by Nabil Elderkin.
MIA to Have Baby On Stage at Grammy’s
So MIA is about to burst, literally, her due date is on the night of the Grammy’s. Which is all fine and good. Normally a woman in this sitch would kick back, watch a few episodes of The Office with a cup of tea, a cupcake and wait. Not MIA. The BBC News says “The Grammy Awards have added nominee MIA to the line-up of performers for Sunday’s awards show – despite her baby being due the same day.” MIA told the WSJ ”Eating a hot curry could make me go into labour, so imagine what getting on stage with Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and TI would do?”. “Baby on stage! Baby on stage!” Chant along with me.
More Info: http://www.missbehavemag.com/2009/02/this-just-in-mia-to-have-baby-on-stage-at-grammys/
Slumdog Millionaire
Unabashedly romantic, visually intoxicating and narratively audacious, this extraordinary 21st century masterpiece from director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy has soared past a full season’s worth of star-driven, big-budget disappointments to become an unlikely Oscar favorite. Why? Because it’s honest and cuts right to the heart, all without a single Caucasian (much less movie stars) anywhere in the cast. Incredibly, original financier Warner Bros. didn’t get it, opening the door for the savvier Fox Searchlight to snatch up one of the new millennium’s most original triumphs.
I saw this movie and all I have to say is… woah. It’s one of those movies, you must see for yourself. The soundtrack by M.I.A. is amazing.
Congratz to M.I.A., Diplo and Switch
Congratz to M.I.A., Diplo and Switch on their nomination for Record of the Year Grammy Award
Paper Planes
M.I.A
Diplo, producer; Switch, engineer/mixer
Track from: Kala
[Interscope]
More Info: http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx
http://www.philebrity.com/2008/12/04/congrats-diplo-because-honestly-paper-planes-fucking-ruled/
M.I.A Limited Edition Clothing Line – Available Now
Do you remember when TBA took some time out to talk about M.I.A’s clothing line a few months back. Well thanks to the good folks over at BLOGUE – they’ve taken the time to remind us that the collection has dropped! Appropriately dubbed KALA TOUR/Okley run collection features a cool collection of an eclectic mix of highly jolted hues & print…which Ms. M.I.A has been best known for. Now the price points are no joke….let’s be clear people! She wasn’t playing when “Paper Planes” played itself in heavy rotation. T-shirts start at a crisp $75, Tank tops are $65, Pullover Sweat Shirts will run you a $150, Hoodies are priced at $180, and the infamous Mexico jacket is pricey as well running you around $210. One of my favorite pieces have to be the Mexico Boy jumper which is $100 along with the Afrika Leggings which are set at $85. The collection overall seems to be unisex and well….I’ll admit that M.I.A is a force of nature all by itself….but the collection – ahhhhh I’ll have to really sit down and think about slamming my money down on it!
The limited edition collection is currently available and will only be exclusively sold through MIAUK.com & at both Opening Ceremony New York & Los Angeles locations.
…….OH. All these colors are really offensive to my eyes.
EDIT: Scan of her article in Nylon. (click to enlarge)
Limited Edition Clothes: http://shop.miauk.com/category/category-13409-okley-run
Tour Merch: http://shop.miauk.com/category/category-13408-tour-merch
Yo PS. American Apparrel released their “Afrika” collection and shit looks so similar and is a lot cheaper. SALTY.
More Info: http://www.trashbagaesthetics.com/2008/09/10/mia-limited-edition-clothing-line-available-now/
M.I.A.’s "Last Gig Ever"
“Take one nice long look at her, because this just might be the last time you see M.I.A. on stage. As noted in a New York Times report today and a Times ArtsBeat blog post from over the weekend, the Sri Lankan firebrand repeatedly told Bonnaroo-goers on Friday that they were bearing witness to her ‘last gig ever.’
The claim comes hot on the fancy heels of M.I.A.’s recent cancellation of all her upcoming European festival dates, and just days after her claim to NYMag.com that “I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second. It’s too insane.”
So which is it, Maya? Dramatic license or real talk? Jay-Z/Michael Jordan/Patrick Wolf, or, uh, some guy/gal who said they’d retire and actually went through with it? We sure are gunning for the former in both cases, and history is on our side. Interscope, meanwhile, has not yet replied to a request to confirm or deny M.I.A.’s claim, and the singer, of course, has no shows currently scheduled. Have fun gardening, lady.”
