Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
M.I.A. @ Wiltern, 11/9/07
()
There has been no one to hit the music scene in the past few years as original and refreshing as M.I.A. Her infectious blend or hip hop, dancehall, drum and bass and even a bit of electronic, has been getting crowds across the world shaking and moving to her grooves. Friday night she returned to Los Angeles, and after making the crowd wait a bit longer than expected she came through like a whirlwind and not a soul in the building was left standing still.
()
()
Support for LAist comes from
After making the packed house at the Wiltern wait for what seemed forever, M.I.A. finally hit the stage clad in a holographic lycra outfit. From beat one, her intensity and energy made the crowd forget the extra wait as she breezed though hits off her debut Arular, “Galang”, “10 Dollar,” and “Bucky Done Gone” and newer tracks "XR2" and "Boyz" off this year's excellent Kala.
Another standout was "20 Dollar" a reworked cover of sorts of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?'
Her music is a international affair with her British-tinged accent on top of deep jungle beats, layered with sirens and gunshots, creating true atmosphere to her music.
()
M.I.A. stands out from any of her counterparts due to her ingenuity and refreshing creativity. It is impossible to watch her or even listen to an album without dancing or grooving.
Female hip-hop artists are so few and far between and they have generally remained shadowed by their male counterparts or are considered novelties. Part of this has been the efforts of female emcees to fit into the male game granted there have been exceptions to this (Salt n’ Pepa and a few others) but in the current state of the scene this is where M.I.A. is light-years ahead of any other female hip hop artist. Her aim seems not to fit into the "rap game" but rather carve her own niche among not just hip hop music but dance and pop music as well and let her creativity bring her to the top.
()
Support for LAist comes from
()
All photos by Joey Maloney / LAist
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist