M.I.A. – A.I.M.

For over a decade now M.I.A. has melded both the personal and political into her music. Surrounding the more radical thoughts within a thumping beat she has managed to make things palatable to a large scale audience. Speaking of large scale audience she will expand her listenership just by the fact that the album features a duet with Zayn Malik formerly of One Direction on the rather upbeat track “Freedun”. Is it a sign that she is softening up? Could be. M.I.A. certainly is more optimistic here. There are political leanings here but definitely of the lighter variety. Girl is looking for a good time rather than put her activism up front and centre. Perfect example of this is the Skrillex produced track “A.M.P. (All My People)” and the party tune “Go Off”. Within the hip hop community she has always been on the cutting edge and A.I.M. is no different. Sonically it is a blend of garage rock and South Asian drumming with the usual hip hop leaning.  Plenty of toe tapping and stick in your head moments happen. Of the seventeen tracks on A.I.M. there are none you should just skip over and plenty of earworms to be listened to on repeat.