photos by Ryan Muir

M.I.A. played the same benefit that Special Disco Version did on Tuesday night ("to support the Museum's award-winning educational programs and the care, study, and exhibition of its collection") (June 10, 2008). M.I.A. also played a much bigger and more public and proper show at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn a few nights earlier. At MoMA, the cheapest ticket was $250.

I talked to one person who was at MoMA (but not at the black tie dinner that preceeded the dance party). They said...

It was really fun. The venue was spectacular. The show was so incredibly different from McCarren Pool. MIA didn't start until after 11. I think she's delightful and has an infectious energy no matter the setting, but this was definitely a performance that was catered to the event and the crowd. No wacky outfits, no political videos, no questions about whether we were choosing money or people, etc. Her mic didn't seem to be turned up enough, so her vocals sounded muddled at times. She made a comment about elitism that ironically elicited cheers and she asked the crowd if they had an extra $10 to donate to [didn't catch the cause]. The sightlines kind of sucked for a show with so much movement as there were two large poles on either side of the stage that frequently covered her. I'd say that about 30% of the attendees knew who she was. Again, so different from McCarren.

The crowd was fascinating. Black tie and cocktail dresses. Not my usual scene, obviously, but great people watching.

The stage background was decorated with charts and graphs depicting things like mortality and starvation rates. Like at McCarren, M.I.A. was joined on stage by Afrikan Boy (who told "anybody in the crowd with more than one dollar in they pocket to make some noise"). Unlike at McCarren, M.I.A. was joined on stage by Mos Def. He helped sing "Paper Planes". More pics from the party HERE and below.....

Continue reading "M.I.A., Mos Def & Afrikan Boy @ MoMA's Garden Party - pics"

LOOK I KNOW THERE ARE HATERS OUT THERE, I DEAL WITH IT EVERYDAY THATS NO FUCKING BIG DEAL AND IVE DEALT WITH WORSE IN MY LIFE, A FEW PEOPLE TALKING SHIT DONT MATTER TO ME, BUT TWISTING TRUTH ISNT THE LESSON I WANNA LEARN IN MY TIME IN MUSIC, SO WHO EVER THAT IS DOING IT , I WANNA SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

1, I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SHOOT THE VIDEO IN A FACTORY ON THE BORDER OF EQUADOR, BUT COULDNT. I WAS TOURING THE U.S, I COULDA BEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT THEN BUT THERE I WAS IN AMERICA, IN NYC, IN BROOKLYN, IN BEDSTUY , I WAS TORN BETWEEN SCRAPIN SHOWS IN AMERICA AND MEETING AMERICAN FANS OR SHOOTING IN NYC ON MY ONLY DAY OFF I'D HAD IN 4 MONTHS AND GETTING ON WITH IT.

2, SO THAT WAS THAT! I NEVER MADE A VIDEO IN AMERICA AND HEY ITS STILL A PART OF WHAT I DO AND SAY, ITS WAS STILL VALID, SO I WAS READY TO ROLL WITH IT.

3, YOU ALL KNOW HOW THE SONG SOUNDS, THATS WHY WHEN U GO ON YOUTUBE 400, 000 PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN THE SONG AS IT IS AND STARE AT SOME PICTURE THEN TO ACTUALLY WATCH A VIDEO

4, WHEN LETTERMAN CENSORD ME IT WAS WAC OF COURSE!!!!!! , AND YES I FELT SOOOOOO BAD FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY SOUND. I WAS ABEL TO SOUND CHECK FOR THAT SHOW AND THEY LET ME SOUND CHECK FINE, THEN ON THE ACTUAL TAPING MY SOUND WAS SOOO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT ID AGREED, AS SOON AS I OPENED MY MOUTH THE DIFFERENCE BLEW ME AWAY, I FELT I WAS GETTING BULLIED ON NATIONAL TELEVISON, AND I COULDNT EVEN REACH OUT TO MY LABELS OR MY MANAGEMENT TO HELP, SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO WHAT HAPPENS TO AN ARTIST LIKE ME IN MAINSTEAM AMERICAN CULTURE.

SO THEY TRIED TO SHUT ME DOWN AGAIN. I MADE THE PAPER PLANES VIDEO. I MADE IT HOW THEY WANTED. NO VIOLENCE. AMBIGUOUS. MTV - FRIENDLY. NOW TODAY, I CHECK YOUTUBE AND SEE THE LEAKED MTV PAPER PLANES VIDEO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CLICKED ON IT AND OUT COMES THIS FUCKED UP MESS WITH DOUBLE-TRACKED BULLSHIT MESS

WHO THE THE FUCK IS DOING THIS TO ME?????' [M.I.A.]

The rest of the letter, and the "uncensored" video, below....

Continue reading "M.I.A.'s (uncensored?) "Paper Planes" video"