Watch: M.I.A. - Swords

Watch: M.I.A. - Swords

Hear/watch a fresh cut from the international rap gypsy's upcoming album, Matahdatah.

We're yet to hear about a release date for Matahdatah, Maya Arulpragasam's first full length LP since 2013's Matangi, but new material is on the loose, via Swords, a new track that the British/Sri Lankan rapper has previewed in a video called Scroll 01 Broader Than A Border, that she directed herself.

The new track appears in the video alongside Warriors, a Matangi track, and the video forms part of a series of videos that M.I.A. is planning to release in the lead-up to her album. The upcoming album will thematically focus on the concept of borders, and these accompanying videos will each be filmed in a different country: "There's 10 more of these countries coming and I haven't chased where to go yet, so who knows where this project will take me," said M.I.A. in an official statement.

According to M.I.A.'s Instagam, filming is already underway for Video #2. 

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As to the track itself - Swords is driven by a thumping bassline, broken up by a hypnotic, chanted chorus - it was actually made in a Temple in India: M.I.A. recorded the clang of metal to make the beat, so there's literally swords in it. There's plenty of swordplay in the Swords part of the video too, while The Warriors part of the vid takes place in Africa. 

The video / new track premiered on Apple Music yesterday, watch it below:

So glad this crazy gypsy lady and her bangin' music is back in our lives.

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Follow M.I.A.: Facebook / Twitter 

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