Pitchfork

M.I.A.'s pan-global hip-hop would be eclectic by the standards of "Morning By Eclectic" or almost anyone. Performing for the famed Santa Monica, Calif., public radio station KCRW from Los Angeles studio the Village, M.I.A. opens her set with a quote from the Modern Lovers' classic "Roadrunner" in her own "Bamboo Banger", off forthcoming sophomore album Kala (she discusses the record and airs a few beefs in a recent Pitchfork interview). Another new song, "20 Dollar", opens with a crunk-tinged riff on the "Blue Monday" melody, before the London-born, Sri Lankan-raised rapper starts dropping the title of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?". Fellow Kala cut "Hustle" has a guest verse from Afrikan Boy, though it's hard to believe M.I.A. missed the chance to check "Hustlin' Hustler".

Hollertronix half Low Budget and longtime sidekick Cherry guest, and in an interview M.I.A. recounts her recent troubles with our friendly immigration authorities. In a second set, M.I.A. plays Kala's "Bird Flu" and latest single "Boyz". She goes back to one "from the old school", with the song that launched a thousand blogs: "Galang", from excellent 2005 debut Arular. Her finale, Kala's "Jimmy", very nearly quotes Wreckx-N-Effect.

Stream:> M.I.A.: "Bamboo Banger" / "20 Dollar" / "Hustle" / "Bird Flu" / "Galang" / "Jimmy"

[original tracks from Kala; due due 8/21/07 on XL/Interscope]