Pitchfork

It's been a little while since we've heard from the Diplo/M.I.A. camp, but that doesn't mean they haven't been crazy busy. Today comes word via Diplo's website that the ace DJ/party-starter-- along with UK producer/remixer Switch, aka David Taylor-- is right now mastering M.I.A.'s second album, the follow-up to 2005's white-hot Arular.

Details on the new disc remain scant, but we do know that M.I.A. shacked up in the studio at some point with everyone's favorite chaperone to the chorus, Timbaland. While it's unclear in what capacity he contributed, a video showing M.I.A. and Tim apparently selecting tracks for her new LP popped up on YouTube earlier this week-- and vanished before we had a chance to share it with you.

M.I.A. hasn't mentioned her dealings with Tim on her MySpace blog (yet), but she did post on December 3 about jetting "OFFFF TO LIBERIA. TO MEET X CHILD SOILDERS [sic]." She also shouted out Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl" and posted what appear to be lyrics to a new jam.

Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, meanwhile, also reports he's putting the finishing touches on Favela on Blast, a forthcoming film celebrating Rio de Janeiro's vibrant Funk Carioca culture that Dip executive produced, co-directed, and handled sound for (the flick shares its title with his 2004 baile funk mix). Joining Pentz, Funk Film's Leandro HBL handled direction, cinematography, and production for the doc, which should see release soon. Scope a blazin' trailer below and catch three more clips by clicking here.



Diplo has two newish tracks on his MySpace now, including a remix of M.I.A.'s "XR2"-- apparently from the insanely-anticipated Piracy Funds Terrorism sequel (out in 2010, his MySpace jokes-- at least we hope that's a joke!)-- and a mash-up of Lil Scrappy and Professor Longhair's "Big Chief" (which Lily Allen also used for "Knock 'Em Out") from the new Hollertronix 6 mix.

Finally, Diplo winds out the year with a few gigs, then heads off to Uruguay and preps for Oceania's Big Day Out festival.

When I Dip you Dip we Dip:

12-18 Baltimore, MD - Taxlo Ting !
12-29 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine *
12-31 Toronto, Ontario - The Social #
01-11 Uruguay - TBA
01-19 Auckland, New Zealand - Big Day Out
01-25 Sydney, Australia - Big Day Out
01-28 Melbourne, Australia - Big Day Out
03-11 San Diego, CA - Casbah $
03-13 Hollywood, CA - Safari Sam's $

! with Crystal Castles
* with Flosstradamus
# with Rory Them Finest
$ with Bonde do Role