A week before release, MIA streams her forthcoming album online.
M.I.A, one of Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People' of 2009, is streaming all twelve tracks, plus 'XXXO' remixes featuring Jay-Z, following a leak of the album.The album, titled /\/\/\Y/\ and pronounced "Maya" (an abbreviation of Mathangi, her real first name), has already been reviewed by many media outlets due to a low-quality leak in late June.
Reviewers have been falling over themselves to praise it, Clash calling it a "towering work that makes a mockery of rivals and genres" and the BBC dubbing it a "terrifying achievement".
Listeners can wade through the animated gifs and hear the entire album at her myspace here.
It was co-written with Baltimore rapper and producer Blaqstarr, with guest work from UK dubstep producer Rusko, Derek E. Miller from noise pop duo Sleigh Bells, as well as longtime co-conspirators Diplo and Switch.
/\/\/\Y/\ had its official Japanese release today, with an international release date of July 13.
M.I.A. will launch the album at two coastal shows in the US, in Los Angeles on July 17 with N*E*R*D, Die Antwoord and Flying Lotus and in New York on July 24 with Die Antwoord, Skream and Benga.
She then plays a handful of shows in the UK and Scandinavia through August.
