Controversial rapper M.I.A. is back in the news as a video clip for her upcoming documentary was leaked online. The documentary is supposed to be released alongside her new album “Matangi”, serving as promo for the new record. That was part of the controversy as the clip was originally pulled by M.I.A.’s label, Roc Nation, who has had the project on hold—much to the chagrin of rapper and the director of the documentary Steve Loveridge. Loveridge apparently released the clip out of frustration with Roc Nation and Interscope according to huffingtonpost.com:
“Loveridge’s controversial move seems to have stemmed from an anonymous question posted to his website, asking if the documentary was still on hold. ‘Yep,’ he responded.”
He then proceeded to post “a teaser from 2012 to show Interscope what the film would feel like,”explaining that he had “nothing left to lose.” Within hours of posting the trailer, Loveridge was hit with a copyright infringement claim from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), pulling the YouTube link to the video.”
The video is now back online, as you can see above, but there was definitely a war of words between M.I.A.’s director and her label via email. And Loveridge aired the dirty laundry according to billboard.com:
“I get an e-mail every few weeks from Roc Nation or Interscope saying it’s all going to start up again, but then nothing,” he wrote. Once the label gained word of the breach, they hit Loveridge with a copyright claim from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Soon afterward, the teaser was pulled from YouTube…. Roc Nation wrote Loveridge an e-mail, stating that the leak “screws with everything we’ve been working on setting up ‘Matangi.'” Loveridge responded harshly: “I really couldn’t give a flying fuck. Count me out. Would rather die than work on this . . . nothing personal :)”.
Controversy is M.I.A.’s middle name though. As the video clip underscores she is an in your face type artist, who’s unapologetic for her art or her actions, like her infamous Superbowl performance last year. But it’s this rawness that makes her an international rap star and we love her for it. Hopefully the issue with Roc Nation will be resolved soon and we’ll get the full version of the documentary and album sometime this year.
