The last time Vulture checked in with M.I.A., the saga had reached the backlash-to-the-backlash stage, with some critics giving /\/\/\Y/\ another shot and others singing the praises of her Vicki Leekx mixtape. Now the trajectory has taken another notable turn: Apparently M.I.A. has recently spent time in the studio with the Cataracs, the production team behind Far East Movement’s radio hit “Like a G6,” as well as producers Swizz Beatz and Polow da Don (Usher, Christina Aguilera, the “Every girl should have a picture of my …” guy from “Throw Some D’s”), and — waaaht — Chris Brown. Says the Cataracs’ Niles “Cyrano” Hollowell-Dhar: “[M.I.A.’s] working on a mix tape, and she wants it to be like an album … I think she’s really going fucking H.A.M. on this. She’s not pulling any punches.” This could be great! [Billboard]
