M.I.A. Reminds Us She’s Living Her Best Life On “Popular” Single

The 47-year-old British rapper is gearing up for the arrival of her “MATA” album.

BYHayley Hynes
M.I.A./SpotifyM.I.A./Spotify

Female rap artists are showing their stuff this weekend, between new arrivals from Megan Thee Stallion and English rapper M.I.A.

The latter shared her “This One” single back in May, and today (August 12), she’s returned with an upbeat dance track called “Popular” that finds her flaunting her confidence effortlessly both on the track and in the music video.

A press release notes that the single arrives ahead of a highly anticipated studio album called MATA, which will premiere via Island Records. The music was recorded around the world in London, Los Angeles, Italy, Bali, Jakarta, and St. Vincent, and “signifies a compelling new era for the multi-talented artist and activist.”

M.I.A. hasn’t announced a release date for her upcoming body of work, but if the first singles are anything to judge it by, we’re in for a serious treat.

Stream “Popular” on Apple Music below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more music updates.

Quotable Lyrics:

Gold and curly, brown and worldly
Packed in a 5'5" body
Give me the mic and I slay somebody
I hope you're all gonna be ready
'Cause I'm proper gonna pop it
Make you go cop it
You can never stop it, people wanna tap it, tap it
When I talk, I rap it, all of them are puppet
One in a billion, I guess you got lucky 


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About The Author
Hayley Hynes is the Weekend Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop, and has been since 2021. She began writing for the website that same year, primarily covering content in the Music, Pop Culture, and Streetwear niches after graduating from Vancouver’s Blanche Macdonald Centre with a Fashion Marketing Diploma. She previously reported on Travel, Entertainment, Beauty, and News at Narcity Canada for over three years. Hayley has also contributed articles and interviews within these realms to Folklr Magazine and the Calgary Journal while studying Journalism at Mount Royal University. In her spare time, she freelances for Bandbox Vinyl, having already interviewed hip-hop icons like Atmosphere and explored Syd’s discography. Hayley also uses her expansive pop culture knowledge and passion for astrology/self-enhancement to help others explore their curiosity in an ongoing Instagram video series. Among her favourite hip-hop artists are A$AP Rocky, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, and Mac Miller.