Diplo Claims M.I.A Knows 'Nothing' About Politics

Posted on May 13th 2011 9:30AM by Andrew Kerr
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Eugene Gologursky, WireImage / Joe Kohen, WireImage

Producer Diplo -- real name Wesley Pentz -- has accused London rapper M.I.A. of having no knowledge of the politics that have inspired her lyrics. According to the producer, who has previously worked with and dated the singer, he advised the 35-year old to reconsider her politicised lyrical stance, but to no avail.

Born in Sri Lanka and the daughter of a Tamil Tiger separatists rebel, M.I.A. -- real name Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam -- came under criticism in a New York Times article by journalist Lynn Hirschberg that highlighted an alledged contradiction between the artist and her lifestyle.

Now, in an interview with WWD, Diplo has given more weight to the argument. He said, "Maya left herself open for attacks. She's not an easy artist to criticise because she's very left-leaning, she's progressive, she's a woman. She's good in a lot of aspects, but when it comes to die-hard, facts-on-the-ground politics she's at zero. She's nothing."

The two last worked together on the rapper's album 'Maya' but since then their relationship has fractured. The writing was on the wall during the recording sessions, apparently. "I told her at the beginning of the third record, like, do not bring politics into this," he said. "Obama's the president, for one. You just can't glamorize terrorism, it's not cool ... You can't hide behind that s---. But she totally did."

He concluded, "She didn't have a plan B. I told her from the beginning, it's not going to work. And Lynn Hirschberg just ate it up. If she didn't the critics would have ate her up anyway because the record wasn't good."

Watch the Video to M.I.A.'s 'XXXO'