Music: Boyz

I'm sure you've all heard "Paper Planes" from M.I.A.'s second studio album, Kala. The single put M.I.A. into the mainstream after a successful career "underground". But, the first single from Kala and one of the many highlights is "Boyz".


M.I.A. is an English recording artist, songwriter, painter and director of Tamil descent. Born to a seamstress mother and a political activist father, her childhood was spent in severe poverty while seeking refuge during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It wasn't until her eleventh birthday that she would end up in London where she would learn English and attend schools such as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

The music style M.I.A. enlists combine elements of electronic, dance, alternative, hip hop and world music. It's an eclectic sound inspired by her upbringing and travels literally all over the world.

"Boyz" continues this theme having been recorded in several countries. A combination of the native styles and influences of these regions and her traditional and electronic musical roots, the song sees M.I.A. mock and simultaneously praise men for various character traits. Rolling Stone ranked in number nine in "the Best Songs of 2007". It's wild! And perfect for this month of wild features.

The video features M.I.A. singing and dancing in serene surroundings with vibrant, neon colours and animation graphics, accompanied by several male dancers of the different dance crews in Jamaica. Prior to filming it was played continuously for forty-five minutes in local clubs where it created a dance revolution in the country, attracting so much attention that the island's dance crews arrived en masse for the video shoot.

Check out this Wild display of dance and style below.