Kala

Kala is the second studio album by M.I.A., released in 2007. Following the success of her debut, Arular, M.I.A. faced significant obstacles during the recording process, most notably being denied a U.S. work visa. This forced her to abandon planned sessions with Timbaland and instead travel the world to record in India, Trinidad, Liberia, and Jamaica. This geographical displacement became the album's greatest strength, resulting in a far more aggressive and rhythmically diverse sound than its predecessor. The album is named after her mother, symbolizing a 'feminine' counterpart to the 'masculine' Arular. Musically, it is defined by its heavy use of South Asian percussion, particularly the urumee, and its innovative sampling - most famously the Clash sample in 'Paper Planes.' Kala was a massive critical success, appearing on nearly every major year-end list and cementing M.I.A. as a pivotal figure in the intersection of pop, politics, and electronic music.