New Music Tuesday: Week of July 13

M.I.A.

Rapper M.I.A.’s third album MAYA was released today on her own label N.E.E.T. Recordings.  The album includes collaborations with Diplo and Switch, and the track “Born Free” has already been brewing buzz due to its controversial music video.  The first single from the album titled “XXXO” was released in May, and M.I.A. has recently said she would like Jay-Z to record one of her songs.

The Maine

Up-and-coming pop band The Maine has released their second studio album titled Black and White, which is said to be named due to guitarist being color blind.  The first single from the album is called “Inside of You.”  To promote the new album, The Maine will be on a headlining tour—their first actually—called An Evening with The Maine this summer.

Ice Cube

One of the original gangster rappers, Ice Cube released his ninth solo album I Am the West.  The stellar production team who helped put the record together include DJ Quik, E-A-Ski and Sir Jinx.  The album is being released under Ice Cube’s own label Lench Mob.  The album has spawned two singles “I Rep That West, which was released in April and “Drink the Kool-Aid,” which will be released at the end of July.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Katherine Epstein for Citadel Digital © 2010