;[. When a well-known music influencer trolls one of your favorite musician’s albums; it’s one of the weirdest things I’ve ever watched. Talk about industry influencers being paid to troll, it’s real and quite obvious in the music industry. I mean, how long does it take to hear a song or even an entire album and decide for yourself whether you like it or not, and furthermore compare it to the statements from the troll? Not long, and that’s why despite the trolls she/her music still has lots of fans, one of them being me. [Quote on image is from MIA’s video: “M.I.A. via periscope “Go any questions about AIM ask now!” on her channel “Fly Pirates” (via Youtube).] What I appreciate about MIA as a musician is that she doesn’t make “fluff music”/“cotton candy music.” Her music has the coolest beats, and beyond that, in the lyrics, her music also provides significant meaning. As we know, some things simply can’t be taught in books, because then those books would be censored/banned. Some information, particularly that regarding the unfavorable realities of this world, you have to search for in music, movies, articles, and elsewhere. What MIA talks about in her music and also on her platforms is exactly that. Every progressive should hear at least one of her albums in their lifetime. No, one album isn’t enough. Listen to all of her albums and watch the videos. Be sure to also read the comments for the videos, because where there’s misunderstanding, the fans have spoken and they continue to speak. MIA’s music was censored during her career, and if you study her activism work in connection to her music, you’ll understand why. At this time, I can’t even use particular hashtags for this post, because if I do, it will likely be censored. End the gatekeeping. Support indie artists! [Album Image Source: Turntablelab.com]