M.I.A. releases her new song and video for “SAFE” which is the second single for what will be her seventh studio album. It comes amidst a period of turbulent change in public perception for who was once the darling radical. “SAFE” is primarily inspired by M.I.A.’s Christian beliefs and general indifference to her haters. She raps that her purpose from Jesus is to be “the type of woman many men really pray for” and “is thankful to [her] haters ’cause they do make [her] grow up.” Produced by M.I.A. and Christopher James Selfe, it samples the Soviet-era patriotic song “Katyusha” (its inclusion in the current global situation with no clear justification can be interpreted as somewhere from incomprehension to complicity) with a child-like choral snippet being used throughout the instrumental in combination with trap drums.

M.I.A. has always been an exception to the norm and generally sides with what is against the majority. “SAFE” has received a negative reaction since its release with criticism against its apparent simplistic performance, poor audio quality, hollow subject matter and contentious sample source. Would M.I.A. really care though? As she raps on the song, “I’ve lost many fans, but fuck it, keep ’em guessing.” Her fans will truly be left wondering as to what will come next while she prepares for the release of her impending album.