Julian Assange calls M.I.A. a 'megaphone for the truth'

M.I.A. kicked off her first Matangi-hyping show with a message from Julian Assange. Now, the Wikileaks founder is weighing in with his opinion on the Sri Lankan electro-rapper.

"She's the world's loudest and finest rapping and dancing megaphone for the truth," Assange told NME.

Assange is currently living inside London's Ecuadorian embassy. Should he step out, he'll be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. M.I.A. refers to him in the issue as "one of the smartest people I know" in the same issue of NME.

Assange helped M.I.A. on the track "aTENTion" off her long-awaited Maya follow-up Matangi and the female MC returned the favor by allowing Assange to speak on freedom of the press before her NYC gig.

M.I.A. is currently dealing with the consequences of another controversial action. She flipped off cameras during her Super Bowl halftime performance alongside Madonna and the NFL is suing over it. For her part, M.I.A. is claiming it was a religious gesture.

So you were not giving America the middle finger? This was the Matangi symbol?

M.I.A.: Yes. Do you like that? (Laughing) It's good, isn't it?

Something tells me that there might have been another meaning in that.
M.I.A.: It's cultural! In my country, it's godly. OK?

Is the NFL believing that? I know they're suing you.
M.I.A.: Of course the NFL is not believing that, because the NFL does not believe in any other culture outside of the NFL. But it's true; you can Wikipedia it. You can just say "Matangi" and "mudra," and you'll see it's the middle finger.

Matangi is out now.