M.I.A. plays "Come Walk With Me" off 'Matangi' On Fallon

Not to be outdone by Kimmel's Nine Inch Nails performance, Jimmy Fallon called in controversial world-rap figure M.I.A. to perform "Come Walk With Me," a breakneck track off of her new album Matangi. Maya, who rarely performs with a live band, wasn't as animated as the schizo track would suggest (probably because she needed to stay close to her mic) but the off-the-rails album cut was pulled off beautifully by the most over-qualified house band of all time.

After the performance, M.I.A. detailed her embarrasing first run-in with ?uestlove & co.

While the Sri Lankan performer is certainly no stranger to controversy, the last few months still must have felt rather ridiculous. She has been involved with scraps with her label to get the long-awaited album released, caught flack for an intro video of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and is currently dealing with a lawsuit from the NFL for flipping a middle finger during a Super Bowl halftime performance.

In a recent interview, Maya coyly claimed that the middle finger she aimed for the camera 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.

(via)

In the plus column, M.I.A.'s long-planned documentary is finally back on track with the assistance on non-profit BRITDOC.

Matangi is out now and streaming on VEVO. Have you heard it yet? Do you think M.I.A.'s antics are getting old, or does it just make you love her more?