DFA Records is an American independent record label founded in 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. They previously had a production team called The DFA, consisting of Goldsworthy and Murphy.
Ronald Fair is an American A&R executive, record producer, record executive, musical arranger, recording engineer and conductor. In a career that has spanned over 30 years at major record labels he has produced and arranged hits for several artists, but he is best known as a "guru/mentor", guiding the careers of unknown artists. Among the artists he has mentored are Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Carlton, Keyshia Cole, The Black Eyed Peas and Fergie, and the Pussycat Dolls.
David James Andrew Taylor, better known by his stage name Switch, is an English songwriter, DJ, sound engineer, and record producer. He is best known for his work with Beyonce, M.I.A. and Major Lazer, of which he was a founding member. He was nominated at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in the Song of the Year category for ‘Paper Planes’ by M.I.A. which he co-produced with Diplo. Other artists he has produced include Christina Aguilera, Chaka Khan, Santigold, and Brandy among many others. He has released various singles under his own name, and is also well known for remixing and producing for many major artists.
British rapper and singer M.I.A. has released six studio albums, two extended plays, two mixtapes, forty singles and twenty-nine music videos. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, M.I.A. began her career as a visual artist and film-maker, and moved into making music after filming a documentary on the band Elastica in 2001. The band's lead singer, Justine Frischmann, lent her a Roland MC-505 sequencer/drum machine which she used to make a demo tape that secured her a contract with British label XL Recordings.
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Patel as Jamal, and filmed in India, the film was directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and produced by Christian Colson, with Loveleen Tandan credited as co-director. As a contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati, an Indian-Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Jamal surprises everyone by being able to answer every question correctly, winning ₹20 million. Accused of cheating, Jamal recounts his life story to the police, illustrating how he is able to answer each question correctly.
Ryeisha Berrain, known by her stage name Rye Rye, is an American rapper, singer, dancer and actress. Signed to N.E.E.T. Recordings, she released her first mixtape RYEot PowRR in 2011 and her anticipated debut album Go! Pop! Bang! on May 15, 2012. In early 2009, MSNBC listed Rye Rye as one of the "5Top: Top of the pops! Up-and coming young singers." In 2011, Rye Rye was named one of Billboard's "21 Under 21". Rye Rye made her acting debut in the 2012 film 21 Jump Street.
Slumdog Millionaire: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album of the British drama film of the same name, directed by Danny Boyle. The original score and songs were composed by A. R. Rahman, who planned the score in two months and completed it in 20 days, a far shorter time period than usual.
"Jai Ho" is a song composed by A. R. Rahman for the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. When Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire, approached Rahman to compose its soundtrack, he included the song. "Jai Ho" accompanies a choreographed dance sequence at the end credits of the film. Indian singer Tanvi Shah wrote and provided vocals for an English section of the song. "Jai Ho" is a phrase which can be roughly translated as "Let [the] victory prevail", "Let there be victory", or "May there always be victory".
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British rapper and singer. Her music combines elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music with electric instruments and samples.
"O... Saya" is a song from the soundtrack of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. It was composed by Indian musician A. R. Rahman and British producer M.I.A., both of whom performed on the recording.
"Jai Ho! " is a song by Indian composer A. R. Rahman and American girl group The Pussycat Dolls, recorded for the re-release of the group's second studio album Doll Domination (2008) and their EP Doll Domination – The Mini Collection (2009). It was released on February 23, 2009, by Interscope Records as the fourth single from the album and is an English remake of the original Hindi song "Jai Ho" which is taken from the soundtrack to the hit film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). The remake was conceived by record executives Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair who tasked the Dolls' lead singer Nicole Scherzinger with creating a pop record that did not deviate from the original melody. Iovine and Fair also asked a number of other writers to create interpretations of the song including Brick & Lace, The Writing Camp and Ester Dean. The final English version of "Jai Ho" was dubbed "Jai Ho! " and is sometimes also referred to as the "RF Mix" or "Ron Fair" Remix.
"XXXO" is a song by English recording artist M.I.A., released as the lead single from her third studio album, Maya (2010). The song was written by M.I.A., Charles "Blaqstarr" Smith and Cherry Byron-Withers, and produced by Blaqstarr and Rusko. "XXXO" was first released as a digital download following its world premiere on radio on 10 May 2010, and released in physical format in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2010. Two XXXO remix EPs were released alongside the single, featuring Jay-Z, SBTRKT, KickRaux amongst others on official remixes. The song's release followed the digital release of "Born Free", also from Maya.
Maya is the third studio album by British rapper M.I.A., released on 7 July 2010 on her own label, N.E.E.T. Recordings, through XL Recordings and Interscope Records. Songwriting and production for the album were primarily handled by M.I.A., Blaqstarr and Rusko. M.I.A.'s long-time associates Diplo, Switch and her brother Sugu Arulpragasam also worked on the album, which was mainly composed and recorded at M.I.A.'s house in Los Angeles. The album's tracks centre on the theme of information politics and are intended to evoke what M.I.A. called a "digital ruckus"; with the album, elements of industrial music were incorporated into M.I.A.'s sound for the first time. A deluxe edition was released simultaneously, featuring four bonus tracks.
"Bang" is a song and single by rapper/dancer Rye Rye featuring M.I.A. It was recorded in 2008 and appears on the deluxe version of her 2012 album Go! Pop! Bang!. It was released in 2009 on N.E.E.T. Recordings and Interscope Records. The single was released first, followed by an EP of remixes, Bang – The Remixes, which includes remixes by Buraka Som Sistema and DJ Sega. The song appears in the films Fast & Furious and Step Up 3D and in the episode "The Sorkin Notes" of the TV-series Entourage.
"Sunshine" is a song and single by rapper/dancer Rye Rye featuring M.I.A. It was recorded in 2008 and released in 2010 and serves as the first single from her debut album Go! Pop! Bang! (2012). The release on N.E.E.T. Recordings was followed by an extended play of remixes, including work by The Cataracs, 12th Planet, MSTRKRFT, and L.A. Riots. The song also appeared in the episode "While You Weren't Sleeping" of the TV series Gossip Girl. and The Bling Ring.
127 Hours: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's 2010 film of the same name. It was composed by Academy Award Winner A. R. Rahman, Boyle's previous collaborator on Slumdog Millionaire. The score, centred on guitar, was recorded mainly in London and was completed in three weeks. The soundtrack was released digitally on 2 November and physically on 22 November, by Interscope Records and Fox Music. The score is briefly orchestral and the song's main theme, "If I Rise" features Rahman playing the Harpejji.
"Never Will Be Mine" is a song by rapper Rye Rye featuring Swedish singer Robyn. Released in 2011 the song serves as the second single from her debut album Go! Pop! Bang!, appearing on the deluxe edition, whilst the R3hab remix appears on the standard edition. The song samples the chorus of Robyn's previous hit single Be Mine!. Its release on N.E.E.T. Recordings and Interscope Records was followed by a music video directed by Tim Nackashi. On August 11, 2011 the song debut at number 49 on the US Billboard Dance Charts.
Go! Pop! Bang! is the debut studio album by American rapper Rye Rye. It was released on N.E.E.T. Recordings, an imprint of Interscope Records. The album was originally scheduled for release in 2009, but it has since been delayed several times, due to a pregnancy and label issues. It was eventually released on May 15, 2012, with a deluxe version available through digital music retailers. The album features several artists including M.I.A., Akon, Tyga, Robyn, and Porcelain Black. Production credits are given to M.I.A., The Neptunes, Mr. Bangladesh, and RedOne. The variety of styles brought from each producer was praised by critics.
"Internet Connection" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. from the deluxe edition of her third studio album, Maya (2010). The track was written and produced by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, and Blaqstarr. Originally titled "I'm Down Like Your Internet Connection", the song was inspired by the issues M.I.A. had with her own Internet connection and a lengthy phone call with Verizon tech support. She eventually asked one of the workers to sing the lyrics down the phone, and used the recording in the final track. The song was released as the seventh and final single from the album, on 11 January 2011 as a digital download, under license to XL Recordings and exclusive license to Interscope in the USA. The EP featured remixes by artists including Flux Pavilion, Buraka Som Sistema, Huoratron and Tony Senghore.
"Bird Song" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). It served as the fourth single from the album. M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 1 August 2016, and that the producers include Diplo and Blaqstarr. The song was written by M.I.A. and Blaqstarr, and was the first collaboration between Diplo and M.I.A. since her 2010 album Maya. The Blaqstarr version was officially released on 12 August 2016 while the release of the Diplo version was delayed due to clearance problems with Interscope, and eventually premiered on 18 August.
