MIA’s Previously Caged Diplo-Produced Single “Bird Song” Has Finally Been Freed

What the people want, the people get. After calling out her label, Interscope, for keeping a Diplo-produced version of her new single "Bird Song"—off her upcoming album AIM—from being released, M.I.A. announced (via Periscope from the label boardroom, no less) that the track's been cleared and is now live.

Newcomers to Diplo may only know him as half of the Jack Ü masterminds behind the Justin Bieber-featuring pop hit "Where R Ü Now," but "Bird Song" sees him slip back comfortably into his hip-hop roots, providing a slow-thumping tune chirping with wonky, whistling, birdcall-like accents and crunchy percussion that slinks low to the ground beneath M.I.A's drone-like, bird-referencing lyrics.

The track is the pair's first project together since M.I.A.'s 2010 Vicki Leekx mixtape, though perhaps their most famous team-up is M.I.A.'s Grammy-nominated single from 2007, "Paper Planes." They even dated briefly, and though harsh words were exchanged in the years following, they seem to have made up and clearly can get back into things without missing a beat. Listen below.

AIM is scheduled for released on September 9, and features a Blaqstarr-produced version of "Bird Song" alongside Diplo's, according to a tracklist posted earlier today by M.I.A. on Instagram. The album also features a collaboration with Diplo's Jack Ü partner Skrillex, "Go Off."