Paper Planes

M.I.A. released Paper Planes on February 11, 2008, as the third single from her second studio album Kala. The track blends alternative hip-hop with pop and African folk elements to create a sound that feels less like dance music and more like a gritty street anthem. Diplo co-produced the song alongside M.I.A., who drew inspiration from her own struggles securing a visa to work in the United States. The lyrics mock American stereotypes about immigrants from developing nations while sampling the 1982 Clash track Straight to Hell, which brought the rock band members into the writing credits.[edit]