M.I.A. Designs Beck's Beer Bottle Label, Talks New Album 'Matangi'

M.I.A. has been in the headlines for her Super Bowl stunt and controversial comments, but she’s turning the spotlight back on her art by designing a limited edition label for Beck’s Beer.

“I guess I’m most known for creating a lot of controversy,” said the “Bad Girls” rapper. “But I don’t want to be defined by that. I’m here to shift it back to the art.”

While she admits to not being much of a beer drinker, the “Live Beyond Labels” collaboration just made sense. “I was inspired by some sort of new, something abstract. A new beginning,” she told SPIN. “It was important to go there and start fresh, just letting go of everything. You get attached to what you were inspired by before and finding inspiration in what it is.”

The 36-year-old is putting the finishing touches on Matangi, the follow-up to her 2010 album ///Y/. “I’ve been working on the songs by myself for awhile, and towards the end I got [producer] Switch to sort of bring it together and contribute new songs for it as well,” she said. “But I’m trying to work with tons of people, I don’t really wanna say any names because I haven’t actually chosen what songs are going on it yet.”

M.I.A.’s Beck’s label will be available this summer as one of six limited edition bottles created by artists from around the world.