M.I.A.

It'd be a mistake to call M.I.A. a rising star. With an already established fan base and several nods from top magazines - i.e. The New Yorker and the ultra-hip FADER - the Sri Lankan Tamil singer/artist/activist is doing it all.

One visit to her website and you'll see that she packs an unconventional punch: her funky-fab dance songs are brimming with political messages and her artwork - reminiscent of BloPen nostalgia - is gritty and politically menacing.

If you haven't had the chance to hear her, listen here.

Banksy Strikes Again

Banksy, the anonymous U.K.-born graffiti artist, doesn't seem to run out of controversial schemes... or spray paint. His latest target is Israel's "separation wall," on which he has added a series of paintings that both mock the structure and peaceably encourage its removal.

In the past, Banksy has used billboards, buildings, museums, and even animals to display his work, questioning everything from the artistic establishment to mass-media culture.

Photos from his new project available are on Protein's and Banksy's websites.

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4748063.stm
Also visit www.stopthewall.org.