M.I.A., on her debut, ARULAR, manages to merge party-rocking beats with a distinct political message, a combination that sets her head-and-shoulders above her competitors. Her peculiar British/Sri Lankan accent brings a rhythmic purr to her lyrics: “Pull Up the People” manages to mix bass-heavy grime with an embedded consciousness-raising message. Elsewhere her lyrics are more straightforward, like the anti-sex-trade tirade of “10 Dollar” or the ode to her refugee status, “Sunshower.” Certainly much of the credit belongs to her able producers, but her staccato delivery carries the album past its less successful tracks. I defy anyone to listen to “Amazon” and not immediately want to get on the floor; it’s the funkiest track about kidnapping ever made. M.I.A. may be the most heavily hyped act of 2005, but in this case, it’s well-deserved.