Hatchet reporter Priyanka Pardasani shares her latest musical obsessions.

“Bad Girls”
M.I.A.

Maya Arulpragasam, more commonly known as M.I.A., is back on the charts with her latest release, “Bad Girls.” This single is noted for it’s catchy chorus and impressive video, which features M.I.A. involved in dangerous car stunts in an Arab desert. Despite the seemingly meaningless chorus – “Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well” – M.I.A. never fails to include some form of social commentary to her music. The video for “Bad Girls” features a unique attack against the subversion and stereotypes facing Arab women. The track is a breath of fresh air compared to what other mainstream female artists are producing, and M.I.A.’s voice is aggressive and powerful over a Bollywood-esque beat that is purely captivating.

“Upper Room”
WZRD

Kid Cudi paired up with producer Dot da Genius to form a new American pop rock duo WZRD, releasing an experimental self-titled album at the end of last month. Despite the harsh criticism the album has faced, I particularly enjoy this song because of its depth in lyrics and familiar Cudi beats. The duo strays from Kid Cudi’s usual talk of drug abuse and instead discuss views on fate and destiny in this song. Although the subject may be difficult for the usual Cudi fan to accept, it is a track that provides insight into the two musicians’ life off stage. Even though it’s a new take on Kid Cudi’s familiar style, the track brings a rare level of honesty that should be embraced by listeners.

“Starships”
Nicki Minaj

There is no doubt that Nicki Minaj is one of my favorite artists, and this is in part out of respect for her versatility as a performer. We’ve seen Nicki take on a number of different styles in the past, and “Starships” is definitely something new I predict fans and new listeners alike will appreciate. With a catchy beat and Nicki’s instantly recognizable vocals, I wouldn’t be surprised to see “Starships” achieve the same success as her last summer jam, “Super Bass.” Nicki Minaj is no stranger to providing vocals on electronic dance tracks, and I believe that Minaj has developed a talent for outperforming the catchy beats that accompany her verses.