M.I.A.

**M.I.A.** is a British-Sri Lankan rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and activist. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on July 18, 1975, in London, she spent much of her childhood in northern Sri Lanka before returning to London due to the civil war. M.I.A.'s music is known for its eclectic blend of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop, and world music, often incorporating political and philosophical themes. She began her career as a visual artist and filmmaker in West London before transitioning to music in 2002. Her rise to fame came with singles like "Sunshowers" and "Galang" in early 2004, followed by critically acclaimed albums such as "Arular" (2005) and "Kala" (2007), which included the hit single "Paper Planes".

M.I.A. has received numerous accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Awards. She was named one of the defining artists of the 2000s by Rolling Stone and one of the 100 most influential people of 2009 by Time. M.I.A. was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2019 for her services to music. Her recent releases do not appear to be widely documented in the available information, but her legacy as a pioneering artist in the music industry remains significant.

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