Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (born 18 July 1975), better known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, director, visual artist, activist, photographer, fashion designer and model. "M.I.A." is a play on her own name and a reference to the acronym of Missing in Action. Her compositions combine elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music. M.I.A. began her career in 2000 as a visual artist, filmmaker and designer in west London before beginning her recording career in 2002. Since rising to prominence in early 2004 for her singles "Sunshowers" and "Galang", charting in Canada and the UK and reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales in the US, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, three Grammy Awards and the Mercury Prize.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I.A._%28rapper%29

Date of Birth 18 July 1975, Hounslow, London, England, UK

Birth Name Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam

Nickname Maya

Height 5' 5½" (1.66 m)

Mini Bio (1)

M.I.A. was born on July 18, 1975 in Hounslow, London, England as Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam.

Trivia (14)

Raised in Sri Lanka, where her father was a guerilla fighter.

Was born in Hounslow, London. When she was six months old, her family moved back to their native Sri Lanka.

She eventually returned to her birthplace in London, where she and her family were housed as refugees.

Some of her early influences were: Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante and N.W.A

Went to London's Central Saint Martins Art School, where she studied fine art, film and video.

"M.I.A." is an acronym for Missing In Acton, in reference to the gritty section of London she lived in.

Her first public art exhibition show was nominated for the alternative Turner prize, every painting sold and a monograph book of the collection was published by Pocko.

After hearing his single, "News Flash", and loving it, Arulpragasam tracked down and met with Diplo, the Mississippi-born DJ originally named Wesley Pentz, to work on some material.

Her father was 'Arul Pragasam', leader of 'Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students'(aka EROS) one of the main Tamil anti-government organization operating in Sri Lanka.

Her debut album, Arular, was released in America in March 2005

She is of Sri Lankan descent.

Performed at the Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009 although it was the day she was due to give birth to her first child.

Was in a relationship with Benjamin Bronfman from 2008 (they became engaged the same May) to 2012. They have a son together.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 33, a son Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman on February 11, 2009. Child's father is her now ex-fiancé, Benjamin Bronfman.

Personal Quotes (2)

Those records were rhythmic, so whether you understood the language or not, you could understand the music.

"It had that same homelessness about it. It didn't have a particular genre, which is what people always say to me: Your song doesn't fit anywhere. So I went on a mad mission to find other people like that, because then we could make a home." - her thoughts when she heard one of Diplo's songs for the first time.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1756665/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm