Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., is a British rapper, record producer, songwriter, and singer of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Born on July 18, 1975, in London, England, she experienced displacement caused by the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had a defining influence on her artistry.

She started out as a visual artist, filmmaker, and designer in 2000, and began her recording career in 2002. One of the first acts to come to public attention through the Internet, she saw early fame as an underground artist in early 2004 with her singles "Sunshowers" and "Galang".

Her music combines elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop, and world music with electronic instruments and samples. Her first two albums, Arular (2005) and Kala (2007), received widespread critical acclaim for their fusion of hip hop, electronic, and world music influences.

The latter's single, "Paper Planes," peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received a nomination for Record of the Year at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Her third album, Maya (2010), was preceded by the single "Born Free" and an accompanying controversial music video/short film. Maya debuted within the top ten of the album charts in the United States, Finland, Norway, Greece, and Canada.

Her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013), spawned the single "Bad Girls," which won accolades at the MTV Video Music Awards. Her fifth album, AIM (2016), was met with a critical and commercial decline.

She guest performed alongside Young Thug on Travis Scott's 2020 single "Franchise," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, and released her sixth studio album Mata (2022), which spawned the single "The One". Her accolades include two American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awards and two MTV Video Music Awards.

She is the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for an Academy Award and Grammy Award in the same year.

Her lifestyle is as eclectic as her music. She is known for her bold fashion choices and her outspoken political views.

In her personal life, M.I.A. has had relationships with notable figures such as Diplo and Benjamin Bronfman. She has one child, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, with Bronfman. Her career has been marked by her unique blend of music and activism.

She has released six studio albums, with hits like "Galang," "Paper Planes," "Born Free," and "Bad Girls" showcasing her diverse musical style.

Her contributions to music and activism have earned her numerous awards and accolades. She has been named one of the defining artists of the 2000s by Rolling Stone and one of the 100 most influential people of 2009 by Time.