MIA
Rapper
MIA (Mathangi Arulpragasam) is an English rapper, singer-songwriter and activist. She is best known for her unique blend of artistry and activism, blending elements of punk, hip-hop, reggae and electronic music into her work. Her socially conscious lyrics often address issues such as colonialism and cultural identity.
About
MIA (Mathangi Arulpragasam) is an English rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born in Hounslow, England on July 18th, 1975 to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka, she was raised in South London. MIA has often referred to her upbringing as “third-culture”; as a child, she experienced both traditional British culture as well as the culture of her parents’ home country.
MIA began her career as a visual artist, but found success in the music industry after being signed by XL Recordings in 2002. Her debut album Arular was released in 2005 and was met with critical acclaim and wide commercial success, earning her two Grammy nominations. Her second album Kala was released in 2007 and propelled her even further into the public eye with its more diverse range of musical styles that blended together elements of hip-hop, dancehall, and electronica.
In 2010 MIA released her third album Maya which included the hit single "XXXO". Her fourth studio album Matangi followed in 2013 and featured singles such as "Bad Girls" which would go on to become one of her most popular songs. In 2016 she released her fifth album AIM which boasted collaborations with Skrillex and Diplo.
MIA is perhaps best known for her politically charged lyrics about war and social justice issues. In addition to making music, MIA is also an active philanthropist who has worked with charities such as Oxfam International and Amnesty International UK.
Life Timeline
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1986</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">MIA is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On July 18, 1986, MIA was born in London, England.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2005</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Debut Mixtape</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA releases her debut mixtape titled “Galang” which gained her recognition in the music industry.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2007</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Debut Album "Arular" Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA releases her debut album "Arular" to critical acclaim.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2010</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">2nd Album "Maya" Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA releases her second album "Maya" with the lead single "XXXO".</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2012</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Grammy Nomination for Best Song</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA is nominated for a Grammy award for Best Song for her song "Bad Girls".</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2015</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Performs at the Super Bowl Halftime Show</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA performs at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show alongside Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2020</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases 5th Studio Album "Kala"</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">MIA releases her fifth studio album "Kala" to critical acclaim.</p></div>
Why We Love Them
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> She is a Great Role Model</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">MIA is a great role model for young women. She has been an advocate for female empowerment and has worked to break down barriers for female artists in the rap industry. She also speaks out about important issues like immigration rights, racism and feminism.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> Her Music is Innovative</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">MIA's music has pushed the boundaries of rap and hip hop by blending elements of electronic music and traditional Indian music into her sound. Her unique style has made her a favorite among critics and fans alike.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> She is a Charitable Person</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">MIA is an active philanthropist who has donated to many charities over the years including the Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam, Save The Children and more. She has also used her platform to bring awareness to social issues like poverty, homelessness, racial injustice and climate change.</p></div>
Interesting Facts
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> First British Rapper to Reach Number One on the Billboard Hot 100</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">MIA became the first British rapper to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with her song “Paper Planes” in 2008.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Member of the Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">MIA was featured on the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire, performing the song “O...Saya” which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2009.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">MIA won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for her song “Bad Girls” in 2013.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Filmmaker and Documentarian</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">MIA is also a filmmaker and documentarian. She has directed music videos, documentaries, and even feature films including Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., which was released in 2018.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">5.</span> Nominated for an Academy Award</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">MIA was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2010 for her contribution to the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.</p></div>
FAQs
