M.I.A. (rapper)

Lore & Background

M.I.A. was born in London to Sri Lankan Tamil parents and moved to Jaffna, Sri Lanka, at six months old. Her family experienced displacement due to the Sri Lankan Civil War, returning to London as refugees when she was 11.

Reader's Guide

M.I.A. is significant for being one of the first artists to gain public attention through the Internet and for her fusion of hip hop, electronic, and world music. Her work often reflects her experiences of displacement and the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had a defining influence on her artistry. She has received two ASCAP awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and was the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for both an Academy Award and a Grammy in the same year. Rolling Stone named her one of the defining artists of the 2000s, and Esquire ranked her among the 75 most influential people of the 21st century. Her legacy includes breaking cultural and genre boundaries, though her later work saw a critical and commercial decline.

Did You Know?

• M.I.A.'s stage name is an initialism for both 'Missing in action' and 'Missing in Acton.'
• She is the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for an Academy Award and Grammy Award in the same year.
• Her mother worked as a seamstress for the Royal Family.