The Evolution of M.I.A.

Click on to follow the controversial artist's journey.

M.I.A. - M.I.A. has been shocking, entertaining and offending the masses well before her Madonna collabo, the Super Bowl or "Fingergate." Click on to follow M.I.A.'s journey. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)
Born Fighter - M.I.A.'s backstory is as unique and diverse as her music. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on July 18, 1975, in London to parents of Hindu and Sri Lankan Tamil descent, when M.I.A. was six months old her family moved to Jaffna, a Tamil town in Sri Lanka where her father became a political activist fighting discrimination against Tamils, an oppressed minority. She and her family were displaced by the Sri Lankan civil war and had violent run-ins with Sri Lankan soldiers; they eventually moved to India and then settled back in London as a result.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Terror Alert - After changing her focus from visual arts to music in the early 2000s, M.I.A. began making noise in 2003 when her cacophonic debut single "Galang" leaked to DJs and the web. In 2004 she turned the buzz up a notch by linking with producer/party-rocker Diplo to release her acclaimed mash-up mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism. (Photo: Courtesy miauk.com)
Genre Bender - With the Internet chatter over M.I.A. growing to a roar, she inked a deal with XL Recordings and released her debut album, Arular, which wowed listeners and critics with genre-bending songs like "Bucky Done Gun" and "Sunshowers." (Photo: Courtesy Mercury Records)Rebel Music - M.I.A. broke through even bigger with her sophomore album, 2007's Kala. Written and recorded around the world while M.I.A. worked out visa issues in the U.S., the album expertly smashed together genres from around the world into futuristic, totally unique dance music laced with unflinching commentary on globalization and capitalism. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

Next Gallery

12 Powerful Quotes from Black Women Athletes to Inspire Greatness

12 Photos

2 / 10

Born Fighter - M.I.A.'s backstory is as unique and diverse as her music. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on July 18, 1975, in London to parents of Hindu and Sri Lankan Tamil descent, when M.I.A. was six months old her family moved to Jaffna, a Tamil town in Sri Lanka where her father became a political activist fighting discrimination against Tamils, an oppressed minority. She and her family were displaced by the Sri Lankan civil war and had violent run-ins with Sri Lankan soldiers; they eventually moved to India and then settled back in London as a result.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT