Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, known by her stage name M.I.A., was born in London, England, on July 18, 1975, to a Tamil family originally from Sri Lanka. A singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist, she began to gain international recognition in 2003 with the single “Galang.” The following year, she expanded her visibility on the independent scene with the mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism, created in partnership with DJ and producer Diplo, blending the vocals of her tracks with various global genres, including Rio de Janeiro funk.
Her debut album, Arular (2005), featured standout tracks such as “Galang,” “Sunshowers,” and “Bucky Done Gun.” In 2007, she released Kala, which was critically acclaimed and propelled by the global hit “Paper Planes.” Continuing her discography, she released MAYA in 2010 and Matangi in 2013—the latter fueled by the success of “Bad Girls.”
In 2016, M.I.A. released her fifth studio album, AIM, which featured collaborations with artists such as Diplo, Blaqstarr, and Skrillex. Six years later, he released MATA (2022), followed by the Christmas mixtape Bells Collection (2023).
On April 17, 2026, the artist released M.I.7, her seventh studio album, on her own label, OhmniMusic. With strong spiritual themes, references to the Christian faith, and passages from the Book of Revelation, the project features the American gospel group Sunday Service Choir.
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