M.I.A.
Biography
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam MBE (born 18 July 1975), known by her stage name M.I.A. (an acronym of "Missing in Acton"), is a British rapper, singer, record producer and activist. Her songs contain evocative political and social commentary regarding immigration, warfare and identity in a globalised world. Her music combines elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music with eclectic instruments and samples. She started out as a visual artist, filmmaker and designer in 2000, and began her recording career in 2002. M.I.A.'s first two albums, Arular (2005) and Kala (2007), received widespread critical acclaim for their experimentation with hip hop and electronic fusion. The single "Paper Planes" from Kala reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and sold over four million copies. Her third album Maya (2010) was preceded by the controversial single-short film "Born Free". Maya was her best-charting effort, reaching the top 10 on several charts. Her fourth studio album, Matangi (2013), included the single "Bad Girls", which won accolades at the MTV Video Music Awards. M.I.A. released her fifth studio album, AIM, in 2016. She scored her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single as a featured artist on Travis Scott's "Franchise" (2020). M.I.A.'s 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. She was named one of the defining artists of the 2000s decade by Rolling Stone, and one of the 100 most influential people of 2009 by Time. Esquire ranked M.I.A. on its list of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century. According to Billboard, she was one of the "Top 50 Dance/Electronic Artists of the 2010s". M.I.A. was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for her services to music.
Known For & Full Filmography13 Titles
Drama Series - 1996, 16 episodes • as Self - Guest
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
Drama Series - 2014, 16 episodes • as Self - Musical Guest
Seth Meyers, who is "Saturday Night Live's" longest serving anchor on the show's wildly popular "Weekend Update," takes over as host of NBC's "Late Night" — home to A-list celebrity guests, memorable comedy and the best in musical talent. As the Emmy Award-winning head writer for "SNL," Meyers has established a reputation for sharp wit and perfectly timed comedy, and has gained fame for his spot-on jokes and satire. Meyers takes his departure from "SNL" to his new post at "Late Night," as Jimmy Fallon moves to "The Tonight Show".
Drama Series - 2003, 16 episodes • as Self
Each week Bill Maher surrounds himself with a panel of guests which include politicians, actors, comedians, musicians and the like to discuss what's going on in the world.
Drama Series - 2003, 16 episodes • as Self - Musical Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.
Drama Series - 1993, 16 episodes • as Self - Musical Guest
Stepping into the late-late slot vacated by David Letterman, Conan O'Brien stars in a show that far outdoes its competition in sheer strangeness. Along with the celebrity interviews and musical numbers typical of late-night talk shows, this program make frequent use of odd walk-on characters and frequent "visits" from celebrity guests.
Movie - 2019, 2h 15m • as Self (Archival Footage)
A true-crime comedy exploring a failed music festival turned internet meme at the nexus of social media influence, late-stage capitalism, and morality in the post-truth era.
Movie - 2018, 2h 15m • as Self
Drawn from a never before seen cache of personal footage spanning decades, this is an intimate portrait of the Sri Lankan artist and musician who continues to shatter conventions.
Movie - 2015, 2h 15m • as Self
The film gives an insight into the minds of leading creative figures of our time and their thoughts on the relationship between technology and creativity and the impact the arts and technology have had on one another in recent years, and how technology has influenced their life.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self - Narrator
Examining the meaning and significance of the insights that WikiLeaks shared with the world, the resulting behaviour of the governments involved, the extraordinary personal risk taken by Assange, and the wider fundamental issues around press freedom that affect all of us and our right to know.
Movie - 2015, 2h 15m • as herself
Documentary about the 10th aniversary of the album FLORIDA, by DJ Diplo.
Drama Series - 1959, 16 episodes • as Self
An awards show honoring the achievements of the members of the professional music recording industry. The members of the Recording Academy vote on who they think is most deserving of an award in 108 categories as specified by the academy.
Movie - 2020, 2h 15m • as Self
Irvine meet artists and writers who discuss the risk of offending in the current climate. Through several, informal conversations he talks to them about their belief in the right to offend and to be offended.
Movie - 2020, 2h 15m • as Self
Following his work with Christopher Nolan on the IMAX release of Tenet and his featured song “The Plan,” Travis Scott and IMAX have teamed up to deliver fans a new way to experience his music. Optimized for IMAX theatres, fans will experience “Franchise” with powerful precision sound and the highest quality crystal-clear imagery on the biggest screens. Only IMAX’s unique theatre geometry will immerse audiences into Travis Scott’s vision with an audio-visual experience unlike any other. Witness “Franchise” first, only in IMAX.