Mathangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam: A Voice For The Dispossessed Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam MBE (born July 18, 1975), known professionally as M.I.A., is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist whose music blends hip hop, electronica, world music, and alternative influences into powerfully evocative soundscapes. Born in London to Sri Lankan Tamil parents, her early life was profoundly shaped by the tumultuous ba…