M.I.A.

Mathangi%20%u201CMaya%u201D%20Arulpragasam%2C%20%28born%2017%20July%201977%20in%20Hounslow%2C%20London%2C%20U.K.%29%20is%20a%20British%20artist%20of%20Sri%20Lankan%20descent.%20As%20a%20baby%20she%20moved%20with%20her%20family%20to%20their%20native%20Sri%20Lanka%2C%20where%20her%20father%20became%20increasingly%20politically%20active%20in%20militant%20activities.%20As%20the%20Civil%20War%20escalated%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20family%20was%20forced%20to%20flee%20as%20refugees%2C%20first%20to%20India%20and%20then%20the%20UK.%20%u201CM.I.A.%u201D%20%5B%u201CMissing%20In%20Action%u201D%5D%20references%20both%20her%20London%20neighborhood%20%28Acton%29%20and%20her%20politically%20tumultuous%20youth.%0A%0AHer%20style%20contains%20elements%20of%20hip-hop%2C%20reggae%2C%20alternative%2C%20dance%20hall%2C%20electro%20and%20baile%20funk%20and%20is%20strongly%20inspired%20by%20her%20Sri%20Lankan%20background.