There are five known artists under this name:

1. Mathangi “Maya” Ar… Read Full Bio ↴There are five known artists under this name:

1. Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam also known as M.I.A., (born 18 July 1975 in Hounslow, London, U.K.) is a British artist of Sri Lankan descent. As a baby she moved with her family to their native Sri Lanka, where her father became increasingly politically active in militant activities. As the Civil War escalated the rest of the family was forced to flee as refugees, first to India and then the UK. “M.I.A.” [“Missing In Action”] references both her London neighborhood (Acton) and her politically tumultuous youth.

Her style contains elements of hip-hop, reggae, alternative, dance hall, electro and baile funk and is strongly inspired by her Sri Lankan background.

2. American Punk/Hardcore band formed in Orange County, CA in 1981 by Chris Moon, drums; Mike Conley, bass; Nick Adams, guitar (all previously of Las Vegas, NV punk band The Swell); and Art Carasco, vocals. Their sound was generally hardcore and thrasher, though they produced more melodic and progressive sounds in their later albums. Allmusic called the band "one of the 50 best So-Cal punk bands of the great early-'80s second wave explosion. In 1984 they signed a deal with the cult Alternative Tentacles label, after the label's founder, Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, saw them play at a secret illegal punk nightclub in Las Vegas. Biafra was impressed by Mike Conley's distinctive voice, saying "The minute you hear a song with him singing you know it's him." They released the album Murder in a Foreign Place on Alternative Tentacles in 1984, followed in 1985 by Notes From the Underground on National Trust Records, and in 1987 by After the Fact on Flipside Records. The band split up in 1988. In 2001, Alternative Tentacles released Lost Boys, a 37-song retrospective of the band's work, including Last Rites, Murder in a Foreign Place, and several additional tracks. On February 28, 2008 vocalist Mike Conley was found dead in a Chicago hotel parking lot. Conley was taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m. On April 27, 2008, there was a secret warm-up show at Detroit Bar featuring Todd Sampson of Self Abuse and Samson's Army on vocals, Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys on guest vocals, Chris Moon and Larry Pearson on drums, Nick Adams on guitar, and Bob Thomson on bass. The next day, the "Beautiful Noise" benefit show took place at the Anaheim House of Blues with Jigsaw, Naked Soul, Cadillac Tramps, Social Distortion and MIA with the same lineup as the previous night, but adding Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds on guest vocals. The proceeds of "Beautiful Noise" went to Mike Conley's family.

(3) Formed in the mid 70s, Independent Musicians Associated (MIA) was a group of musicians, technicians and drawers gathered together by Lito and Liliana Vitale’s parents. They produced their own records and concerts in an independent way. Their music is a complex symphonic rock with definite Argentinean/latin folk influence with multiple chorals and vocals beautifully contrasting with the keyboards and a great guitar sound upon a strong rhythmic section. They were highly influenced by symphonic music, more noteworthy by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant and Focus.

4. Merriweathers is a member of Underground Resistance under the alias of The Unknown Soldier.

5. mia's page (Michaela Grobelny).

Foreign Friend
M.I.A. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Yeah!

There ain't nothing to it
With the friend I keep it cool with

Love it, we been through it
Sticking like glue, now chew it
Bad girls, hands up
Ride or die and we feel it
Pull me closer if you think you can hang
If you can't then screw it

Gonna be your best friend
Gonna make that shit trend
I'm gonna be your foreign friend
All the way to the end

I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'ma need you like your best bless dem
I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh
(Go best friend, go best friend)
I'ma squeeze you like my best friend

You can be my best friend
You know too much to be a foe
You were there from before
In the days when I had no doe
Break bread, watch Breaking Bad
Always there when I breakup bad
In bed, feeling so sad
You were always there as a comrade
I know you think like me
Life ain't easy for the people like we
Say life's a box of chocolates
We say who packed it, do you feel me?
What you do's none of my business
But I want you to make me a witness
Wanna witness the greatness?
Cause we best friends through health and sickness

Gonna be your best friend
Gonna make that shit trend
I'm gonna be your foreign friend
All the way to the end

I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh oh

(You can be my foreing friend yea yea
You can be my foreign friend)
I said as a refugee, you know
Where we come from, we get out our tent
Then we climb over the fence
We don't wanna cause an offence
Then we get a Benz, flat screen tv, and we pay rent
Then we think we made it
Then we be your foreign friend

Best friend, can't condemn
If you give her you are banned
Partner defend till the end
All people depend on a friend
There's nothing to it
With the friend I keep it cool with
Fuck it, we been through it
We sticking like glue, now chew it
Bad girls, hands up
Ride or die and we feel it
Pull me closer if you think you can hang
If you can't then screw it

Gonna be your best friend
Gonna make that shit trend
I'm gonna be your foreign friend
All the way to the end

I'ma treat you like my best friend
Oh oh oh oh
I'ma need you like your best bless dem
I'm gonna
Gonna be your best friend
Then I'm gonna
Gonna make that shit trend
Gonna gonna
When you live in your hands
Cause me and you hanging
It could be gasping, yea
I'ma treat you like my best friend
(Go best friend, go best friend)
(Go best friend, go best friend)
Yea
You can be my foreign friend yea yea

You can be my foreign friend
Come down to my if you condone, again

Overall Meaning

The song "Foreign Friend" by Dexta Daps featuring M.I.A. talks about the idea of finding a friend whom you can rely on through thick and thin. The song emphasizes the importance of a friendship built with support in good and bad times. The lyrics convey the idea that finding a true friend is rare, and once you find one, you must cherish and treat them like your best friend because they have been there with you through it all.

The song opens with the artist's promise to treat their friend like their best friend. The chorus emphasizes this point, repeating, "I'ma treat you like my best friend" while adding that the person will be treated like a foreign friend. The lyrics explain how the artist and their friend have been through a lot together, making them closer and more connected than ever. They have a bond that can't be broken, and even when times get tough, they are always there for each other.

Overall, "Foreign Friend" is a song that emphasizes the value of true friendship. It speaks to the emotional connections we have and the need we all have for those who are there for us.

Line by Line Meaning

I'ma treat you like my best friend
I will treat you with the same love and respect as my closest friend

There ain't nothing to it
It's not complicated or difficult

With the friend I keep it cool with
I maintain a calm and collected demeanor with my friends

Love it, we been through it
Despite the challenges, we have a deep love and friendship

Sticking like glue, now chew it
We are strongly bonded and inseparable

Bad girls, hands up
Girls who are confident, daring, and unafraid

Ride or die and we feel it
We are devoted friends who will stand by each other no matter what happens

Pull me closer if you think you can hang
If you can handle the intensity of our friendship, come closer

If you can't then screw it
If you can't handle our friendship, forget about it

Gonna be your best friend
I will become your closest companion

Gonna make that shit trend
I will ensure that our friendship becomes a popular and lasting trend

I'm gonna be your foreign friend
As someone from a different culture, I will bring a unique perspective and experience to our friendship

You can be my best friend
I invite you to become my closest and most trusted companion

You know too much to be a foe
We have shared too many experiences and secrets to become enemies

In the days when I had no doe
During a time when I was broke and struggling financially

Break bread, watch Breaking Bad
Let's share a meal and watch the television show Breaking Bad

Always there when I breakup bad
You are always there for me when I am going through a tough time

In bed, feeling so sad
During moments of sadness and vulnerability

You were always there as a comrade
As a loyal and trusted friend

I know you think like me
We share similar thoughts and perspectives

Life ain't easy for the people like we
Our experiences are often challenging and difficult

Say life's a box of chocolates
Some people view life as being full of surprises and uncertainties

We say who packed it, do you feel me?
We believe that we have control over the outcome of our lives

What you do's none of my business
I respect your privacy and autonomy

But I want you to make me a witness
I desire to be present and supportive of your life experiences

Wanna witness the greatness?
I would love to see you achieve your full potential and greatness

Cause we best friends through health and sickness
We are committed to being loyal and supportive friends throughout all of life's ups and downs

Then we be your foreign friend
We may be considered foreign or different by some, but we will still be great friends

Best friend, can't condemn
My closest friend is someone I will never judge or criticize

If you give her you are banned
If someone hurts or offends my best friend, I will cut them out of my life

Partner defend till the end
I will protect and advocate for my friends, no matter what happens

All people depend on a friend
Friendship and social support are essential for human well-being and happiness

When you live in your hands
When you are going through a difficult time or facing a challenge

Cause me and you hanging
Because we are close friends and companions

It could be gasping, yea
Our friendship could be perceived as extreme or intense by some

Come down to my if you condone, again
If you are supportive of our friendship, come join us

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LOUIS ANTHONY GRANDISON, MAYA ARULPRAGASAM, CRAIG ANDREW HARRISINGH, DAVID HARRISINGH, CRAIG HARRISINGH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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