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).
Warriors
M.I.A. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tick tick tick I collected my ticks
Top dog even though I didn't speak no English
Guess I got grit 'cause I suffer for my shit
Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks
You can't fix this 'cause I'm in the same mix
Guess I'm in the air you can smell me like Vicks
It's my last wish
One snare one kick oh look at this
I freak in minds like
Giddy up giddy up giddy up
Come take a ride
Light the city up city up city up
You've got me fired up
Sound boy got me back up
I keep my head downbeat it up beat it up beat it up
M.i.a
Warriors in the dance
Warriors in the dance
Gangsters bangers were puttin' 'em in a trance
Put them in a trance
Om
We're putting em in a trance
Warriors in a dance
W-w-w-warriors in a dance
W-w-w-warriors in a dance
Warriors in a dance
W-w-w-warriors in a dance
W-w-w-warriors in a dance
I tick tick tick I collected my ticks
Top dog even though I didn't speak no English
Guess I got grit 'cause I suffer for my shit
Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks
You can't fix this 'cause I'm in the same mix
Guess I'm in the air you can smell me like Vicks
This chicks bringing back this
It's my last wish
One snare one kick oh look at this
M.I.A.
Warriors in the dance
Warriors in the dance
Gangsters bangers were puttin 'em in a trance
Put them in a trance
Om
We're putting them in a trance
Warriors in the dance
Warriors in the dance
Om
M.I.A. murda middle finger
Fuck 'em other bitches that try to be my ringer
This time I come as singer
Next time ill come as pain
I ain't talking money
But I can make it rain
Bitches try to get me with
Their witches on cocaine
Snitches turn to dust
And I wash em down the drain
Vitamins for your brain
Protein for your weight gain
Warriors in the dance
This is how we train!
The lyrics to M.I.A.'s song, Warriors, are about her journey from humble beginnings in a small town to becoming a successful artist. She proudly declares herself as "Top dog" and claims that even though she struggled, she made it to the top. She speaks of her passion for music and how it fuels her: "I freak in minds like/ Giddy up giddy up giddy up/ Come take a ride/ Light the city up city up city up/ You've got me fired up/ Sound boy got me back up/ I keep my head down/beat it up beat it up beat it up."
In the chorus, she talks about the power of music to put people in a trance, with "Gangsters bangers were puttin' 'em in a trance/ Put them in a trance." The song then moves on to her asserting her dominance as an artist and her disdain for those who try to bring her down: "M.I.A. murda middle finger/ F*** 'em other bitches that try to be my ringer/ This time I come as singer/ Next time I'll come as pain." The song ends with her talking about how she trains like a warrior and is always ready for whatever comes her way.
Line by Line Meaning
Om
Opening chant
I tick tick tick I collected my ticks
I've been working hard and collecting accomplishments
Top dog even though I didn't speak no English
I'm the best despite challenges and language barriers
Guess I got grit 'cause I suffer for my shit
I have determination and work hard for what I have
Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks
I started from humble beginnings and made it to the big city
You can't fix this 'cause I'm in the same mix
I'm unchangeable and unique in my own way
Guess I'm in the air you can smell me like Vicks
I'm everywhere and my presence is felt
This chicks bringing back this
I'm bringing something new and original to the table
It's my last wish
This is my final request before I go
One snare one kick oh look at this
With simple beats, I still create something amazing
I freak in minds like
I have a unique style that captivates and inspires people
Giddy up giddy up giddy up
Let's go!
Come take a ride
Join me on this journey
Light the city up city up city up
Let's make a huge impact and leave a mark on this city
You've got me fired up
I'm excited and passionate about what I'm doing
Sound boy got me back up
The music supports and motivates me
I keep my head downbeat it up beat it up beat it up
I focus on my work and keep hustling
Warriors in the dance
We're strong and skilled dancers
Gangsters bangers were puttin' 'em in a trance
Our music and dancing is so good, it hypnotizes people
We're putting em in a trance
Our performance is entrancing
W-w-w-warriors in a dance
We're so good, we need to say it three times
M.I.A. murda middle finger
Here comes M.I.A., delivering a bold message
Fuck 'em other bitches that try to be my ringer
I don't care about the competition that tries to emulate me
This time I come as singer
I'm taking the stage as a vocalist
Next time ill come as pain
I'll make a huge impact that will shake things up
I ain't talking money
It's not about the money
But I can make it rain
But I do have the power to make a huge impact
Bitches try to get me with
Other people try to bring me down with
Their witches on cocaine
Their powerful and addictive tactics
Snitches turn to dust
Those who betray me will fall apart
And I wash em down the drain
And I move on from their negative influence
Vitamins for your brain
My music and message is good for your mind
Protein for your weight gain
My music and message is good for your body
This is how we train!
This is how we work hard and become the best
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CHAUNCEY A. HOLLIS, MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cedric Kouamé
She's sick for mixing indians sounds, traditional, electronic, hip hop, pop, all that together. Goddess of music behaviour.
Nicole Sams
It’s the samples and Tamil rhythm for meeee.
Zach Bond
She truly is innovative. Her creativity alone deserves acclaim. Let alone being a modern day rapper and actually discussing real world problems and philosophy and religion and politics. Who knew rapper could discuss something other than sipping crystal and smoking weed and fucking bitches. I applaud M.I.A. and truly believe she is one of the great female rappers.
Lmpfapo1
Anyone who really listens to hip hop knows rappers discuss important shit.
Zach Bond
well i'd like to know who you listen to lmao
Lmpfapo1
Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Big Daddy Kane, Big L, Blackstar (Mos Def + Talib Kweli, individually good artists), Blue Scholars, Busdriver, Cannibal Ox, Cunninlynguists, Cyne, De La Soul, Deltron 3030, some Earl Sweatshirt, Blu, Fatlip, Pharcyde, Tribe Called Quest, MF Doom, Fugees, Da Fat Cat Clique, Hail Mary Mallon, Eyedea, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jurassic 5, old Kid Cudi, new Mac Miller, RA The Rugged Man, Royal Flush, Shahmen, among many others.
Word of advice, just because a rapper has a song boasting about how awesome he/she is, doesn't mean they don't have other songs about serious shit. Nearly every single rapper has at least one song talking about how dope they are.
Lotte Twilt
That is what hiphop originaly is ..
Alex King
Came back to this album and am realizing how good and ahead of its time it is
B L
still true
Someone4444
This woman is so underrated first of all, all of her music is fucking eclectic, she writes her own songs, she has an incredible voice and she brought something new to the table M.I.A is truly a dedicated hardworking artist cause no disrespect but talent is something that someone has been gifted with but true art is passion and dedication and working to make something different M.I.A You are a legend now and forever.