Some of you have heard about her...some of you are like WTF is she?!?
Well allow me to introduce to you XL Recordings/Interscope Records label mate M.I.A. She's been making noise in the London music scene. Her song, "Bucky Done Gum" (which is showed up above) aired on TRL and has been apart of MTV's "You Hear It First."

She's showed up on her first North American concert tour, joining Gwen Stefani on her Harajuku Lovers Tour in late 2005.

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (born on July 17, 1977 in Hounslow, London, England) is a Sri Lanka-raised rapper, singer and artist. She is best known by her stage name, M.I.A.. Her style contains elements of grime, hip-hop, ragga, dancehall, electronica, reggaeton and baile funk.
Her American debut album, Arular, has the smash hits, "Bucky Done Gone", "Sunflowers" and "Galang."

Why you haven't heard about M.I.A:
The nature of M.I.A.'s art work and lyrics has led to increased curiosity into her career and levels of censorship of her work. M.I.A.'s official website has been visited by a curious US Government numerous times, MTV still refuses to play the video of her single "Sunshowers" until references to the PLO are removed from the song, and recently the artist was denied a visa to enter America, despite having previously lived and worked in the country. The reasons for the denial of a visa remain unclear. M.I.A. has however previously stated in an interview about censorship of her work:

"From Day One, this has been a mad, crazy thing: I say the things I'm not supposed to say, I look wrong, my music doesn't sound comfortable for any radio stations or genres, people are having issues with my videos when they're not rude or explicit or crazy controversial. I find it all really funny." --M.I.A.

The singer's currently banned from America. "M.I.A is reported to have been banned from entering the U.S. by immigration officials. The acclaimed urban star, who was born in the U.K. but raised in Sri Lanka, is understood to have failed in her bid to get a U.S. visa. " (For more, go to Yahoo! Music)
Discography
Albums
Piracy Funds Terrorism (2004)
Arular (2005) (Billboard 200: #190, Top Electronic Albums: #3, Top Heatseekers: #14, Top Independent Albums: #16)

Singles
"Galang" (Limited 500 copy independent vinyl single) (2003)
"Sunshowers" (2004) #22 CAN
"Galang" (Re-Release) (2004) #19 CAN
"Bucky Done Gun" (2005)/(2006)
"Galang '05" (2005), US Hot Dance Singles Sales #11


Guest appearances
Cornershop's "Topknot", single, 2004 - "Topknot [Cavemen's Mix]" featuring Bubbley Kaur & M.I.A.
Ciara's "Goodies", single, 2005 - "Goodies [Richard X's Remix]" featuring M.I.A.
Missy Elliott's The Cookbook, album, 2005 - "Bad Man" [featuring Vybez Kartel & M.I.A.]
Jamesy P's "Nookie", single, 2005 - "Nookie [Featuring M.I.A.]", "Nookie [M.I.A. & Jabba Remix]"
Nump's "I Got Grapes", single, 2006 - "I Got Grapes [M.I.A.'s Remix]"

Source...(Wikipedia)

BOTTOM LINE: M.I.A's music is rebellious, different and something new. Her music is fresh and uniquely her own.
Add her as your myspace friend here
Check out official website here

Order her album, Arular here