The Evolution of M.I.A.

Click on to follow the controversial artist's journey.

M.I.A. - M.I.A. has been shocking, entertaining and offending the masses well before her Madonna collabo, the Super Bowl or "Fingergate." Click on to follow M.I.A.'s journey. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

1 / 10

M.I.A. - M.I.A. has been shocking, entertaining and offending the masses well before her Madonna collabo, the Super Bowl or "Fingergate." Click on to follow M.I.A.'s journey. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

Born Fighter - M.I.A.'s backstory is as unique and diverse as her music. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on July 18, 1975, in London to parents of Hindu and Sri Lankan Tamil descent, when M.I.A. was six months old her family moved to Jaffna, a Tamil town in Sri Lanka where her father became a political activist fighting discrimination against Tamils, an oppressed minority. She and her family were displaced by the Sri Lankan civil war and had violent run-ins with Sri Lankan soldiers; they eventually moved to India and then settled back in London as a result.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

2 / 10

Born Fighter - M.I.A.'s backstory is as unique and diverse as her music. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on July 18, 1975, in London to parents of Hindu and Sri Lankan Tamil descent, when M.I.A. was six months old her family moved to Jaffna, a Tamil town in Sri Lanka where her father became a political activist fighting discrimination against Tamils, an oppressed minority. She and her family were displaced by the Sri Lankan civil war and had violent run-ins with Sri Lankan soldiers; they eventually moved to India and then settled back in London as a result.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Terror Alert - After changing her focus from visual arts to music in the early 2000s, M.I.A. began making noise in 2003 when her cacophonic debut single "Galang" leaked to DJs and the web. In 2004 she turned the buzz up a notch by linking with producer/party-rocker Diplo to release her acclaimed mash-up mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism. (Photo: Courtesy miauk.com)

3 / 10

Terror Alert - After changing her focus from visual arts to music in the early 2000s, M.I.A. began making noise in 2003 when her cacophonic debut single "Galang" leaked to DJs and the web. In 2004 she turned the buzz up a notch by linking with producer/party-rocker Diplo to release her acclaimed mash-up mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism. (Photo: Courtesy miauk.com)

Genre Bender - With the Internet chatter over M.I.A. growing to a roar, she inked a deal with XL Recordings and released her debut album, Arular, which wowed listeners and critics with genre-bending songs like "Bucky Done Gun" and "Sunshowers." (Photo: Courtesy Mercury Records)

4 / 10

Genre Bender - With the Internet chatter over M.I.A. growing to a roar, she inked a deal with XL Recordings and released her debut album, Arular, which wowed listeners and critics with genre-bending songs like "Bucky Done Gun" and "Sunshowers." (Photo: Courtesy Mercury Records)

Rebel Music - M.I.A. broke through even bigger with her sophomore album, 2007's Kala. Written and recorded around the world while M.I.A. worked out visa issues in the U.S., the album expertly smashed together genres from around the world into futuristic, totally unique dance music laced with unflinching commentary on globalization and capitalism. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

5 / 10

Rebel Music - M.I.A. broke through even bigger with her sophomore album, 2007's Kala. Written and recorded around the world while M.I.A. worked out visa issues in the U.S., the album expertly smashed together genres from around the world into futuristic, totally unique dance music laced with unflinching commentary on globalization and capitalism. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

ADVERTISEMENT
Flyin' High - Kala standout "Paper Planes" took M.I.A. to a whole new level. Riding a classic sample from the Clash and a catchy hook, the song was inescapable, popping up everywhere from the acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire  to other rappers' mixtape freestyles. (Photo: Courtesy XL/ Interscope records)

6 / 10

Flyin' High - Kala standout "Paper Planes" took M.I.A. to a whole new level. Riding a classic sample from the Clash and a catchy hook, the song was inescapable, popping up everywhere from the acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire  to other rappers' mixtape freestyles. (Photo: Courtesy XL/ Interscope records)

'Swagga Like Us' – T.I., Featuring M.I.A., Jay Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne - King of the South T.I. landed a major hit in 2008 with the song "Swagga Like Us," featuring rap heavyweights Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Kanye West and English rapper/singer M.I.A. The chart-topping tune also earned the Hustle Gang boss a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

7 / 10

Just One of the Guys - "Paper Planes" became even more ubiquitous when Kanye West sampled one of her lines for the smash posse cut "Swagga Like Us" in 2008, which featured Jay-Z, West, T.I. and Lil Wayne. The four rappers and a very pregnant M.I.A. performed the song — as well as "Paper Planes," of course — at the 2009 Grammys. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Baby Boy - M.I.A. and her fiance, Benjamin Brewer, welcomed a baby son, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, into the world just days after the Grammys in February 2009.(Photo:  Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

8 / 10

Baby Boy - M.I.A. and her fiance, Benjamin Brewer, welcomed a baby son, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, into the world just days after the Grammys in February 2009.(Photo:  Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

The Darkside - M.I.A. switched things up by pursuing a darker, harder industrial sound on her third album, Maya. Critics were divided, but the album still debuted at No. 9 on Billboard, her first top 10 bow in the U.S. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

9 / 10

The Darkside - M.I.A. switched things up by pursuing a darker, harder industrial sound on her third album, Maya. Critics were divided, but the album still debuted at No. 9 on Billboard, her first top 10 bow in the U.S. (Photo: Courtesy Interscope Records)

Show Stoppers – February 5, 2012 - Stealing the show from the New York Giants and New England Patriots, pop music legend Madonna recruited  Nick Minaj and M.I.A. for her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show performance. The trio performed Madge's latest smash “Give Me All Your Luvin'.”(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

10 / 10

Fingergate - Madonna tapped Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her new song "Give Me All Your Luvin," and gave them both prominent roles in her halftime performance this past Super Bowl Sunday. But M.I.A. sparked controversy when she flashed a middle finger during her verse on the song. Hey — at least it wasn't a nipple! Look for M.I.A. to spark more drama — on record, onstage, on camera and off — with her next album, due out this summer.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)