"First Internet Artist" - M.I.A: From Refugee to Rebel, Paper Planes, & Beefing With Oprah | Ep. 443

M.I.A.’s remarkable rise to musical fame was unexpected considering her refugee origins and the cultural disconnect she initially felt with the Western concept of a pop star. Her journey from a teenager uninterested in music to an international artist is interwoven with her experience of overcoming adversity and tapping into an innate talent for creativity.

M.I.A. grew up as a refugee in the UK, with an unconventional path to becoming a musician

Arriving in England as a refugee at the age of 10, M.I.A. grew up in a council flat, grappling with issues like racism prevalent during the 1980s. She had a different cultural understanding of what constituted a successful career. In Sri Lankan culture, the idea of a pop star was alien as the music industry emphasized anonymity, with playback singers providing the vocals for actors in movies rather than shining as individual artists.

M.I.A. did not grow up aspiring to be a pop star but wondered what constituted the zenith of success in Britain. She points out that in her native Sri Lanka, high aspirations centered around becoming a politician or a doctor, not a musical artist.

As a teenager, M.I.A. was initially not interested in becoming a musician, as the concept of a "pop star" was foreign to her Sri Lankan Tamil upbringing

During her teenage years in England, M.I.A. was initially detached from the desire to become a musician, identifying herself primarily as a refugee with no political inclination and having minimal contact with her absent father.

M.I.A.'s interest in music was sparked when she realized it was considered the "best thing to be" for young people in the UK in the 1980s

However, her perspective shifted when her friends in the council flat described "pop star" as the ultimate aspiration, in the midst of Madonna’s rise. This fascination with the idea of a pop star, coupled with its acknowledged status as the pinnacle achievement among British youth, prompted M.I.A. to contemplate a music career.

She reflects on her surprise upon learning that in the West, and particularly in England in 1985, becoming a pop star was regarded so highly. M.I.A. lived out her teenage years in pursuit of what was considered the mos ...

M.I.A. examines the complexities and challenges of her career within an industry that she believes is heavily influenced by powerful elites and corporations, making it difficult for authentic and independent artists to gain traction and maintain their artistic vision.

M.I.A. had a unique and unorthodox experience navigating the music industry

As an independent artist who broke through on the internet, M.I.A. did not have to compromise her artistic vision or conform to industry standards

M.I.A. broke onto the music scene as an internet sensation, with her early music downloaded a million times and catching the attention of industry execs who would typically overlook her for not meeting standards. Signed by the independent label XL Records run by Richard Russell, she acknowledges the freedom this path offered, emphasizing that her success might not have been possible if she were starting out in the current industry climate. Identifying as a renegade and outsider, she felt free from the pressure to conform, as she didn’t need to appease the industry or compromise her message for financial gain. Even as M.I.A. felt like an imposter with no musical tradition in her background, this did not deter her from blazing through the industry, leveraging the early days of the internet through platforms like LimeWire and Napster, before the likes of MySpace took off.

M.I.A. felt like an outsider and "imposter" in the music industry, as she came from a background with no musical traditions

Reflecting on her roots, M.I.A. felt like an imposter in the music industry, having come from a community with no history of musicians and no accessible mentors from her Sri Lankan Tamil background. This feeling persisted, only learning after her initial success that her name means "goddess of music" in Hindu. Despite gaining recognition, she always felt like an outsider, more focused on her work's serious aspects rather than fully immersing herself in the industry's social circles.

M.I.A. believes the music industry is heavily influenced by powerful elites and corporations, making it difficult for authentic and independent artists to succeed

M.I.A. has criticized the music industry for being influenced by an elite class in America, likening it to India's Brahmins who gatekeep knowledge and power. She observes the American structure as a pyramid, with power concentrated at the top and inaccessible to those at the bottom, making it hard for authentic voices and stories to rise through the ranks. M.I.A. tackles the difficulties she faced as an artist who spoke on real issues like those impacting her family and the Tamil people. S ...

M.I.A.'s career has been characterized by a strong integration of her political activism and advocacy for marginalized communities, shaping her public persona and influencing her confrontations with influential figures within the industry.

M.I.A.'s political activism and advocacy for marginalized communities became an integral part of her artistic identity

M.I.A. has used her growing platform to draw attention to the plight of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, a cause deeply personal to her given her background and family history. She shares connections between the Tamil language and ancient civilizations, showcasing the historical roots of her people's struggles. Her activism focuses not just on raising awareness, but on documenting systematic issues, as seen when she created a documentary addressing the exclusion of Tamils from the Sri Lankan census and explored how narratives are manipulated to diminish their presence.

Her advocacy for the Tamil cause was met with challenges, such as when she approached Oprah Winfrey to help bring attention to the issue only to face allegations of being labeled a terrorist, mirroring the stigmatization of the Tamil people at the time. Additionally, she discussed the Prevention of Terrorist Act (PTA) in her documentary, shedding light on the arrests of many Tamils without trial.

M.I.A.'s outspoken political views and actions, such as the Super Bowl incident, often put her at odds with powerful figures and institutions in the industry

She has faced conflicts with powerful figures like Oprah Winfrey and institutions such as the NFL, due to her advocacy and rebellious actions. The Super Bowl incident, where M.I.A. gave the middle finger during her performance, led to a lawsuit from the NFL, showcasing the tension between her political activism and the expectations of the entertainment industry.

M.I.A. sees h ...

M.I.A., known for her unapologetic political stances and vibrant creativity, has faced significant adversity throughout her career, attributed to her refusal to conform to industry pressures and political expectations.

M.I.A. experienced significant backlash and personal/professional setbacks due to her refusal to compromise her principles

M.I.A. reveals the deep personal and professional toll her impassioned artistry and unyielding principles have taken, painting a picture of an artist frequently silenced by powerful forces within the music industry. These attempts to silence her include harsh legal actions such as the NFL lawsuit that culminated in a demand for $16.6 million due to her actions during the Super Bowl half-time show. She reflects on her confrontations with influential figures like Jay-Z and Oprah, suggesting personal costs associated with her bold stance.

The challenges she faced due to her influence have been evident from the beginning, with M.I.A. acknowledging that there were concerted efforts to prevent her from becoming "very rich."

M.I.A. faced censorship, lawsuits, and other attempts to silence her from powerful individuals and organizations in the music industry

M.I.A. describes experiences that point to concerted efforts to silence her voice, including systematic reduction of views on her YouTube channel and instant attacks on her creative work. This demonstrates a pattern of backlash, reinforced by her recollections of feeling marginalized within the American power structure during a custody battle for her son. The custody battle, as well as wider conflicts with entities like Roc Nation, exemplifies her confrontations with industry powers.

M.I.A.'s custody battle with the son of a powerful music executive was a deeply personal and difficult experience that further strained her relationship with the industry

The custody battle over her son, which involved the son of Edgar Bronfman, a formidable figure in the music industry, was an intimate struggle that pitted her against American elite forces. Her personal recount of events, including her emails to Jay-Z being wiped and accusations of psychological damage to her child, suggest a ...