M.I.A. (a.k.a. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) is an eclectic hip-hop-influenced artist who was raised in London and Sri Lanka.  She released her debut album in 2005 and has been on the cutting edge ever since. ‘Bad Girls’, nominated for the Best Video VMA this year, is her latest in a series of controversial videos. M.I.A. is the only artist ever to have been nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Brit Award and the Mercury Prize.