M.I.A

We know that those huge U.S. brands do have political sway.

— M.I.A

That's what I miss, being a real human.

— M.I.A

You have to constantly redefine who you are.

— M.I.A

Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!

— M.I.A

It's the only thing to do when you're in London - hang out in a taxi.

— M.I.A

“Maybe there's glory in all the things I'm not.”

— M.I.A

Besides, isn't it more exciting when you don't have permission?

— M.I.A

In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.

— M.I.A

I find the new Justin Bieber video more violent and more of an assault to my eyes and senses than what I've…

— M.I.A

What really drives me mad about art is that, in America, the only thing you can do is to take it apart.

— M.I.A

I fly like paper, get high like planes If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name

— M.I.A

If it's just politics that's running music, f - k that. I'm out of here! I can't think of anything more boring.

— M.I.A

Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?

— M.I.A

I am the bridge between the East and the West. I don't want to abandon one for the other.

— M.I.A

Instead of going to war, we should put the money into arts and culture and let creative people define what Britain is.

— M.I.A

There has been an effect of business rap on the output of today's rap music. But I don't think that's the modern…

— M.I.A

Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy…

— M.I.A

You can't turn up at college in stilettos and say you're gonna be a filmmaker. In the college, they were teaching me…

— M.I.A

You need everyone to get together and just believe in it, and lead by example that it is possible to be outside…

— M.I.A

When I started off in England, HMV or Tower Records would come to meetings and be, like, 'We just don't know what…

— M.I.A

What's wrong with hip-hop [is that] it became so one-dimensional; it became like a businessman thing. It's run out of creativity. It…

— M.I.A

I dont like the idea of spirituality done the way its done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity,…

— M.I.A

When I first came out, I was a film student and my mom sewed clothes. I was already doing a million things…

— M.I.A

My dad grew up in a mud hut and studied by candlelight. He was 14 when he got a scholarship to Russia.…

— M.I.A

In the beginning [of my career] I definitely felt a responsibility because I was representing a bunch of people [Sri lankans] who…

— M.I.A

I'm just so grateful for the 10 years that I had in Sri Lanka when it was in the middle of a…

— M.I.A

When mayors get together they probably have better conversations and have better notes to share about running different cities, and just do…

— M.I.A

It's interesting, because I named my first album after my dad because I wanted to find him. My second album was named…

— M.I.A

In my head I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, Damn, that's a pop song! I can practice in…

— M.I.A

I get called "ISIS" now. Why don't we have a name-and-shame weapons dealership website? Instead, we're like, "Oh my God, are you…

— M.I.A

When we moved to England in 1986, I was ten years old and I didn't know anything about punk or hip hop.…

— M.I.A

The mentality has taken over because of the way we've promoted things. It's been accepted, to live with fear, and to fear…

— M.I.A

I don't consider myself a musician. I'm an artist.

— M.I.A

I feel like I can't really have a comment.

— M.I.A

Everyone has that moment where they just rebel.

— M.I.A

If music's a political place, I'm out.

— M.I.A

I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyone's perception of me.

— M.I.A

Whoever's inside is inside; whoever's out is out.

— M.I.A

Just make music; don't talk about politics.

— M.I.A

I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.

— M.I.A