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

PBD Podcast・78 minutes read

Maya reflects on her unique journey in the music industry, questioning her success and role amidst legal battles and personal-professional entanglements. Despite facing challenges, she discusses the evolution of music platforms, influences on K-pop artists, and her decision to prioritize motherhood over her career.

Insights

Maya's journey in the music industry was marked by her renegade and outsider rebel persona, allowing her to carve a unique path without conforming to powerful figures.
Despite initial feelings of impostor syndrome, Maya embraced her accidental success as destiny, navigating legal battles and industry challenges with resilience and artistic exploration.
The conversation delves into broader themes of identity, language preservation, and global conflicts, shedding light on the significance of cultural heritage, freedom of speech, and the nuanced interplay of power dynamics in society.

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Recent questions

What challenges did Maya face in the music industry?
Maya faced challenges like censorship and suppression.

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Summary

00:00

Maya: Rebel Pop Star's Unconventional Journey

Maya discusses her lack of sleep, seeing it as a positive for avoiding wasted words.
She mentions her strong opinions and fearlessness, leading to her performance at the Super Bowl with Madonna.
Maya questions the justification of a $16.6 million lawsuit against her.
She describes herself as a renegade and outsider rebel in the music industry.
Maya reflects on her unique purpose in the industry, not needing to conform to powerful figures.
Growing up as a refugee in England, Maya recalls being different and aspiring to be a pop star.
She highlights her journey in the music industry, including being managed by Jay-Z and Jimmy Iovine.
Maya discusses her independent breakthrough in the music industry through the internet.
Reflecting on her career, Maya felt like an impostor initially due to her background and lack of musical lineage.
Despite feeling like an outsider, Maya appreciates the industry for allowing her artistic exploration and self-discovery.

16:09

"Music industry challenges and rebellious success story"

The artist discovered that her name meant the goddess of music in Hinduism, leading her to feel like an impostor due to her lack of formal music training.
Despite feeling like her success was accidental, she believed it was destiny and that the industry played a role in her rise to fame.
The artist acknowledged the presence of both good and bad people in the music industry, noting that the bad ones often rise to power.
She discussed the challenges faced in the industry, including censorship and the suppression of talented individuals.
The conversation shifted to the evolution of music platforms, from LimeWire and Napster to Myspace and YouTube, highlighting the difficulty in monetizing music.
The artist reflected on her rebellious image and how she became a case study for duplicating success in the music industry.
She mentioned the influence of her music on K-pop artists, indicating that her model was replicated in different contexts.
The artist recounted a controversial incident at the Super Bowl, where she was sued for a gesture made during her performance.
Despite facing legal challenges, she refused to apologize and questioned the disproportionate response to the incident compared to others.
The artist discussed the duration of her success, noting a four-year window of peak creativity and the eventual decision to prioritize motherhood over her career.

33:26

Mia's Legal Battle and Industry Dynamics

Mia was managed by Jay-Z and faced a restraining order preventing her from leaving Brooklyn for 15 years until her son turned 15.
She found it challenging to fight the legal battle in Brooklyn against major American powers with American lawyers.
Mia eventually reached an agreement to move back to London with her son, refuting claims of losing custody.
Post the legal case, Mia distanced herself from the music industry due to personal-professional entanglements.
Over 15 years, the perception of Mia and her confrontations with powerful figures in the industry has shifted.
Mia recalls conflicts with Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Oprah, highlighting changing dynamics over time.
Mia's father was associated with a group called iros, not the Tigers, amidst accusations of terrorism.
The music industry has consolidated into two major corporate labels, Universal and Warner Music.
Jay-Z played a significant role in launching Mia and Rihanna's careers, while Kanye West added creativity to the mix.
Mia reflects on the power dynamics between Jay-Z and Kanye, their collaboration on "Watch the Throne," and their political affiliations.

51:13

Elite, power, and influence in society.

Barack Obama should be given back his Nobel Prize of 2009.
Jay-Z transitioned from not being an elite to becoming one.
The Brahman and Matangi in Hinduism represent the elite and the marginalized.
The Brahman and Brothman play similar roles in society.
The elite families are gatekeepers in society, spiritually guiding access.
Society is structured as a pyramid, with power at the top filtering down.
The artist sees themselves as an edgefinder in society.
Jay-Z's role in the music industry and his impact on black artists.
The artist feels like a sacrificial lamb for the greater cause.
Money amplifies rather than corrupts individuals.

01:09:38

"Reflections on Identity, Tradition, and Conflict"

The speaker reflects on watching a video and seeing innocence, joy, and tradition in it.
They discuss the challenge of explaining one's life experiences to others, especially if they've had a unique life.
The speaker mentions the difficulty of reconnecting with family after 16 years and trying to convey their true personality.
They recall a time when they were not interested in materialistic things and were exposed to a dangerous situation due to political unrest.
The speaker highlights the oppressive nature of a law called PTA, allowing arbitrary arrests without trial, leading to a desire to make a documentary about it.
They mention their father's involvement in a movement fighting for Tamil rights and the conflict with the Sri Lankan government.
The speaker describes the LTTE organization, its disciplined nature, and the leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
They discuss the origins of the Tamil language and the conflict in Sri Lanka stemming from the suppression of Tamil identity.
The speaker delves into the Elam civilization, its connection to Mesopotamia, and the significance of the Tamil language.
They reflect on the current global issues related to DNA testing, ownership of genetic data, and the implications for identity and conflict resolution.

01:29:13

"Jesus Spoke Tamil on the Cross"

Some believe that Jesus spoke Tamil on the cross, with evidence from Mel Gibson's movie where specific Tamil words are used.
The Tamil word "apaa" means father, "Paro" means look after them, and "elani" signifies everything is done, contrasting with the traditional English phrases attributed to Jesus.
The importance of preserving Tamil, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Egyptian languages is highlighted for theological and historical understanding.
The discussion shifts to America, with a nuanced view of the country's role and the importance of information and freedom of speech.
Views on capitalism are explored, emphasizing the need for a variety of ideas and coexistence rather than one entity controlling everything.
The focus turns to creating EMF protective clothing as a response to the monetization of human bodies and minds, emphasizing privacy and resistance.
The conversation ends with a mention of the speaker's son, a blend of Tamil, Black, and Jewish heritage, and a call to support the speaker's clothing line.

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