8/9/2008

Marshall Burns

MIA denies reports of her lyrics supporting terrorism in Sri Lanka.

British-born hip-hop artist MIA has gone against accusations that she supports terrorists, after her *Billboard* success here in the U.S. put her political views in the spotlight, reported the BBC.  
  
Sri Lankan rapper DeLon said MIA's artwork and lyrics condoned the actions of the Tamil Tigers. The artist herself is a daughter of a militant Tamil Tiger activist. She released a statement that described her music as "the voice of a civilian refugee," and also said, "I don't support terrorism and never have," according to the BBC.  
  
A YouTube video brought DeLon's accusations to public notice in which he rapped over MIA's single, "Paper Planes," while showing images of violence connected to the Tamil Tigers. He claimed that using images of the tiger and discussing violence in her lyrics promoted the aims of the Sri Lankan separatists. According to the BBC, he said, "You know what the tiger represents: the death of the innocent."  
  
MIA claimed her accuser was just trying to gain publicity. In a statement to Pitchfork, a U.S. Web site, she said, "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion," reported the BBC.  
  
MIA has experienced success in the U.S. with her first album, *Paper Planes*. It is based around a sample of The Clash's *Straight to Hell*, and has reached No. 16 on the singles chart after being a part of the new film, *Pineapple Express*.