Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam (born 17 July 1977) better known by her stage name M.I.A., is a British songwriter, record producer, vocalist, visual artist, and clothing designer. She is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent.
Diplo (born Wesley Pentz, also variably known as Diplodocus, Wes Gully, and Wes Diplo) is a Philadelphia-based DJ and producer. Together with DJ Low Budget, he runs Hollertronix, a club and music collective. Among other jobs, Pentz worked as a school teacher in his native Philadelphia. In addition to his solo career, he dated and worked with M.I.A. Pentz’s alias, short for Diplodocus, derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs.
They met at a club in the fall of 2004. M.I.A. happened to walk in while he was mixing her song “Galang” off of her album “Arular.” They have been working together ever since. |
