 M.I.A. performing onstage at Coachella on Saturday (April 18) with her artist Rye Rye (Photo: Rap-Up) The last time we heard from rapper M.I.A. before she gave birth to her first child was at the Grammys, where she performed revealed she had felt labor contractions while on stage with T.I. and company for his hit single, "Swagger Like Us."
But, she's baacccck.
The British-born Tamil rapper graced the main stage at the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. on Saturday (April 18), where she ended up inviting several audience members on stage to dance.
Previous years, M.I.A. performed in smaller tents at the music festival. But after her breakout year, with the success of her hit "Paper Planes," she was welcomed to the main stage.
She took the stage -- accompanied by a team of professional dancers, as well as her first artist Rye Rye -- wearing neon glowing bracelets attached to her outfit, acid washed jeans, sunglasses, and a throwback No Limit Records t-shirt.
"Thanks for having me on the main stage," M.I.A. told the crowd. "Last year I only did six songs this year I want seven," the rapper continued, referring to her 2008 Coachella performance that was cut short by security when too many people tried to join her on stage.
"They tried to make me do the Oscars, I said no, no, no. They tried to make me do the Oscars, I said no, no, no," she said, referencing Amy Winehouse, whom she filled in for after the troubled singer pulled out last month. She was invited to perform her song, "O... Saya," from the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack, at this year's prestigious Hollywood event.
At Coachella, she performed "Bird Flu," "Galang," "Pull Up the People," "Bingo," "XR2," and "Boyz" ... before closing out her set with her smash "Paper Planes" single.
Despite the bump to the main stage, M.I.A. told her fans that next year, it'll be different. "Next time I’m back in the tent. I prefer feeling the sweat," she said.
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