M.I.A.

It'd be a mistake to call M.I.A. a rising star. With an already established fan base and several nods from top magazines - i.e. The New Yorker and the ultra-hip FADER - the Sri Lankan Tamil singer/artist/activist is doing it all.

One visit to her website and you'll see that she packs an unconventional punch: her funky-fab dance songs are brimming with political messages and her artwork - reminiscent of BloPen nostalgia - is gritty and politically menacing.

If you haven't had the chance to hear her, listen here.