Yes yes, slightly old news, but nevertheless heartwarming: M.I.A. announced on her Myspace page that she gave birth to her baby on February 11th–just days after performing on the Grammys.

But it was her past tourmate, Afrikan Boy, who leaked the first photos of the babe to the ‘net.

Wrote Afrikan Boy:

I just woke up when I recieved this baby picture from Maya of her newborn son… He is handsoommmeee!! I need to teach him how to make pounded yam and get straight As in school like me!!! Love from Maya Ben and I Y H K D! Welcome to the world!

M.I.A. later confirmed the birth on her own Myspace page:

Saturday, February 14, 2009

T O F A N S F R I E N D S O N F A M I L Y . M Y B A B Y I S H E R E
HAPPY VALENTINES!

SUNDAY NITE I CA M E HOME FROM THE GRAMMY’S STILL IN THE MOOD TO PARTY , I COUDA EASILY GONE OUT BUT I WENT HOME INSEAD , LUCKY I DID!! COZ MY EARLY STAGE LABOUR KICKED IN AROUND 2 AM .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfndz8pW9WY

MY BABY WAS BORN WEDNESDAY , HE IS HEALTHY , FINE , BEAUTIFUL AND THE MOST AMZING THING EVER ON THIS PLANET, OF COURSE IM HIS MUM!!!

ME AND BABY ARE PUTTING OUR TOUR DATES FOR 2010 TOGETHER
AND MAKING MIX TAPES
AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO BREAK OUT OF THE HOSPITAL !

HOPEFULLY THE WORLD IS BEEN TICKING ALONG AND I AINT MISSED MUCH!

C U SOON ,

AND MY BABY BOY SAYZ HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

…don’t ever make me watch the Jonas Brothers perform with Stevie Wonder ever again. It’s just too painful.

…watching a uber pregnant M.I.A. perform alongside T.I., Jay-Z, and Lil’ Wayne, was awesome. She is possibly the coolest woman in music EVER.

…make all of Coldplay wear the same purple outfits that Will Champion was wearing.

…keep giving Jennifer Hudson awards for her amazing singing, but make it a stipulation that she’s not allowed to wear outfits that cover her face anymore. (Luckily her makeup was gorgeous.)

…Katy Perry should not be allowed to perform anywhere, let alone as Chiquita Banana.

…Alison Krauss and Robert Plant doing “Rich Woman” = fantastic. It kinda was like this:

…don’t ever allow Gwyneth Paltrow to present again dressed up as a gold disco ball. Especially when she’s wearing some throwaway shiny tights from some high school cheerleader conference. Especially when she’s salivating over Radiohead. (Are you trying to make her British-obsessed lady boner explode? Granted, it’s hard to say who was more excited, her or her Radiohead-worshiping husband.)

…thank you for making Zooey Deschanel the obligatory actress/singer/songwriter presenter of the night instead of Scarlert Johansson, even if she had the laborious task of explaining about 50 times to reporters that she’s NOT Katy Perry.

…even though I think the Beatles are amazing, I don’t think Paul McCartney is amazing. And I’m insulted that he only did a Beatles song. John Lennon is turning over in his grave.

…thanks for giving Taylor Swift to redeem herself from that awful SNL performance by allowing her to perform with a simple arrangement and no dance moves. However, I still preferred Miley Cyrus, because despite what anyone says, she can actually sing.

On Wednesday night, a very preggers M.I.A. made an appearance on the PBS show Tavis Smiley. She happily showed off her protruding baby bump, and her due date (around Grammy night, February 8th), and her entrapment in L.A. (she’s too far along to fly).

She also talked about her concern about the situation in her homeland Sri Lanka, speaking out about the genocide occurring in the country and the censorship of the media. She also speaks about her work on Slumdog Millionaire.

M.I.A. looks absolutely stunning, what a gorgeous and beautiful (not to mention talented and intelligent) pregnant woman!

View the full 12 minute interview on PBS.org.

Link via URB.com

There were a lot of amazing moments at tonight’s Diesel 30th Birthday bash in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, but probably the most surprising was when British hip hop star M.I.A. joined T.I. onstage, only to reveal a very VERY big baby bump hanging over her acid wash jeans! (See photo below.)

THE RUMORS ARE TRUE!

There is absolutely no denying it, she has GOT to be preggers… if she is NOT pregnant, dear lord, that is one hell of a beer belly!

It’s safe to assume that the father is M.I.A.’s fiance, Benjamin Brewer (son of Warner Music Chairman Edgar Bronfman).

M.I.A. came out later to do a short set of her own (part of which was with N*E*R*D*, where she didn’t do her usual spirited dancing–leaving that to her backup singers and dancers. However she looked absolutely STUNNING as per usual, with long flowing hair (and way too obvious roots–probably not keeping up the coif b/c mommies shouldn’t dye their hair) and rocking tons of spandex bodysuits and leggings, accentuating her bulging belly, all the while looking like the coolest chick in the whole joint.

More photos of the Miss M.I.A.:

Here is a photo of her grazing her belly:

M.I.A. is one hot mama!

With the inclusion of Franz Ferdinand and Chaka Khan to the bill of the already impressive Diesel 30th Birthday Party in NYC (that is if you consider M.I.A., N*E*R*D*, and Hot Chip impressive), the jeans company has guaranteed that their fete will be the biggest blowout this side of the Atlantic.

Prepare thyselves for long lines, rowdy drunks, and probably an amazing time.

Oh and don’t forget, your last chance for tix will be tomorrow (Friday) at 10am at either Diesel store in NYC.. While you’re there you can pick up one of the cheapie jeans seen on these two comely looking youngsters… one of which looks an awful lot like Daisy Lowe (y/n?).

I was looking up some ethical shopping stuff today (I know, totally granola of me) and read that Diesel Jeans were actually produced more ethically than Calvin Klein jeans. So with that in mind, I’d like to mention that Diesel Jeans is planning what sounds like an amazing party “event” on it’s 30th birthday…on the same day in 17 different cities across the world, one of which is our very own NYC.

The location of the October 11th party is “top secret” (er.. it’s Pier 3 in DUMBO) but will feature a truly star-studded musical lineup like M.I.A. and Hot Chip… and you can get tickets by stopping by the Diesel stores in NYC, or a number of bars/record shops in the city.

Oooorrrr… you can send an email to contest @ themodernage.org with the subject line “DIESEL,” and your name, address, and telephone number in the email body. I’ll pick 5 people who will each receive a pair of tickets delivered at your doorstep. (Sorry, you must be 21+.) That’s right, you + M.I.A. + free food + cotton candy. Sounds rad, right? (The giveaway has ended, sorry!)

If this awesome sorta SFW video is any indication, this fiesta is going to rock:

Also on October 10th, there will be some limited edition “Dirty Thirty” jeans for sale at the Diesel store for only $50.

More info on the jeans:

‘Dirty Thirty’ denim will be available in two top selling styles: Matic for women and Heeven for men. The product features unique detailing such as a back patch with the xXx sign in Roman numerals to commemorate Diesel’s 30 years along with the words ‘Dirty Thirty’.’ Side embroidery will state the dates 1978-2008 and buttons will be customized with ‘Diesel 1978.’

Is this even legal? Both M.I.A. and Santogold teamed up with Radioclit and Gorilla Zoe to produce a song called “Get It Up.” Listen to it on the Radioclit Myspace.

More over at Gorilla vs. Bear, Pretty Much Amazing

Reports Sun Media:

The performer [M.I.A.] became engaged last week to Benjamin Brewer, the son of Warner Music Group Chairman and CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr., according to sources close to the singer. Brewer is a guitarist for New York alt-rock band The Exit, whose biggest claim to fame might be having the song Susan appear on the American Pie 2 soundtrack. It is not known if the couple has set a wedding date or location.

Here’s a photo of Brewer with his band The Exit, when they opened up for Morningwood on January 11, 2006:

And just because I love her, a photo of M.I.A. at the 2007 Siren Festival:

Writes Trashbag Aestethics: “MIA told WWD that she has been currently rocking her own collection of gear . M.I.A’s collection includes bomber jackets, leggings & T-shirts. The collection has been said to featured bold bright hues & graphic prints.”

Although this line has the potential to become a neon-infused disaster, much like Ashlee Simpson’s clothing line for Wet Seal, methinks MIA will be able to pull off some hot designs.

I’m seriously pissed at Juergen Teller. First he made Meg White look a little bit like a dear caught in the headlights in his shots of her for the spring/summer 2006 Marc Jacobs campaign. Now he’s gone and made one of the most stylish and sexiest woman in today’s music scene look drab and lifeless. See the following shots of MIA for Marc by Marc Jacob’s spring/summer 2008 line.

Ugh! It’s like no one involved in this campaign has ever heard of good photography OR Photoshop. It looks like MIA just stumbled into the set half drunk and asleep. I’m not sure how they managed to pick the most unflattering pictures of her as possible, but they’ve gone and done it.

Sorry, you’re just not going to sell me on the whole “ugly is beautiful” thing. I already lived through the ’80s.