M.I.A. (AFP photo)

Controversial singer/songwriter M.I.A. has gone public with her child custody battle, insisting her rich kid ex-fiance will have a fight on his hands if he attempts to wrestle their son Ikhyd away from his mum.

The Paper Planes hitmaker took to Twitter.com on Wednesday to alert followers to the impending legal war, suggesting that her ex Ben Bronfman and his wealthy family are attempting to gain full custody of her four-year-old son.

In a series of tweets, she writes, "BEN you cant take my son away from me... Just because you have money doesnt mean you have the right...(sic) THE BRONFMANS WANT TO TAKE MY CHILD AWAY FROM ME. WHAT KIND OF S**T IS THAT? THEY NEVER SEE HIM."

She adds, "Every child needs the MOTHER, I GREW UP WITHOUT A DAD. If (I) grew up without my mother i wouldn't be here."

M.I.A. has since removed the tweets, but they were still online long enough to prompt responses from her fans, who flocked to the star's social network sites to offer her their support.

Bronfman is the son of Seagram heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. - a former CEO of Warner Music Group.