The musician, whose real name is Danupha Khanatheerakul, is bringing Thai hip-hop global with her raw lyrics, refreshing persona and hunger for social justice
Catchy raps, electrifying beats and a fierce dedication to social justice—these are what Thai rapper Milli has become known for. Born Danupha Khanatheerakul, the musician has been making waves in the music scene not only with her addictive tunes but her decision to be a voice for change.
The self-proclaimed K-pop fan started her career as a contestant on The Rapper 2, a televised singing contest, where the then-student council president impressed the judges with her acting and singing skills.
After signing with artist management company Yupp!, Milli debuted her first single in 2020 to rave reviews. Phak Kon (พักก่อน)—which means “calm down” in English—had a message of anti-bullying. Its music video has since amassed more than 90 million views on YouTube.
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Following the success of Phak Kon, Milli sang about her life and dreams while challenging the definition of beauty in her second single, Sud Pang (สุดปัง).
In 2022, the rapper became the first Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella, where she ate a plate of mango sticky rice on stage, causing the sales of the traditional dessert to skyrocket. Due to its sudden surge in popularity globally, the Thai government even considered pushing for the dish to be listed as a Unesco Intangible Culinary Heritage.
Here are four more facts to know about the rising hip-hop star who has proven her ability to move people and trends through music.