MILLI: Fighting the Heavyweight
Name: Danupha Khanatheerakul
Nickname: MILLI, Minnie, Nuay
Born: Bangkok, Thailand
Birth date: November 13, 2002
Height: 158cm
Known for: Rapper and singer
Instagram: @phuckitol
Bold, loud and playful — these characteristics propelled Milli to become the first solo Thai artist to perform on the Coachella main stage at just 19 years old. Recently, she graced New York's Times Square promoting her second album HEAVYWEIGHT (2025), cementing her presence on the global stage.
FLOWING LIKE WATER
"Oh, lucky you, is it? I worked my ass off, bitch." — MILLI in Welcome feat. MINUS (2022).
Danupha Khanatheerakul — known as MILLI — is a Thai rapper and singer. Her comfort with the microphone came naturally, as she was raised by parents who worked as tour guides and understood the importance of entertaining audiences and public speaking.
Milli had different ambitions: she wanted to become a star. She joined cover dance groups and performed on various stages, from small competitions to major platforms like The Voice Thailand, Miss Teen Thailand and BNK48 auditions. Despite her bold personality and many wins, she faced numerous rejections — her loud, confident style didn't always fit Thailand's industry standards.
Eventually, Milli turned to rapping. In 2019, inspired by hip-hop queens like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, she competed on The Rapper Thailand Season 2. She adopted the stage name Milli — derived from millilitre — following her father's teaching to 'flow like water' and adapt to any obstacle.
EMBRACING BOLDNESS
The Rapper Thailand Season 2 introduced Thailand to a rising star. Milli's unique 'hip-hop American style' and powerful delivery showcased her singing and dancing abilities, captivating the judges. As the renowned Thai rapper and judge F.HERO noted: 'An effective rapper has to be an entertainer. This one is a rapper who is an entertainer.'
Milli reached the final eight and signed with the record label YUPP! after the show. In 2020, she released her debut single Pakkorn, seamlessly blending Thai, English and other dialects with an aggressive, sarcastic and unapologetically bold attitude. The track became both her breakthrough and an anthem calling out hypocritical behaviour.
Following her second single Sudpang (2020) and collaborations with F.HERO and Stray Kids' Changbin on Mirror Mirror (2021), Milli worked with 88rising and BIBI on The Weekend (Remix) (2022). This collaboration led to her selection for the Head in the Clouds Forever show at Coachella 2022, where she performed alongside BIBI, CL, Hikaru Utada, Jackson Wang, NIKI, Rich Brian and Warren Hue.
SHOUT-OUT TO THE WORLD
On April 17, 2022, Milli became the first solo Thai artist to perform at Coachella, creating the viral mango sticky rice phenomenon by eating the dessert on stage. Beyond the spectacle, she used her platform to address Thailand's infrastructure issues, from 120-year-old trains to overpriced public lighting poles.
'This is true soft power from true talent. Milli's exceptional Coachella performance showcased her playful authenticity, inviting people to experience mango sticky rice in Thailand,' commented Pated, an influential figure in Thailand's music industry. 'Most impressively,' he added, 'she rapped against stereotypes, famously declaring: 'Most importantly, I don't ride elephants!''
This advocacy began in high school when Milli served as a student council president, mediating between teachers and students. Later in 2022, she released her debut album BABB BUM BUM, presenting a vibrant, unfiltered portrait of modern Thai youth through candid self-expression, sharp social commentary and playful humour.
FIGHTING THE HEAVYWEIGHT
Behind Milli's rapid success lies immense pressure and expectations tied to her name and what she represents. Despite her confident persona, she revealed her vulnerability on PatedTalk: 'I might look confident, but I'm actually insecure.' She struggles with negative online responses, often ending up in tears, and once faced an interviewer who claimed she wasn't as much fun as portrayed.
This vulnerability emerges throughout her second album Heavyweight (2025), which blends aggressive self-assertion and sharp social commentary with deeper emotional depth. Her personal single Invisible Tears (2025) captures this duality: 'So if I'm honest, I cry on the jet plane home. Wipe it away, so they won't say I'm not an extrovert.'
'We have to take responsibility for every action, so we have to be able to hold ourselves accountable,' Milli reflects, acknowledging the weight of her platform.
But the weight of it all won't break her stride. 'I just need a short rest,' she says, 'that's all.'
From a young woman flowing like water through rejections and doubts to Thailand's boldest voice on the global stage, Milli has transformed her struggles into strength. Her journey from The Rapper Thailand to Coachella proves that authenticity, both bold and vulnerable, resonates across cultures. In embracing both her power and her pain, Milli has become a voice for her generation.
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