Latest news with #HEAVYWEIGHT
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
MILLI: Fighting the Heavyweight
Key Information 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 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 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.
Bangkok Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Milli featured on New York Times Square billboard
Thai hip-hop star Milli this week appeared on a billboard in New York's Times Square - a feature by Spotify to mark the launch of her new album HEAVYWEIGHT. This is the 22-year-old rapper's second full-length album, consisting of 13 tracks, each packed with "heavy" emotional and musical intensity. The album aims to deliver powerful messages through its lyrics, mood and signature rap style that defines Milli's artistry. This is not her first time on the Times Square billboard. She was previously featured in Spotify's EQUAL campaign back in 2021. Milli, whose real name is Danupha Kanateerakul, is best known for being the first Thai artist to perform at the world-famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the United States in 2022. During her six-minute performance, she wowed the crowd with her fast rapping and concluded the show by eating mango sticky rice onstage. Milli, recognised for her bold and expressive music, has become a vocal advocate for social issues, using her platform to speak out on matters such as gender equality and freedom of expression. Milli debuts an unreleased track from her latest album 'Heavyweight', ' Sick With It '.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Thai Artist MILLI Is Packing All The Punches With Album, 'Heavyweight'
MILLI's new album HEAVYWEIGHT If you were to ask Milli if she were a lover or a fighter, she'd say she's a lover of fighting. The 22-year-old Thai rapper, whose real name is Danupha Khanatheerakul, has been fighting for her music career since she first appeared on the 2019 Thai music competition series, The Rapper [Season]'I feel like I'm a fighter because I have to fight for something every time,' Milli says the day before her "Head in the Clouds" set in Pasadena, California. 'I have to prove something every time I'm doing things. It's tough, but I'm glad because it's so challenging and I get what I want.' At 16 years old, Milli beat out 23 other contestants to take home the crown as The Best New Rap Artist. Since then, she signed with the artist management company Yupp! and 88rising, been the first Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella and 88rising's Head in the Clouds in 2022, and landed on BBC's 100 Women list of inspiring and influential women in the world. Her debut 2022 studio album, Babb Bum Bum, won 'Album of the Year' at Thailand's TOTY Music Awards (where she also won 'Best Solo Artist of the Year'). Now, she's set to release her second studio album, HEAVYWEIGHT, showcasing her strength as an artist and a fighter. Not only is Milli an artist, but she also owns the gym, Rope A Dope Boxing Gym, where she trained as a Muay Thai boxer for her first boxing fight back in May. It made sense to Milli to have the new album be called HEAVYWEIGHT, as she has proven herself to be a rap artist and, now, a legitimate Muay Thai fighter. 'Everything that I've been through was so heavy to me,' she explains. 'For this album, I'm comparing myself to being a boxer. Starting from the atomweight, then gain more experience and improve with more practice. [I just]MILLI's new album HEAVYWEIGHT The album preparation was well-documented alongside her preparation for her first Muay Thai fight. In the five-part YouTube documentary series "Milli To The Ring," Milli describes that these past few years have been the heaviest she's ever mentally endured. When something important happens in her life, she feels she's always choosing between two things – whether it's her rapping career or plans to continue studying, or choosing to spend time with her family versus the time she wants to give to the world. She isn't afraid to ask for help when it comes to these types of situations, and now has psychological professionals helping her through. She says, 'This is really important. It's okay that you're not okay, and that you need some professionals to listen to so they can see when you face the problem. It's so big. You're facing the big mountain rock, right? You need somebody with third eyes [telling you] , 'This is just a rock, bro. You just need to turn left.' It's easier when you have somebody to help you. It's fine. I did that. I've become happier, and they're trying to understand me with my words.' Milli understands that her words have power, and has seen how they've motivated change among Thai people in her generation. Her 2020 debut single, 'Phak Khon,' went viral for its sleek hip-hop style and anti-bullying message. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Milli criticized the government for its poor response to the crisis. The government fired back and threatened to charge her with crimes that 'threatened national security,' prompting many Thai citizens, including those in the music and film/TV industry, to voice their support for the rapper. She was later fined 2,000 baht (~$60). 'Let's just say this, I'm one of the people,' says Milli. 'I'm just a human. I have a human right. That's it. You have a right to speak. You know you love your country so much, so when they say something wrong or [make a mistake], you're trying to improve that or develop that so it could get better. I'm doing it for myself in the future. I'm doing it for my [future] husband, and if I have a [future] daughter or son. I'm doing it for my kid.' MILLI's new album HEAVYWEIGHT There are many Thais and the Thai diaspora who look up to Milli and what she represents to Thailand. She has seen the Thai flags during her performances and appreciates the love from the Thais everywhere. Throughout our conversation, she switches between Thai and English with excitement after learning I'm Thai. 'I'm so excited when I get to come and perform in America again for Thai Americans who are my fans,' she says in Thai. 'Also, to the many foreigners (or non-Thai) who are my fans who came [to my show]. Thank you to everyone who have been so nice to me. I'm very proud that [music transcends] language barriers.' Her love for Thailand extends to her passion for the martial art of Muay Thai. She trained intensely for her first match against a Chinese fighter, Jiduo Jishi. Throughout the fight, she kept telling herself that she wasn't going to stop and just keep going. Though she lost the match, she isn't bothered by it at all. She's just proud of herself for putting herself out there. 'I'm thankful to myself and have so much respect for myself [for doing it],' she explains. 'I know that if I want to do [something] and choose to do it, then I'm going to do my best and make it.' During her set at this year's Head in the Clouds Festival, Milli continued the Muay Thai love by bringing out world-renowned Thai boxer, Buakaw Banchamek. As she sang her hit song from Valorant, 'ONE PUNCH,' Banchamek displayed his fighting skills on stage, in a choreographed piece with her backup dancers. 'He's a legendary Muay Thai fighter,' says Milli. 'I thought this might be a great time and chance to bring him with me. This might be cool!' Banchamek was excited to work alongside Milli, calling her 'very good and so confident.' He knew it was going to be a powerful performance. Milli performing at 2025 Head In The Clouds LA Milli has always been seen as a tough and resilient warrior who calls things out when they should be. Though she does love that people have this positive perception of her, she is ready for them to see a whole new side of her with her latest and diverse album. From battling heartbreak, imposter syndrome, and depression to being defiant and beyond, HEAVYWEIGHT is Milli's time to be real and present about her life and the future she wants. As she's no longer a student, having recently graduated from university, she's looking forward to this new era in her music career. 'I'm [always] going to write my own music,' she explains. 'My music is going to grow with me. So I might change, but it's still me. My first album was about extravaganza. This time, it's about what's happening in my life or my daydreams or my feelings right now.' One of her songs, 'Invisible Tears,' is one she still thinks about even after it's been completed. Co-written by Indonesian American songwriter Stephanie Poetri, 'Invisible Tears' is a slow jam that offers an intimate glimpse into Milli's vulnerable mindset, as people often only see the tough persona she presents to the world. She feels most connected to it because it's the most open she's ever written. Her therapist told her to write about these emotions she's held for so long. '[There] is still a problem in my heart,' says Milli. 'I'm so thankful to Stephanie Poetri for helping me with this because I cannot summarize these things that are confusing in my heart and brain. This one is like therapy when we talked about this song. I was speaking to my therapist, and they said, 'Write a song.' So, my 'Invisible Tears' are about my suffering inside, and it helped me to release [so much of that] when I'm singing this song.' As she reaches her sixth year since her debut, Milli has grown from a wild teenager to a full-fledged adult. She has been able to navigate the fame and career she has built for herself, crediting her family and her team for their support. As a 22-year-old woman, she admits that she will make mistakes and will learn from them. 'I'm changing in a good way,' she admits. 'The things that changed are my bad behaviors [and I'm] trying to improve. I mean, I still have some, but I'm just 22. I'm glad I still go back to Bangkok and live my life: go to the supermarket, ride a bicycle, go to a party, [and so on]. That's my daily life and my personal life, just growing up.' Milli's new album, HEAVYWEIGHT, is available on all streaming platforms.
