Lee Youngji wants to bring out her “Musician Mode” and get drunk with fans on the first US tour

In Korean pop culture, Lee Youngji is a name now synonymous with live and unfiltered entertainment, best seen through its viral Nothing too prepared YouTube series where he shares drinks with members of K-pop supergroups such as BTS, BLACKPINK and SEVENTEEN. However, 2024 marks an important year for the 21-year-old as she looks to return to her roots in music and showcase her talent as a performer and musician. Even though many fans may first recognize her as the comedic force behind some of K-pop's most memorable interviews, Youngji's journey into entertainment began with music — and she's determined to remind everyone of that in her ongoing her world tour hitting the US at the end of August.

The release of her debut album, June's 16 Fantasyit marked a bold statement of her artistic identity and the promise made for her musical future. The lead single, “Small Girl” featuring EXO's DO, not only topped the charts in South Korea, but also entered the Top 40 of the Billboard Global 200. Meanwhile, b-side cuts like “ADHD Girl” of Lee, as well as her successful collaborations with top acts like Dynamicduo and BSS, all show her versatility and abilities to step up and level up with each new song release.

“This year is really important for me musically,” Youngji reflects during an evening FaceTime call from Seoul ahead of the US leg of her tour. “I've had a lot of collaborations and I have a variety show on my YouTube channel, so many people know me through a lot of work… but I want to focus on my music mode this year.”

As the leg of her All or Nothing world tour begins, Lee Youngji is eager to connect with fans in a more intimate setting, bringing not only her music to the stage, but also the unique personal energy that made her such a clear star. the next generation of Korean pop entertainers.

“I tend to try to really connect with the audience, ask them questions, just try to talk to them, and I think the US fans will really like that,” she says, hinting at the interactive and personal nature of her stage. installation. The All or Nothing Tour is more of an invitation for fans to experience Lee Youngji in her purest form as a musician and entertainer. And while she may not be able to indulge in her famous drink on camera with her audience – although she says Bulletin board that she really she wants — she's ready to bring that same spontaneous and genuine connection to every show.

Read on as Lee Youngji shares her stateside tour, her big year in music, memories with top K-pop stars, and what's next.

Congratulations on all the recent successes, Youngji. There's a lot to talk about, but it's been a really big year for you as a musician. Is this why you're doing your first US tour?

As you said, this year is very important for me musically. I have had many collaborations and I have a variety show on my YouTube channel, so many people know me through many jobs. First, they knew me as a YouTuber. then I might have been known as a celebrity friend. I've been known as different types of things, but I want to focus on my music this year. And fortunately, “Small Girl” had a great response and explosion, even in the US, so I thought this was a great opportunity for me to be more confident in what I'm doing right now as a musician.

You do so much and people know you for so many different reasons, but where does music fit into your overall world?

In my childhood, I always thought, “I think I will become a famous person, but I don't think I could become a musician.” But the first time people met me was on the survival show High School Rapper 3 [in 2019]. At the time, rapping was the only thing I was capable of in any kind of musical talent, but I didn't necessarily want to be just a rapper.

Did you find your confidence to pursue music through rap?

Yes, but I don't think it's my only talent. Rapping definitely takes talent, but I don't think I just have that. So when I won the rap survival show, I always thought, “Oh, so rapper is my job now?” I didn't want to start my career as a rapper. I said, “Oh, I see [to show] more than rap.” But it was my best talent, so I was always curious…

That's why we got your first album just five years later High School Rapper? You share a lot of different sides and styles on the record. What is your favorite song?

Yes, yes. And not because this song became so famous, but in the end I really loved “Small Girl”. It's an honest, honest, honest song. a true story about myself. I love this kind of songs. There are some tall, tall girls… Oh, how do I say this? Everyone has a part of themselves that they don't trust, but this song can honestly melt that complex away. I thought “Small Girl” was a song I could make to make everyone feel more confident. Well, I really love “Small Girl” as a song that I made for everyone who might be low or lack confidence.

One of my favorites is “ADHD Girl” because I actually have ADHD. What inspired this song?

Since childhood, I have heard many people, such as my teachers and my parents, say that I have ADHD — and this was before many people realized it. But I have many friends around me who have ADHD and take medication for it. It's a song I wrote based on my experiences as well as the experiences of my friends, some of whom really struggle with ADHD.

What is your composition or creative process?

Well, there's a lot of great technology and stuff for music these days, you know? But I like iPhone and iPhone notes. I always record on my iPhone: a bit of nonsense, a few unknown sounds, song guides. I'm always typing keywords with my iPhone. In fact, that was the exact process for the song “Not Sorry.” When I got through the competition show, Show me the moneyI suffered a lot from this hate train. So I wrote on my iPhone that said, “No sorry, not at all” and I asked my producers – Jay Park, Zion.T and Slom – I asked them, “What about this thing about the title of this song” and they said, “Oh, this is dope and this is something you can do now.” My music process is always, always like this. I write a title on my phone and make an unusual recording.

And “Not Sorry” became a hit!

[Laughs] Yes!

I always appreciated your attitude. I'm sure it's not easy for you or anyone, but you have a refreshing attitude about criticism and “hate comments”. We've even seen the tweets you like that have criticized you. How do you maintain that strong mindset?

When I get hate, I try to understand them. “Why do you hate me?” “Oh, because of this point?” “Okay, I get that – but I don't agree at all.” I can understand you, but I don't have to agree with you. I always think that no one knows me better than I do. Well, you know when I like it [hate comments] — I really don't know how the internet system works — but I don't care unless I do something really bad or cross the line legally. I answer too [to] when they send me DMs saying, “I hate you, go kill yourself” or something. I always reply to them and they always like their messages because they never think that if they send me a message, I can see them. they don't know I can see them. So I want to let them know that I see everything.

So what are you up to on the US leg of your All or Nothing tour?

I always hoped that if I had the chance, I would like to meet everyone in the world and music is my chance. So, yeah, I wanted to use it as an opportunity. I've already toured Asia, but you know what? The mood is somewhat different compared to America. My performance [style] it's usually to make people mad. On this tour, I especially want to have more direct communication with the audience and present who I am, that I make this kind of music, and that I introduce myself as an artist to the US public. Compared to Asia, there is more participation in the US, while direct communication is lower in other countries. I made a lot of changes to my songs. I plan to bring the audience on stage and maybe dance or play along. I try to plan things like that.

As you said, you are not only known for your music but also for your personality. Are you cooking up fun ways to share that side of yourself too?

I think my personality comes out while talking to another person. So I tend to try to really communicate with the audience, ask them questions, just try to talk to them. And I think the US fans will really like that. I really want to drink with them. I mean, me really I want to get drunk with them, but I can't. [Laughs]

Maybe we can get a secret shot together after the last show of the tour is in New York…

Ha ha. I hope so! [Laughs]

But I want to emphasize how, in your five years since then High School Rapperyou've done a ton of collaborations across multiple genres: K-pop idols, rappers, indie musicians, R&B, older generation artists, chart-topping artists. How do you connect with so many different sounds and styles?

I am so grateful that they always arrive [out] to me and ask me to appear with them or collaborate. I've been really active with video and media content in Korea for four, five years now, and fortunately, this has shown my personality and skills to Korea and the public. So I think a lot of artists feel like I'm someone they're familiar with and to contact me to do other projects. But every time they ask me for a feature, I'm always thinking, 'How can I beat them to this song? How can I do better on this song?' [Laughs] But the features and collaboration really force me to go to the next level of myself.

I think that's what Nicki Minaj said. He needs a “boxing partner” to climb.

It's my goal.

Any last messages for the fans or what to expect on the US tour? And me Nothing too preparedIts back, can you share some spoilers?

So yeah, I can give you a lot of spoilers, but the first episode is with Lisa and she's so smart and beautiful and young and rich and hilarious. I love her. As of mid-August, I've already recorded six or seven episodes, so we'll see a lot of idols and a lot of actors.

But what else can I say? I think the US fans are not prepared for what's coming! I want to promise the US fans that I will work hard to be able to see them more often. Actually, I have a lot of songs ready to go and I want to watch the US fans react. I have a long way to go. This tour isn't even the first step. I have big ambitions.