YOUNG ILL IS CARVING OUT HIS OWN LANE IN THE KOREAN HIP-HOP SCENE

Choosing connection over controversy, Young Ill wants his music to give hope, inspire individuality, and show there's more to Korean hip-hop than stereotypes.

- By DEBASHREE DUTTA

A few days ago, while researching the Korean hip-hop scene, I discovered Park Dae-young, or Young Ill, as he's known in the industry.

Originally from Gumi, South Korea, Young Ill has been steadily building his career in Suwon since 2017, with a passion for hip-hop and rap that began at an early age. With one foot in the U.K.'s vibrant music scene and the other firmly planted in his Korean heritage, he seamlessly mixes genres like drum and bass, drill, and garage with Korean rap, creating a sound that's both globally informed and distinctly Korean. I got in touch with him, eager to learn more about his story, and it turns out this talented South Korean hip-hop artist and producer has since established himself in the global rap community, now splitting his time between Seoul, Suwon, London, and Paris. Influenced by rappers like Drunken Tiger, Leessang, Eun Ji-won, and MC Sniper, Young Ill was inspired to pen his own lyrics right from the start. Initially, he was drawn to how music could convey his thoughts and emotions, particularly on subjects that were difficult to address openly. After completing his military service, he moved to Suwon to focus on music full-time, where he began learning music production. Young Ill recalls, "I wanted to be skilled in every aspect. Then, starting in 2022, I began receiving calls from Europe. I was contacted by the French producer Sonikem, which led me to travel to France, and around the same time, I connected with Jodie Jo from London's Playhouse Entertainment, which brought me to the U.K. as well." Young Ill admits that, though his biggest influence until then had been American hip-hop, he found himself strongly drawn to European hip-hop sounds and culture from 2022 onwards. "Today, I continue to move between Korea, Japan, France, and the U.K., creating, producing, and releasing music. Most recently, I took part as a rapper in Japan Expo 2025, one of the biggest festivals in France, and released my first LP album."