Lee Ha-yi (; born September 23, 1996), known by her stage name Lee Hi, is a South Korean singer and songwriter. She first garnered attention as the runner-up of ''
K-pop Star 1
The first season of ''Survival Audition K-pop Star'' ( ko, 서바이벌 오디션 K팝 스타) premiered on December 4, 2011, airing every Sunday evening at 6:30 pm under the ''Good Sunday'' programming block on SBS, until April 29, 2012. The fi ...
''. She debuted with single "1, 2, 3, 4" on October 28, 2012 and reached number one with first week sales of 667,549 downloads.
Her first full-length album ''
First Love
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
'' was released in two parts, part 1 on March 7, 2013 and part 2 on March 28, 2013.
In 2020, she signed to hip-hop R&B record label
AOMG
AOMG is a South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label found in 2013 by singer, rapper, and songwriter Jay Park. The label currently houses 20 musicians and UFC fighter Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie).
History
Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG ...
where she released the studio album ''
4 Only'' (2021).
Early life
Lee Ha-yi was born on September 23, 1996 in
Bucheon
Bucheon () is a administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is located away from Seoul, of which it is a satellite town, satellite city. It is located between Incheon and Seoul.
Bucheon is the second ...
,
Gyeonggi
Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...
. In December 2011, Lee auditioned for SBS reality survival program ''
K-pop Star
''Survival Audition K-pop Star'' ( ko, 서바이벌 오디션 K팝 스타) is a South Korean reality TV competition series where three entertainment/talent agencies in South Korea hold worldwide auditions to find the next potential K-Pop stars. ...
'', where she finished as runner-up behind
Park Ji-min. Soon after she was signed to
YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production compa ...
by
Yang Hyun-suk
Yang Hyun-suk (born January 9, 1970) is a South Korean music executive, rapper, dancer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of Seo Taiji and Boys during the 1990s. After the group disbanded, he founded and became the Ex ...
.
Ahead of her debut, she was featured on label mate
Epik High
Epik High (Hangul: 에픽하이) is a South Korean hip hop trio formed in 2001, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Primarily based in Seoul, the group signed with Woollim Entertainment and released their first two studio albums, ...
's single "It's Cold", which was released on October 8, 2012.
Career
2012–2015: Career beginnings and Hi Suhyun
On October 24, 2012, it was announced Lee would be debuting as a solo artist under the stage name, "Lee Hi", with digital single "1, 2, 3, 4" on October 28. Lee's first music show appearance was on
SBS' ''
Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
'' on November 4, soon after claiming her first music show win on November 8 through
Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's
M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.
Bro ...
. The song charted number one on the monthly
Gaon Digital Chart
The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
for November, thus earning her the ''Song of the Year - November'' award from
Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
The Circle Chart Music Awards (), formerly known as the Gaon Chart Music Awards, are a major music awards ceremony that is presented annually in South Korea by the Korea Music Content Association primarily based on the commercial performance of t ...
. Following success of debut single "1,2,3,4", Lee released a second digital single written by
Park Jin-young
Park Jin-young (Hangul: 박진영; born December 13, 1971), also known by his stage names J. Y. Park and The Asiansoul or the initials JYP, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, record executive, and reality television show ju ...
titled "Scarecrow" on November 22.
On March 2, 2013, YGE revealed Lee Hi's debut album ''First Love'', would be released digitally on March 7 consisting of five tracks with lead single "It's Over", and physical release on March 28 with ten tracks including lead single "Rose". Promotions began with first stage at SBS' K-pop Star 2 on March 10. In December 2013, it was revealed Lee Hi and
2NE1
2NE1 (, ) was a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, which was active between 2009 and 2016. The group was composed of four members: Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy. Known for breaking typical stereotypes of K-pop, musical experiment ...
's
Park Bom
Park Bom (born March 24, 1984), previously known mononymously as Bom, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group 2NE1.
Park began her musical career in 2006, featuring on singles released by labelma ...
would debut as the sub-unit "BOM&HI". They released the digital single "
All I Want For Christmas Is You", a cover of
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
's song, on December 20. In November 2014, Lee and
Akdong Musician
AKMU ( ko, 악뮤), also known as Akdong Musician ( ko, 악동뮤지션), is a South Korean sibling duo consisting of Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun who debuted under YG Entertainment in April 2014 with studio album ''Play'' after winning SBS' ...
's
Lee Su-hyun
Lee Su-hyun (; born May 4, 1999), is a South Korean singer. Following her appearance on the second installation of SBS audition program ''K-pop Star'' alongside her brother, she debuted as the vocalist of the sibling duo AKMU on April 7, 2014, ...
formed the sub-unit
Hi Suhyun
Hi Suhyun () was a South Korean duo formed by YG Entertainment in 2014, consisting of Lee Hi and Lee Su-hyun from Akdong Musician. They released the number one single, " I'm Different", in November 2014.
Discography
Singles
Awards and nomina ...
and released digital single "
I'm Different" featuring
iKON
iKon (), stylized as iKON, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2015 by YG Entertainment, consisting of six members: Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan. Originally a seven-piece band, leader B.I departed from the group in June 2019.
Ini ...
's
Bobby
Bobby or Bobbie may refer to:
People
* Bobby (given name), a list of names
* Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh
* Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea
* Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter
* Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...
. The duo's first stage was at SBS' Inkigayo on November 16, following their first win on November 23.
2016–2018: Career breakthrough
On March 9, 2016, Lee released half album ''
Seoulite'' with lead singles "Breathe" and "Hold My Hand", where "Breathe" went on to winning her the Digital Bonsang award at the
31st Golden Disk Awards. Lee began promotions for both singles on
Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''
M! Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.
Bro ...
'' on March 10. On April 20, ''Seoulite'' was released as a studio album with lead single "My Star". Among the tracks, Lee participated in writing and composing the song "Passing By". On May 28, Lee featured on
Gill
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
's single "Refrigerator" alongside
Verbal Jint
Kim Jin-tae (Hangul: 김진태; born December 19, 1980), better known by his stage name Verbal Jint (Hangul: 버벌진트), is a South Korean rapper, record producer and musician who is known for his groundbreaking innovations in Korean hip hop ...
. On September 19, SBS drama
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo released
Epik High
Epik High (Hangul: 에픽하이) is a South Korean hip hop trio formed in 2001, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Primarily based in Seoul, the group signed with Woollim Entertainment and released their first two studio albums, ...
and Lee's soundtrack "Can You Hear My Heart", following Lee's soundtrack "My Love" on October 3. On December 31, Lee appeared on MBC's
Infinite Challenge
''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ''Mudo'') is a South Korean television entertainment program, distributed and syndicated by MBC, that ran from 2005 to 2018.
As of January 2013, it had the largest market share for its timeslot; with ...
''Hip-hop & History'' special as a featured guest for
Yoo Jae-suk
Yoo Jae-suk (; or ; born on 14 August 1972) is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including ''Infinite Challenge'', '' Running Man'', '' Happy Together, and ...
and
Dok2's stage.
On February 28, 2017, Lee featured on Code Kunst's single "X" from studio album ''Muggles Mansion''. On March 28, Lee featured on Dok2's single "On & On" off studio album ''Reborn'', where she participated in writing and composing. On June 17 & 18, SBS' K-pop Star held a ''Kpop Star and Friends'' concert as a wrap up for the franchise after six seasons of airing, performances included Lee Hi and label-mate Akdong Musician. On August 20, Lee appeared on SBS'
Party People where she shared she suffered from minor panic attacks in the past, thus the creation of her 2016 hit single "Breathe". On October 23, Lee featured on Epik High's single "Here Come the Regrets" from studio album ''
We've Done Something Wonderful
''We've Done Something Wonderful'' (stylized in all caps) is the ninth studio album by the hip hop group Epik High. The album was released on October 23, 2017, by YG Entertainment. It would be their final release under YG before their departure f ...
''. On March 21, 2018 Lee's Japanese debut album was released, thus embarking on her Japan tour at stops including Tokyo and Osaka. On October 19, Lee collaborated with the film ''
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth album, '' A Night at the Opera'' (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack ...
'' and released a cover soundtrack of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
2019–present: Career resurgence and label changes
On January 15, 2019, Lee released digital single "XI" with Code Kunst, the track was sung live for the first time on
MBC Dreaming Radio. Lee Hi made a comeback with her EP, ''
24°C'', on May 30, 2019. The lead single, "
No One" (featuring
B.I), topped all charts in South Korea, including Melon, Genie and Mnet. Among the tracks, she released the self-written and produced song "20Min". Lee received her first music show win for single "No One" through Mnet's M Countdown on June 6. Following the end of Lee's contract with YG Entertainment, on December 31, it was revealed Lee had made the decision to not renew.
In June 2020, Lee joined as a cast member for the fourth installment of
JTBC
JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTBC ...
show ''
Begin Again'' from episode 4 to 6.
On July 22, 2020,
AOMG
AOMG is a South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label found in 2013 by singer, rapper, and songwriter Jay Park. The label currently houses 20 musicians and UFC fighter Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie).
History
Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG ...
revealed that they had signed an exclusive contract with Lee Hi and released her comeback single "Holo." "Holo" peaked at number 7 on the
Gaon Digital Chart
The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
and won R&B Track of the Year at the
Korean Hip-hop Awards
The Korean Hip-hop Awards (KHA; Hangul
The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing ...
.
On September 9, 2021, Lee released her third studio album ''
4 Only.'' In March 2022, she won R&B Track of the Year for "Only" at the
Korean Hip-hop Awards
The Korean Hip-hop Awards (KHA; Hangul
The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing ...
.
Endorsements
On March 9, 2017 Lee teamed up with highly known cosmetics brand
MAC's ''Future Forward Collection'' in creating a special edition matte red lipstick under her stage name ''Lee Hi''. The lipstick was available worldwide in store and online in respective countries. On July 28, Lee held a fan sign with MAC at Lotte World Mall, Seoul, South Korea. In collaboration with MAC and magazine ''
Marie Claire
''Marie Claire'' is a French international monthly magazine first published in France in 1937, followed by the United Kingdom in 1941. Since then various editions are published in many countries and languages. The feature editions focus on wo ...
'', on October 15 Lee held an event showcasing stages of her songs as well as covers of other artists.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
First Love
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
'' (2013)
* ''
Seoulite'' (2016)
* ''Lee Hi Japan Debut Album'' (2018)
* ''
4 Only'' (2021)
Filmography
Television shows
Concerts and tours
*Lee Hi 1st Concert "Secret Live RE HI" (2013)
*Lee Hi 1st Japan Tour (2018)
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Lee Hion
AOMG
AOMG is a South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label found in 2013 by singer, rapper, and songwriter Jay Park. The label currently houses 20 musicians and UFC fighter Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie).
History
Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Hi
YG Entertainment artists
South Korean women pop singers
South Korean rhythm and blues singers
South Korean female idols
1996 births
Living people
K-pop Star participants
School of Performing Arts Seoul alumni
Korean Music Award winners
People from Bucheon
21st-century South Korean women singers
South Korean mezzo-sopranos