“I thought it was a scam,” BIBI recollects the first time she received a call from 88rising. It was through a DM from 88rising’s EVP, Head of Korea John Yang. “When they contacted us that’s when I went, ‘Oh, I’m up here [in popularity].’”
Just three days away from making her first ever stateside performance at the Head in the Clouds festival in Pasadena, California, BIBI still can’t believe she’s here. She’s currently hanging out in a studio at 88rising’s Los Angeles headquarters with Feel Ghood Music heads and MFBTY’s Tiger JK and Bizzy and the 88rising team. Dressed in white with red accents — and matching makeup, including her two signature dots under her right eye — BIBI compromises her composed getup with a quirky personality that’s ready to wreak havoc. She talks to me in English and Konglish (Korean and English), still jetlagged from her journey. But rehearsals for the show are keeping her mood up, as are the Cheesecake Factory hot wings and pasta she had the night before that almost made her cry of happiness.
The 23-year-old R&B singer has already won 2021 with the amount of opportunities presented to her: releasing her second EP Life is a Bi.... in April; participating in the soundtrack of Shang-Chi (“Never Gonna Come Down”); signing ambassador deals for notable brands like Levi’s, NARS and Puma; and being the newest recruit of 88rising with a smash hit getting Top 40 radioplay.
“I feel too lucky,” she says as she smiles while placing her hands on her chest. “I almost feel terrified. Like, I'm almost terrified of the luck I have right now. But I love it! I really love it.”
BIBI, whose real name is Kim Hyungseo, rose to fame after being discovered on SoundCloud by South Korea’s Queen of Rap, Yoon Mirae, also known as Tasha. (“My parents were Yoon Mirae’s fans. That’s the only reason they let me sign with them.”) She debuted in 2019 with the song “BINU,” and it’s been off to the races ever since.
“She’s already a superstar!” Tiger JK, the CEO of Feel Ghood Music and also Yoon Mirae’s husband, adds in our conversation. “She doesn't believe me when I tell her. But the moment I met her, I already knew she was a star, you know what I mean? I spotted a superstar and all I needed to do is make sure that she’s in a place where she shines. I don’t know if she’s playing humble.”
She is humble, playing or not. Even if her art may say otherwise. BIBI is bold and provocative, and she openly entertains the themes of sex, love and life through flirtatious vocals and witty metaphors in songwriting. (Check out “BAD SAD AND MAD,” “PADO,” and “Eat My Love.”) If we’re talking about her stage presence, it’s best to watch her Head in the Clouds set. Watch as she tosses packs of cigarettes and condoms to a crowd of 30,000 people during a performance of her Dingo single “She Got It (cigarette and condom)” for the first time ever. Look on as she gets sensual during “The Weekend,” gradually unbuttoning her blouse and eventually kissing a few very lucky women in the audience — and causing a sea of a thousand simps to bask in jealousy and heartbreak. (“It sucks seeing other people live out your dream,” so her fans on TikTok say.)
However, BIBI’s brand runs deeper than the art she projects to the public. Marshall Bang, a singer-songwriter and a member of Team BIBI, helps translate the musician’s story behind her pseudonym.
“She’s a psycho. She’s a hot mess,” Bang explains. “She’s the town’s crazy girl and grew up as the insane girl that everyone picked on and bullied. And she went, lived her life, and came back to town but then now she’s transformed into this swan-like, pretty, beautiful girl.” The story takes inspiration from BIBI’s real life experience, where the once odd Kim Hyungseo transforms into BIBI for the ultimate glow-up. Hence, her debut single “BINU” serves two linguistic purposes — first, the literal translation of “soap” in Korean and second, the phrase “be new” — as a metaphor on revival and feeling fresh.
But her story doesn’t stop there. If you’re familiar with BIBI, then you would know that she always places two dots under her right eye whenever she makes a public appearance. While some may think it’s just part of her aesthetic, it’s also her secret weapon to stay grounded wherever she goes in life. And it’s all thanks to her late grandfather.
“On my grandpa’s face, there were red dots under his eyes and that’s my impression of him,” she pauses and looks up a bit. She starts to tear up, collecting her thoughts about witnessing her grandfather’s last moments at the age of five when he mustered the energy to get up from his bed and still greet her with a smile despite the pain. She apologizes to me and everyone in the room for crying. She takes a second, then continues. “I wanted to be like my grandpa,” she says. “He was smart and fun. Absolutely so fun. He was very playful, very merciful. My grandma loved him. My mom and my dad admired him. I wanted to be like him. I was just a girl before I debuted. I’ve done bad things. I’ve said mean words, but after I made my debut, I had to present myself [the same way he emulated himself to me]. That’s why I put two dots.” She takes another second and looks up to the ceiling and changes her tone as if she’s talking to her grandpa. “Are you listening?!”
Though BIBI may not be a K-pop idol herself — even if she has competed in idol-like competition shows like The Fan and has written a song for TWICE (“More & More”) — she strives to make an impact but in a way to remind people that no one really is perfect and it’s okay accept your flaws. (“When people are influenced by my music, they teach me to do things in a positive way.”) When asked about advice on gaining confidence, she keeps it real, practical, and authentic.
“I don’t want to encourage people,” she says. “We all go through it. You can get through it. Sometimes it feels like I can’t do it. I don’t wanna say you can’t do it, and sh*t like that. I’m like ‘It’s okay to be like that. You’re gonna be okay.’” In other words, "it’s okay to be ‘Bad, Sad, and Mad,’” I said.
Though she may be the youngest artist under Feel Ghood Music, she may also be the wisest. “Even though I'm not [Tiger JK’s] real family, he really treats me like his real daughter. He’s like an uncle who gives you booze,” she says. Even Tiger JK himself often refers to the younger artist as his boss.
“We don’t teach her anything,” the hip-hop head begins to explain. “She’s all BIBI. We don’t try to censor her or teach her anything because it’s the voice. I’ve come to realize it’s all connected and going to have a ripple effect. There’s no artist management. BIBI is who she is. We found her as is and she’s still developing. If there was advice it would be—”
“Don’t talk about the military and political things,” BIBI immediately interjected, causing a variety of laughter in the studio. She fires back at the label CEO saying she’s waiting to be taken advantage of professionally. She then asks for a full album as well as a collaboration with Rich Brian. Thinking of it makes her fangirl over the 88rising artist.
“I really admire him because his rapping is on point,” she says as her tone shifts and her body perks up. “We accidentally met at rehearsal so I was like *gasp/shock noises*. And I had to keep it cool, I was like ‘Big fan, big fan.’ And it was like my heart was pounding. And he gave me a hug too!”
Her music taste is chef’s kiss as she discusses her past work and manifests future songwriting and collaboration opportunities. “ITZY,” she instantly blurts out. “I love idols. For western artists Amine, Rosalia, and Rich Brian. And hopefully Doja Cat. Even if she knows the existence of me, then I’d be fine.”
Beyond her music, BIBI expresses interest in acting, as she’s deemed to be natural by her team especially when it comes to her own music videos. She references films like Wong Kar-Wai (Chungking Express), Old Boy and Kill Bill as noir-esque films she’d love to be a part of. “You know how there are good actors among singers? I'm a good singer among actors.” (Check her music videos “PADO”, “KAZINO” and “Life is a Bi…”)
With 2022 plans in discussion — a full-length album, tours and growing more with the 88rising movement (an official music video to “The Weekend” coming soon), what she ultimately wants now more than ever are people to know her music. It’s simple and humble. “At the end of the day, through her music, she wants to heal people and, in return, she wants to be loved,” Tiger JK says. “And a lot of money,” BIBI smirks and chuckles.
With her winning (and breaking) the hearts of many at Head in the Clouds, BIBI advises incoming BIBI Bullet to not be scared: “Falling in love with me is easy.“
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