Following Milli’s popular Coachella performance, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pushed for mango sticky rice to be added to UNESCO’s list. The 19-year-old rapper brought a bowl of the popular dessert to the stage at the California Music Festival on Sunday. It caused the meal to sell out across Thailand. She made fun of Thai clichés and criticised the Thai government during her performance.
“The country is good, the people are good, our food is good, but the government is good [rotten]” the rapper said during her set. The rapper’s public criticism of the Thai government has attempted to profit from the trend. Following the viral moment, Thailand’s prime minister declared that the culture ministry may apply to UNESCO to have mango sticky rice recognised as a cultural treasure.
“It is important for Thailand to use its soft power abroad. We have many resources to be promoted on the international stage,” Prayut said, according to the Bangkok Post.
First Thai solo artist to play at Coachella
Online searches for “mango sticky rice” have surged 20-fold, according to Google Trends; while Thai social media has seen a surge in recipes and memes. 19-year-old Milli is the first Thai solo artist to play at Coachella. She is following in the footsteps of Lisa; who performed with her group Blackpink in 2019 and was the first Thai to do so.
Milli began her music career in 2019 when she joined the second season of Workpoint TV’s “The Rapper” at the age of 16. She is a Thai and English rapper who also composes her own music. So far, she’s released two singles on YUPP! label: “Pakkorn” and “Sudpang!” Her Coachella performance was a huge hit with music fans all over the world.