Rapper Dok2 candidly shared why he had stayed away from Korea for years and opened up about his relationship with Lee Hi.
On June 17, Dok2 appeared as a guest on rapper Dumbfoundead's YouTube podcast, where he shared various stories.
First, Dok2 addressed why he hadn't returned to Korea since 2018. "Back then, being so famous in Korea felt overwhelming," he confessed. "People's eyes followed me everywhere — it was hard to even eat at a restaurant."
He added that he moved to the United States because he was struggling. "I was hurting, plain and simple," he said, opening up about his mental health. "Psychiatrists even suggested I retire. They said I probably couldn't keep working in that condition." Around 2017, he was so unwell that he even threw up backstage at shows.
His personality also played a role. "I always test as INTJ on the MBTI," he shared. "I'm actually very introverted, but I spent so much energy pretending to be extroverted to hide it."
Dok2 also opened up about Lee Hi. "I first met her around 2014 to 2015 through a mutual acquaintance," he said. "I was originally a fan — I even asked people around me if they knew Lee Hi."
When Lee Hi was with YG Entertainment around 2017 to 2018, Dok2 tried to bring her into his label Illionaire Records, but the plan fell through due to his health issues. Later, as he prepared for a fresh start in Los Angeles and the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the two couldn't meet for a while.
However, they reunited at a show in London after the pandemic and grew close again. "We're not at an age for a childish relationship anymore," Dok2 said. "We had to make important decisions — and we decided to make music together."
Now, the pair are running their label 808 Hi Recordings. In March, they dropped the single 'You & Me,' continuing both their musical partnership and their romance.