Kimj on Building a Career Between YouTube Type Beats and Asia's Underground Electronic Scene

Kimj, the producer born Jaehyun Kim in Busan and raised in New Jersey after moving there with his family at age six, sat for a video interview with NME after wrapping a U.S. tour and arriving in New York. Known in recent years for a high-intensity sound that sits between EDM and underground electronic music, he has worked with 2hollis, Nate Sib, The Deep, Effie, and pop singer Tinashe. NME described his output as "Skrillex on steroids" — but with pop melodies or synth passages that keep finding a sweeter edge.

From type beats to underground electronic music

Kim grew up with classical training in the U.S. and got his introduction to American pop — Kesha, Katy Perry — through his father and stepmother's car playlists. At 16, the rise of Martin Garrix pulled him toward EDM, but he found those beats hard to replicate. Friends then pointed him toward Future, Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert.

He started making type beats on YouTube mimicking popular rappers, building a niche following and selling instrumentals to artists including Rod Wave and NBA YoungBoy. During the pandemic he hit a wall — he described repeatedly making similar beats as exhausting — and pivoted toward more dynamic sounds. It was around this time he met future collaborator and roommate SEBii.

Identity and two years back in Korea

After finishing high school, Kim moved to New York with SEBii. He told NME he arrived in the U.S. speaking no English at all, and that for a while he "wasn't very proud" of being Korean. Living with SEBii, who is Chinese American, and watching how much SEBii valued his own cultural background became key to Kim reconnecting with his Korean identity.

After SEBii moved back to Shanghai, Kim relocated to Korea around 2024, spending two years living what he called a life "out of a suitcase." During that time he met in person many of the Asian collaborators he had originally discovered on SoundCloud, including fellow Busan native Effie — he said it was the first time in his life he had collaborated so closely with a female artist. He also told NME he admires Korea's work ethic and believes the unfiltered perspective of young creators keeps the work feeling fresh. As that chapter comes to a close, he is now considering settling in New York again.