Lil Mariko

Katherine Mariko Zhang (born March 1, 1996), known professionally as Lil Mariko, is an American rapper. Her first single "Where's My Juul??" released in 2019 was her collaboration with her producer boyfriend Jared Soule (known professionally as Full Tac). It became a viral internet hit with over 23 million views across YouTube and Spotify. Her debut self-titled EP, Lil Mariko was released in 2021.

Early life Katherine Mariko Zhang was born in 1996 to a Chinese father and a Japanese mother. Her family lived in Taipei before relocating to Houston, Texas, where she would spend most of her childhood. Zhang played violin in middle school and graduated high school in 2014. As a child, Zhang and her family moved frequently because of her father's work but continued to return to Houston.

Career 2019–2021: Initial success and Lil Mariko The collaborative single "Where's My Juul??" was freestyled by Lil Mariko as a joke in August 2019 using a beat made by Full Tac. The track benefited from Zhang's heavy metal past and love of 1990s rave music. Guitarist Russ Chell provides the metal riff on the track. Despite being made as a joke, Zhang took serious influence from Mindless Self Indulgence and The Prodigy. The music video for the track was released on December 18. Lil Mariko's vocals were also likened to Poppy. The single was thematically compared to the 2006 viral hit Shoes by Liam Kyle Sullivan. The music video for "Where's My Juul??" was also temporarily removed from YouTube after receiving a copyright claim from Stevie Emerson, also known as Slappers Only on YouTube, disputing the use of the phrase "where's my Juul?" but was later reinstated. Their third release of 2020, "Shiny" was released on September 3 with its music video uploaded on March 20, 2021. Lil Mariko featured on Dorian Electra's album My Agenda on the track "Ram It Down" also featuring vocals from Mood Killer and Lil Texas. "Ram It Down" was described as hyperpop with a distinct metal flair. Lil Mariko and Full Tac performed together during Dorian Electra's My Agenda Online Twitch stream on October 24, a fundraising event for Black Trans Femmes in the Arts.

Lil Mariko's self-titled debut EP was released on March 18, 2021, and featured her previous singles "Don't Touch" and "Shiny". The track "Disgusting" featured guest vocals from Zheani. The EP received a positive 4 out of 5 review by the student newspaper The Globe. On April 3, Lil Mariko performed for Chester Lockhart's Chester's Bday Party live-streamed event. The event also encouraged donations to The Okra Project and Red Canary Song.

2021–present: Upcoming studio album Lil Mariko performing at the CTM Festival. February 2023, Berlin. On May 1, Lil Mariko collaborated with Full Tac and Rico Nasty on a new single "Simp". The single was produced by Full Tac like usual, but with additional production from Russ Chell. Mariko's friend Sebastian Bidegain was featured in the music video dressed in a full gimp suit. On July 16, Lil Mariko released a new single "Boring" featuring Full Tac. The single was released under the new record label created by Four Loko. A music video accompanied the single's release. On the same day, Lil Mariko also appeared on Recovery Girl's mixtape Recovery Girl & Friends on the track "Feels So Good" featuring the additional vocal talent of Diana Starshine, GFOTY, and Space Candy. In August, Lil Mariko announced her plan to relocate to Los Angeles to record her debut studio album. Mariko also revealed that more collaborative singles were to be released in the near future also.

In February 2022, Lil Mariko made her live concert debut, supporting Dorian Electra on their US tour.

A year later, she would make her international debut performing at the 2023 CTM Festival in Berlin, Germany. Following this, she appeared live performing at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds as part of a European and UK tour. On 25 September, Lil Mariko appeared in Doja Cat's music video "Agora Hills".

On January 29, 2025, Lil Mariko performed for the LA Gives Back Fire Relief concert to help raise funds to help those affected by the then-recent wildfires.

Personal life Zhang attended Pratt Institute School of Art in 2015 and later graduated in 2018.

Zhang revealed that she suffers from social anxiety and the idea of live performances frightens her but she is not completely opposed to it, theorizing she would get over the initial shock once she was actually on stage, which eventually proved true after touring since 2022.

Discography Extended plays + List of extended plays Title Album details Lil Mariko Released: March 18, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming, LP Slightly Unhinged Released: April 2, 2026 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "Don't Touch" 2020 Lil Mariko "Shiny" "Simp" 2021 "Boring"

As featured artist Title Year Album "Where's My Juul??" 2019

Other appearances + List of non-single appearances Title Year Artist(s) Album "Ram It Down" 2020 Dorian Electra My Agenda "Feels So Good" 2021 Recovery Girl Recovery Girl & Friends

Remixes +List of official remixes, with year released and original artist(s) shown Title Year Artist(s) "Sorry Bro (I Love You)" 2020 Dorian Electra

Music videos Song Year Director "Where's My Juul??" 2019 Jared Soule "Sorry Bro (I Love You)" 2020 "KK Metal" "Shiny" 2021 "Simp" "Boring" "Hi, I'm a Slut" 2023 Alicia Afshar "NPC" 2026 Team Rolfes