KSI admits the HUGE success of 'Thick Of It' took him by surprise

KSI is joining us at Hits Radio Live Manchester on Saturday 23rd November at the new Coop Live Arena. And the multi-talented rapper, YouTuber, CEO, and boxer, joined Sam Thompson to talk about what we can expect from him on the night, and his brand new song 'Thick Of It', which has taken the world by storm, despite some negative comments.

While our Manchester gig has now sold out, you can still buy tickets for Hits Radio Live Birmingham, which takes place the day before, on Friday 22nd November. The line-up in Birmingham includes: Tom Grennan, Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Sigala, Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, Tom Walker and Sugababes.

Get your tickets here for Friday 22nd November 2024 Hits Radio Live Birmingham at the bp pulse LIVE arena

KSI has also been announced to take over temporarily from Bruno Tonioli on Britain's Got Talent, so he revealed how he felt about being asked and what sort of judge he's going to be.

KSI at Hits Radio Live

The rapper, previously brought out Speed when he performed at Hits Radio Live, but when asked by Sam for this performance, he wouldn't reveal if we'd get to see another artist join him on stage. We guess we'll just have to wait and see!

He told Sam: "I'm buzzing. I can't wait. I think the last time I did it, I bought Speed on. Yeah, that was so sick and he was just going crazy. He loved it. Yeah, I guess people are gonna be wondering if I'm going to bring a guest this time... We'll see, we'll see, but either way, it's gonna be fun. I'm sure a lot of people are excited for me to perform thick of it, especially certain lyrics. It's gonna be a lot of fun.

Get your tickets here for Friday 22nd November 2024 Hits Radio Live Birmingham at the bp pulse LIVE arena

"No, they're both (Boxer and artist KSI) very boring (backstage). Yeah. I'm literally, like the most relaxed person in terms of how I am. Like because, first of all with boxing, I've already done all the preparation, I've already done all the training, there's nothing more I can do. So it's just like I cool, let me just go in there and do my thing, have fun.

"And then with the music, you know, I know what I'm doing, I know what I'm performing. I know what to expect, so it's just like, relax, chill go in there, put my all into it and then when I’m off the stage, I get to relax again."

KSI's song 'Thick Of It'

Revealing to Sam that he didn't expect his latest song to be such a big hit, KSI explained: "There's no way this can be like the biggest launch ever. Like I haven't released music in, it feels like forever, and I just wanted to like test the waters.

"It was kind of one of the ones where I'm like, alright, let's just see what happens. There's no pressure, it's just see what happens, if we get a Top 100, cool, if we don't, cool. Like for me, you know I do music because I enjoy it, it's not like it needs to chart, like I need to get Top 10. I just enjoy it, so if it does well, cool. If it didn't, cool, obviously I didn't expect it to go this viral, but you know, I'm just taking it all in open arms, even the hate..."

Despite all the success with this song, KSI has received some negative comments about it, and he revealed that sometimes it's hard to read.

KSI continued: "It's annoying because obviously whenever you make a song, it's like personal to you. So when people are just laughing at you, it kind of rubs you off the wrong way. Like if it was something else that I've done, then I don't know maybe I wouldn't have, if it wasn't music, maybe I wouldn't care so much. But I think because it's like so close to me, I'm there like, oh, no. Maybe that's why I'm like, I'm more angry than normal."

KSI on Britain's Got Talent

KSI was recently announced to temporarily join the judging panel for Britain's Got Talent. And now with the auditions kicking off in Blackpool, KSI revealed how he heard about the rumours he was involved, before being asked.

The rapper explained how he felt when heard the rumours: "There were rumours about it, and I remember being like ohh. Is that for real? Like, do they really, really want me?

"I was talking to Harry my PR guy, and he actually told me, like, they’re actually seriously considering me. And then it was only recently we actually were in talks and I decided, ‘you know what? YOLO, let's do it!’ This should be a bit of fun."

KSI went on to reveal he hadn't decided what type of judge he was going to me, revealing: "I don't know what I'm going to be. I'm gonna just see what happens. With a lot of these things I kind of just throw myself in it and whatever happens, happens. And I think that's why it's more fun for me and I guess more fun for the audience because it's unpredictable."

How to buy tickets for Hits Radio Live

Tickets are still available for Hits Radio Live Birmingham, after our Manchester gig sold out! Birmingham has the huge line-up of Tom Grennan, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Olly Alexander, Sugababes, Sigala, Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, and Tom Walker.

Get your tickets here for Friday 22nd November 2024 Hits Radio Live Birmingham at the bp pulse LIVE arena

Take a look through the line-ups for Manchester and Birmingham below:

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How to listen to Hits Radio:

Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online, ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio' and download the Rayo app.