"Hip-pop princess" is creating legendary stages and heating up the excitement.
Mnet 'Unpretty Rapstar: Hip-pop Princess' (hereinafter "Hip-pop Princess") is heating up the atmosphere with increasingly fierce track competitions and legendary-level performances by Korean and Japanese contestants as the episodes progress. With four episodes aired so far and approaching the turn, we look at three points that make "Hip-pop Princess" stand out.
▲ "A class-apart Korea-Japan collaboration" creative fusion that crossed the language barrier
As the show aims to create a Korea-Japan joint hip-hop group, the competition format of "Hip-pop Princess" itself adds to the interest. While the first track competition was a fierce head-to-head in a Korea-Japan matchup, from the second track competition onward the format has evolved into one where cooperation and competition among Korean and Japanese contestants coexist, heightening immersion.
In particular, episode 4 introduced a newly launched main producer new-song mission and the Korea-Japan "Avengers" team, in which skilled contestants from both countries joined forces, drew explosive responses. They completed a legendary stage with the cross-language and cross-cultural performance "DAISY (Prod. 개코)", and have received warm praise from viewers. This cross-border creative fusion and the narrative of Korea-Japan contestants becoming one through music have become the driving force behind the show's immersion.
▲ Even those from audition shows respect it, challenging self-producing that surpasses limits
Another major pillar of "Hip-pop Princess" is that contestants create choreography and rap themselves to complete their stages. Beyond simply standing on stage, it shows the journey of growing into true global artists through the process of planning and creating on their own. This is a key point that differentiates it from existing audition·survival program, inheriting the DNA of 'Unpretty Rapstar,' which was a sanctuary for discovering talent, while maximizing each contestant's creativity and self-producing capabilities.
Because they must complete stages in a short time under extreme conditions, contestants experience many trials and errors. Soyeon, who came from an audition program and serves as MC and main producer, empathized with these difficulties and added sincerity by respecting the contestants and saying, "I also participated in an audition program, but for contestants to complete their stages themselves in such a short time is absurd. Even so, I hope viewers recognize how amazing a job they are doing."
▲ Sincerity first, presence top! Four main producers, four distinct characters
The wholehearted support from the main producers who are sincere about "Hip-pop Princess" has also raised viewers' empathy and immersion. Soyeon, Gaeko, Riehata, and Iwata Takanori, among the Korean and Japanese producers, have continued to give generous advice and support to the contestants.
Soyeon, a role model for contestants who combines outstanding empathy and cool-headedness; Gaeko, a reliable, fatherlike figure who embraces contestants with professional charisma and advice; Riehata, who becomes a life mentor to contestants based on her own experience; and Iwata Takanori, who raises stage completeness with delicate coaching befitting a multi-artist — the four producers' distinct expertise and personalities breathe sincerity into "Hip-pop Princess."
Meanwhile, the show's third voting began at 12 a.m. KST on the 7th and has been heating up the excitement. This third vote will run until 12 p.m. KST on the 27th, and can be participated in via Mnet Plus in Korea and global regions, and via U-NEXT in Japan.
"Hip-pop Princess," which produces legendary stages each episode and raises expectations, airs on Mnet every Thursday at 9:50 p.m. KST and is available in Japan through U-NEXT.<
[Photo] Mnet
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