'H//PE Princess' (Hype Princess, abbreviated HYPE), a seven-member global hip-hop group with a new identity, was born through 'Hip Pop Princess'.
On the final live broadcast of Mnet's Korea-Japan joint project Unpretty Rapstar: Hip Hop Princess (hereafter 'Hip Pop Princess') aired on the 18th, the winners who will debut simultaneously in Korea and Japan in the first half of 2026 as a new global hip-hop group were chosen by global fans. The final members of Hype Princess, standing at the starting line of debut, were confirmed as ▲Kim Do-i, ▲Kim Su-jin, ▲Coco, ▲Nam Yu-ju, ▲Nico, ▲Rino and ▲Yoon Seo-young (in alphabetical order by English letters), seven members in total.
Starting with the opening group stage 'Do my thang (Princess Ver.)', the 16 contestants who advanced to the final were divided into three units to present stages with different concepts such as 'SPEAK UP', 'Bless U' and 'gOOd!'. With Kim Su-jin, Min-ji-ho and Coco chosen as the solo intro section leads respectively, each stage featured powerful rap and performances that were hard to take your eyes off. The contestants, who wrote legendary stages by demonstrating self-producing capabilities in every track competition, delivered a glamorous finale with performances that embodied their own identities until the end.
Along with the final debut members, the official group name was also unveiled. The contestants who earned a place in the debut group were Kim Do-i·Kim Su-jin·Coco·Nam Yu-ju·Nico·Rino·Yoon Seo-young. The group name 'H//PE Princess' carries the ambition to become the No. 1 hip-hop artist group that excites the world, and H//PE Princess is signed to music labels in both Korea and Japan and will begin simultaneous Korea-Japan debut in the first half of 2026, then expand activities from Asia to the global stage. Nam Yu-ju, who secured the final first place and confirmed debut, said on behalf of the team,
Hip Pop Princess, which first aired on Thursday, Oct. 16, left a meaningful footprint toward the birth of a new global hip-hop group beyond a simple survival show over the past 10 weeks. During that time, contestants proved their capabilities by actively participating in the entire creative process, including music, choreography, styling and video production. In track competitions that inherited the DNA of Unpretty Rapstar, stages that showcased the contestants' skills continued.
Korean and Japanese contestants, who started from different languages and cultures, gradually completed musical synergy through collaboration amid fierce competition, creating a moving growth narrative of friendship and chemistry that crossed borders toward debut. Although Hip Pop Princess has ended, Hype Princess, born from the intense journey, is expected to act as a global hip-hop group representing the voices of both Korea and Japan. Along with enthusiastic support for the debut members, attention is focused on the steps they will take going forward.
[Photo] Provided by Mnet
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