Mnet 'Show Me the Money 12' delivered an explosive dopamine rush with performances by global rappers and the all-time great talents who led 'all pass'.
On Thursday the 22nd, episode 2 of Mnet 'Show Me the Money 12' aired, featuring fierce global preliminaries followed by the 60-second rap mission, famous for its 'hellfire' judging. From the first week of broadcast, FunDex released by Good Day Corporation placed the show at number one in the TV sector buzz rankings for the third week of January, and the parade of all-time diverse talented performers added wings to its box office momentum. This broadcast also recorded the highest audience rating in its time slot across terrestrial and cable channels among male viewers in their 20s as well as teenagers of both genders (AGB Nielsen, based on the Seoul metropolitan area paid sample), proving for two consecutive weeks the hot interest of viewers in their teens and 20s. Keywords related to 'Show Me the Money 12' trended in real time on X (formerly Twitter) in Korea as well as Thailand and Singapore, drawing attention from global fans.
Global preliminaries that drew participants from 32 regions around the world added viewing fun with raps in various languages. Red Eye, the next-generation star of Japan's hip-hop scene, and Jung Jun-hyuk from Canada, both judged by Zico, received rave praise — respectively "I got chills for the first time" and "This is something" — and advanced to the second preliminary. The Cooper Family from Brooklyn, New York (Tux, Bing Nation, Vsoap City) delivered sincere battle rap and earned unanimous passes, and FlowSik, who reauditioned after about 10 years, also easily cleared the first preliminary.
A total of 44 contestants passed the global first preliminaries. While some participants left with the regret of elimination, such as Heo Jung-sing from 'Boys 2 Planet' and dancer Minami, a former member of a winning crew on 'World of Street Woman Fighter', a large number of talented performers from around the world showcased the prestige of the global preliminaries. Most striking among them was the appearance of Thailand superstar Milli. Milli, the first Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella, began with a soul-filled song and delivered smooth raps, earning Jaebeom Park's pass. JB, a seven-time winner at the Hong Kong Hip Hop Awards, also demonstrated global-caliber strength with exceptional groove and presence.
The second preliminary opened with an imposing set and the appearance of MC Kim Jin-pyo. The signature 'Show Me the Money' mission, the hellfire 60-second rap mission, is literally a mission where survival or elimination is decided within 60 seconds: if all four producer teams press FAIL, the contestant is immediately eliminated; if even one team gives PASS, the contestant advances to the next stage. With 152 contestants who passed the first preliminaries taking the stage, the sequence of talents who achieved ALL PASS and unexpected eliminations made it impossible to look away.
The consecutive all-pass stages were undoubtedly the show's top highlights and a dopamine fountain. Members of Okashi, a hip-hop crew that has recently risen in popularity, also captured attention, and among them, Raf Sandu, a former Japanese exchange student, became an all-pass recipient amid producers' high praise. Japanese rapper Still J.Cark (.J.Cark), a former electronics salesperson, also received an all pass with strong momentum, and DKAY from Australia succeeded in all pass, leaving an impression with his charming Australian accent. Oxy Nova delivered an energetic stage, Vice Bersa offered insane rap, and Wes Atlas, of Japanese and American mixed heritage, captivated with performances that felt like watching a single concert.
Rising rapper NowAimYoung, who draws attention from Millennials and Gen Z, and Mason Home, a former member of the Okashi crew, advanced to the next round with two passes and three passes respectively. Youngpa C's leader Jeong Seon-hye had the misfortune of a lyrical mistake but survived with one pass. On the other hand, shocking eliminations also occurred one after another. Microdot began rapping almost like singing, saying "I reauditioned with the heart of a rookie," but faced an unexpected elimination.
A stage that led producers to an encore was also born. Trevi made the producers rise to their feet with monstrous presence and even delivered an encore stage. The producers responded enthusiastically, saying "It's shockingly good" and "It's dopamine exploding." Also, Ilhwakcheon-geumboi, who applied for the ninth time but had never passed the first preliminary, moved the producers with a rap that conveyed earnestness. Jung Jun-hyuk from Canada, whom Zico praised, also received an all pass with his distinctive star quality and concept-master craftsmanship in his original rap. Producers expressed anticipation for the increasingly leveled and diverse talents, saying in unison, "Being able to rap well is not enough anymore. You have to be different." ]},{
방송 말미에는 끝나지 않은 불구덩이 60초 랩 미션에 이어 3차 미션인 1:1 계급 미션이 예고되며 기대감을 한층 고조시켰다. '쇼미더머니12'와 평행 세계 구조를 취하는 티빙 오리지널 ‘야차의 세계’를 향한 관심도 뜨겁다. 3인의 생존자가 '쇼미더머니12'로 부활하는 룰이 적용되는 만큼 어떤 결과가 나올지 궁금증도 고조되고 있다.
본격적인 재미를 예고한 '쇼미더머니12'는 매주 목요일 밤 9시 20분, Mnet과 티빙을 통해 방송된다. 티빙 오리지널 ‘야차의 세계’는 본편 방송 이틀 뒤인 매주 토요일 낮 12시 티빙에서 단독 공개된다.<
[사진] Mnet, 티빙
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