'Show Me the Money 12,' which has entered the 'hell song camp,' is showing an even fiercer landscape, leaving 30 survivors.
Mnet's Show Me the Money 12 entered a new mission, the 'hell song camp,' after the a cappella rap mission held in a large gymnasium and the crucible 60-second rap mission, delivering even more intense heat. Its surge in popularity is also notable. Good Data Corporation FUNdex topicality ranking placed it at the top of the TV sector, and the long-running hit Show Me the Money 12 continues to draw explosive responses with cumulative SNS (YouTube·TikTok·Instagram combined, as of the 11th) views exceeding 490 million.
The first round of the 'hell song camp,' which involved 73 rappers, opened with a '1:1 class mission' pitting high-level rappers against low-level rappers. Including four who barely survived with a 'producer pass' in a cliffhanger situation, a total of 40 advanced to the next round. In the second round, a team battle '4:4 team mission,' 10 more were eliminated, leaving only 30 survivors. After stages that highlighted each team's individuality, we look at the contestants who captivated viewers ahead of the final round, the 'duet mission.'
▲ Kim Ha-on, Milli, Traivy: views prove it! 'Another level' unmistakable presence
The performances of skilled rappers called 'another level'—so much so that participants name them strong favorites for the championship—are overwhelmingly dominant. Kim Ha-on, overcoming the burden of being a High School Rapper winner, has raised expectations with stable rapping skills and a heavy stage presence. Kim Ha-on proved his appeal by surpassing 4.4 million views with one 60-second rap mission video and secured the participants' own ranking of 'high-level No. 1,' proving his worth.
Milli, the first Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella, instantly emerged as a presence that shook the landscape just by appearing. Her presence was proven by the view counts. Three videos have surpassed 6 million views, one of which exceeded 7 million, showing an overwhelming presence. Traivy also drew attention by ranking 'high-level No. 2' in the participants' votes. He shocked everyone with his performance in the crucible 60-second rap mission, surpassing 1.6 million views for a single video and showing a formidable presence.
▲ Rafsanduu, Plicky Bang: skillful rappers first recognized in the scene
Rafsanduu and Plicky Bang of the Okashi Crew, who are regarded among participants as top talents, have demonstrated their presence with solid rap skills and highly complete performances. Plicky Bang has left an impression each round with stable flow and high-quality performances, showing noticeably improved skills. Rafsanduu is one of the contestants receiving attention, even earning the nickname 'rap god' among hip-hop fans for his explosive rapping.
▲ Kwon O-seon, Jeong Jun-hyeok, Royal 44: hot rookies drawing public attention
The momentum of rookies with skills and potential that rival established powers is also formidable. Kwon O-seon, Jeong Jun-hyeok and Royal 44 have drawn notable attention among fans, especially on SNS and portals. Kwon O-seon's 'Rap: Public' rap video and footage of Jeong Jun-hyeok from his trainee days were reexamined. Royal 44's videos, notable for a uniquely slow yet cheeky character, have been reproduced as clip videos on SNS and gained attention.
▲ Zene the Zilla, Flowsic: leading examples of 'OG' rappers who even captivate the MZ generation
Amid the rise of rookie rappers, established rappers who dominated stages with a weighty presence also stood out. Zene the Zilla and Flowsic teamed up in the 'hell song camp' team mission and showed the resilience of veterans. With solid fundamentals and seasoned stage manner, they firmly held the center of the team and completed stable performances, demonstrating differentiated completeness in song interpretation and detailed expression. Viewers praised the overwhelmingly commanding performances with comments such as "definitely cool" and "showing class slowly."
▲ Who are the three people resurrecting 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations'?
Meanwhile, in the Tving original Show Me the Money 12: Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, which forms a parallel-world structure with Show Me the Money 12, after a heated final rundown battle, Nau Imyoung, Vicevelsa, Mason Home and YLN Foreign take the final stage. Nau Imyoung, who drew attention as a rising star in the hip-hop scene from appearance to elimination, Vicevelsa, acclaimed for a high-quality album, Mason Home, a skilled artist from Okashi Crew, and YLN Foreign, a High School Rapper alumnus, are the four left in the final battle. All eyes are on who will be the final three to survive the underground battlefield and return to Show Me the Money 12 this week.
As missions repeat and competition intensifies, Show Me the Money 12, where rappers are standing out, airs every Thursday at 9:20 p.m. on Mnet and Tving.
[Photo] Mnet, Tving
[OSEN]