Rappers Zico, left, and Crush pose throughout a press convention for “Present Me the Cash 12” at Lodge Eliena in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Thursday. Yonhap
Mnet’s “Present Me the Cash” franchise is returning with its twelfth version after years of hiatus, with a renewed deal with music, high-profile lineup and expanded pool of contestants.
Launched in 2012, “Present Me the Cash” is extensively credited with cementing hip-hop as a mainstream music style in Korea after producing quite a few hit rappers and songs through the years. Its newest season marks the present’s first new installment in over three years and is predicted to as soon as once more energize the native hip-hop scene.
A press convention for the brand new season was held Thursday morning at a resort in Seoul’s Gangnam District. Attendees included chief producer Choi Hyo-jin and this season’s star producers — Zico, Crush, GRAY, Loco, J-Tong, Hukky Shibaseki, Lil Moshpit and Jay Park — who might be divided into 4 groups to evaluate and mentor contestants.
Park is returning to this system for the primary time in 9 years, whereas Loco beforehand gained the competitors as a contestant.
Choi Hyo-jin, chief producer of Mnet’s hip-hop audition present “Present Me the Cash 12,” delivers opening remarks throughout a press convention for this system at a resort in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Thursday. Yonhap
Choi defined that the manufacturing staff spent appreciable time rethinking this system’s construction forward of its return.
“As a result of it has been a very long time for the reason that final season, we put lots of ideas into learn how to strategy the format,” she mentioned, including that the present included each regional and international auditions to draw a broader vary of members.
This season held auditions in 32 areas, together with Seoul, Gwangju, Busan, Jeju and abroad areas, drawing some whopping 36,000 candidates.
“There was a variety of contestants,” Choi mentioned. “We expanded regional auditions past Seoul, and there may be additionally lots of rap carried out in numerous languages.”
Jay Park mentioned the variety stood out to him as nicely.
“Many contestants expressed their very own cultures by their performances,” he mentioned. “Listening to rap in so many alternative languages felt contemporary and even a bit unconventional. That is my fourth time on ‘Present Me the Cash,’ and that selection made it particularly attention-grabbing.”
From left, rappers Lil Moshpit, Jay Park, Loco, GRAY, Zico, Crush, Hukky Shibaseki and J-Tong pose throughout a press convention for “Present Me the Cash 12” at a resort in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Thursday. Yonhap
The star producers, who function mentors and occasional judges on this system, additionally spoke concerning the strengths of their respective groups and the way they plan to information new artists. Zico, who will work with Crush, mentioned his staff’s benefit lies in its versatility.
“Each of us work throughout a number of genres, and we don’t want contestants to remain confined to only one type,” he mentioned. “We wish them to discover totally different genres and totally present their potential. As a result of the present reaches each core followers and most people, we’re aiming for outcomes that resonate with each.”
Crush pointed to his long-standing collaboration with Zico.
“We now have labored collectively extensively even earlier than this program, so our teamwork could be very sturdy,” he mentioned. “I feel that chemistry will positively affect how contestants construct teamwork and join with each other by every spherical.”
GRAY, who’s paired with Loco, mentioned their longtime relationship would form their strategy.
“We met in faculty, and we are able to perceive one another nearly immediately,” he mentioned. “We share comparable musical preferences, and I feel that may come by within the music.”
Rappers Loco, left, and GRAY pose throughout a press convention for Mnet’s “Present Me the Cash 12” at Lodge Eliena in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Thursday. Yonhap
Hukky Shibaseki, who’s paired with J-Tong and making his first look on the present as a producer, mentioned he’s approaching the season with willpower.
“As newcomers, we have now a hungry mindset,” he mentioned. “We’ll work laborious so we do not fall behind different groups.”
The brand new season will encompass 12 episodes as a substitute of the standard 10, marking the primary time the present has expanded its episode depend. Alongside signature missions together with the gymnasium audition spherical, fireplace pit problem and diss-track battle, new missions have additionally been added, with contestants required to go a complete of 11 rounds.
In her press convention closing remarks, Choi mentioned viewers can count on a season wealthy in storylines. “We now have ready actually sturdy music,” she mentioned. “I hope folks take pleasure in watching.”
“Present Me the Cash 12” premieres Thursday at 9:20 p.m. on Mnet.
