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Controversy-hit rapper Jessi to drop new music under independent label
Scenes from rapper Jessi's teaser video for her upcoming single, "Newsflash," set for release Friday / Courtesy of UNNI Company
By Pyo Kyung-min
Rapper Jessi is stepping back into the music scene with a new digital single, "Newsflash," set for release Friday, marking her first major move since launching her own independent label, UNNI Company.
Framed around a breaking news concept, "Newsflash" is described as a hip-hop track that delivers "a raw and confident message reflecting Jessi's trademark unfiltered style," according to a statement Thursday.
A teaser video released Wednesday also features Jessi under spotlights with the lyrics, "Don't believe all the hype" — seen as a pointed nod to recent media scrutiny.
The single arrives nearly a year after Jessi stepped away from the music scene amid a legal controversy that briefly stalled her career.
Last September, the rapper became embroiled in a public dispute after a fan alleged they were assaulted by someone in her entourage while seeking an autograph in southern Seoul. At the time, Jessi was investigated by the police as a suspect in the case, facing accusations of assault and harboring a criminal. She was recently cleared of all charges.
"Newsflash" marks her first release following the resolution of the case.
Jessi, 36, has long stood out in Korea's female hip-hop scene for her fierce presence and outspoken persona, with hits like "NUNU NANA" (2020), "ZOOM" (2022) and "GUM" (2023), along with appearances on TV shows including the first season of Mnet's "Unpretty Rapstar."