'Show Me the Money' features star-studded cast
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Gil of hip-hop duo Leessang speaks at a press conference last Friday. / Courtesy of Mnet
By Kim Jae-heun
“Show Me the Money,” Mnet’s rap competition series, premiered its fifth season last Friday.
The country’s sole hip-hop show, like its previous episodes, grabbed viewers’ attention from the beginning with its star-studded judging lineup featuring Dok2 and The Quiett of Illionaire Records; Kush and Zion T from YG Entertainment; Simon Dominic and Grey of Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG), and Gil and Mad Clown.
The Illionaire record stars made their second appearance after winning the show’s third installment with rapper Bobby of iKON. It is the first time producer Zion T has featured on the television show after moving to YG Entertainment from hip-hop label Amoeba Culture last April.
“We really thought about it a lot when we were asked to join season five,” said The Quiett at a press conference at Amoris Hall in Times Square, Seoul, last Friday. “We also ran away many times but ultimately sat at the table for a talk with the production crew. Season three was a great memory for us and we decided to participate as we anticipate meeting new faces again through the show.”
Simon Dominic’s decision to participate stirred up controversy because he had strongly criticized rappers for appearing in what he called a “fake rap show.” But he said he had changed his mind.
“I knew people would talk bad about me for changing my words,” he said. “The primary reason for me participating in the show was for my company.
“The other reason was that I was living a closed life, too much focused on preparing my next album. I wanted to go back to my 20s, when I was busy, appearing on TV and producing music.”
But rapper Gil’s appearance is credited with helping the show achieve the highest viewership among its rivals.
Gil, of hip-hop duo Leessang and a former member of popular TV reality show “Infinite Challenge,” has returned to the small screen after he was caught driving drunk and quit television for two years.
“‘Show Me the Money’ is my comeback show and it doesn’t mean that I’ve fulfilled my duty to regret my mistake,” Gil said.
“When I thought what I could do best, music came up first. I concluded that I could go back to the basics and pay back my fans with the best music.”
Gil’s reunion with current “Infinite Challenge” member Jeong Jun-ha at the audition spot in the first episode touched the audience after they hugged each other in silence. Jeong was forced to try out for the rap competition as part of his reality show’s mission and appeared at a regional audition where Gil and other five producers were judging some 9,000 participants.
“I knew Jeong for three years while shooting ‘Infinite Challenge’ together,” Gil said. “But after the incident, I avoided meeting the members because I felt so sorry. I met Jeong for the first time in two years and I couldn’t stop crying.”