Mnet reboots 'Unpretty Rapstar' as 'HIP POP Princess,' aims to create cross-cultural girl group

Forty contestants of Mnet's latest survival audition show "Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess" pose for a press event at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mnet

Nearly a decade after redefining the image of women in the Korean hip-hop scene, Mnet's beloved "Unpretty Rapstar" franchise is back — and bigger than ever.

The network behind Korea's numerous game-changing audition programs is rebooting the survival series as "Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess," a Korean-Japanese collaboration that aims to create a girl group blending the grit of hip-hop with next-generation pop sounds.

The new series receives the torch from the original, which aired from 2015 to 2016 and catapulted unapologetic women rappers like Jessi, Heize, Cheetah and i-dle's Soyeon into the spotlight.

But this time, the stage goes global. A total of 40 contestants — 20 from Korea and 20 from Japan — will compete not only for a debut spot, but also for the chance to bridge two cultures through a shared rhythm.

During a press conference held Wednesday at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District, Mnet unveiled the project's creative direction and lineup of mentors, describing the reboot as "a cultural dialogue through music."

The program's main producer, Jeong Min-seok, said the goal is to "birth a girl group that fuses the freedom of hip-hop with the melodic strength of pop, just like the title 'HIP POP Princess' suggests."

"A decade ago, 'Unpretty Rapstar' showed fearless women competing purely on skill," the producer said. "We wanted to bring that same confidence and raw honesty into a new era."

The contestants represent an unusually diverse mix, from university students to teen singer-songwriters with multiple self-penned tracks. Mnet said the final number of debut members has "yet to be decided," keeping the group composition open-ended.

From left, Takanori Iwata of J-pop group Sandaime J Soul Brothers, dancer Rie Hata, K-pop girl group i-dle's Soyeon and rapper Gaeko pose during a press event launching Mnet's new show, "Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess," at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mnet

One of the most anticipated returns comes from i-dle's Soyeon, who steps back into the franchise not as a contestant but as its sole emcee.

"It feels surreal," Soyeon said. "When I first joined 'Unpretty Rapstar,' I was a high-schooler with no idea what would come next. Now I get to guide others through the same journey ... The new format may be an audition show, but its heart remains the same — unapologetic, expressive and all about self-definition."

Dynamic Duo's Gaeko, one of Korea's most skilled rappers, also joins as a mentor, bringing both credibility and warmth to the team.

"The contestants' level was so high that I barely had to intervene," Gaeko remarked. "Their potential is enormous. Seeing their hunger reminded me why I fell in love with this culture in the first place."

The Japanese mentor lineup includes world-renowned choreographer Rie Hata, celebrated for her participation in the recently concluded Mnet reality show "World of Street Woman Fighter," and Takanori Iwata of J-pop band Sandaime J Soul Brothers, who also works as an actor and solo artist.

"Through 'World of Street Woman Fighter,' I learned that competition is as much about battling yourself as it is about winning," the Japanese dancer said. "I want to be a supportive big sister or even a motherly presence for these contestants. They've gathered here out of pure love for rap and dance, so I really hope they enjoy the journey."

The show also marks the first project for Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM and Japanese global advertising agency Hakuhodo, through their new joint venture Chapter-I, signaling a major step toward cross-Asian collaboration in pop production.

"Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess" premieres Thursday at 9:50 p.m. on Mnet and will stream simultaneously in Japan via U-NEXT.