[U-NEXT] Mnet’s jointly produced Japanese-Korean survival audition program “Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess” will be streamed simultaneously in Japan and Korea and exclusively in Japan on U-NEXT starting Thursday, October 16th.
U-NEXT Inc. Press Release: September 4, 2025 Mnet’s jointly produced Japanese-Korean survival audition program “Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess” will be streamed simultaneously in Japan and Korea and exclusively in Japan on U-NEXT starting Thursday, October 16th. i-dle’s Soyeon, Gaeko, RIEHATA, and Takanori Iwata are participating as main producers U-NEXT, a video streaming service operated by U-NEXT Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tenshin Tsutsumi), a subsidiary of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, will begin simultaneous streaming of Mnet’s
Japan-Korea co-produced survival audition program “Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess” (hereinafter “HIP POP Princess”) in Japan and Korea, exclusively in Japan, starting Thursday, October 16, 2025. The program will also feature i-dle’s Soyeon, Gaeko, RIEHATA, and Takanori Iwata as top producers representing their respective fields.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/31998/2404/31998-2404-a2382ca061cd11f0078d42c3244cdddf-1280×1792.jpg (C)Mnet 『HIP POP』 “Princess” is a new project by Mnet that aims to create a globally successful hip-hop girl group. Participants will be personally involved in all processes, including music, choreography, styling, and video production, to express their individual uniqueness. They plan to weave a new story of growth through collaboration as well as competition. By using hip-hop as a medium to intertwine Japanese and Korean cultures, participants will have the opportunity to create a new culture and grow into unique artists. To support this, a team of top producers representing various fields has been assembled, and by joining forces with the production team behind “Unpretty Rapstar” and “STREET WOMAN FIGHTER,” which became social phenomena in Korea, we will achieve great synergy. First, Soyeon of i-dle has been selected as the main producer and sole MC of “HIP POP Princess.” Soyeon, who left a strong impression on “Unpretty Rapstar 3,” returns as the MC for the newly revamped “HIP POP Princess,” set on a global stage. She will serve as a role model and sincere mentor to the participants, guiding them in discovering their own identities. Next up is Gaeko, a leading artist in the Korean hip-hop scene who has produced numerous hits as a member of the hip-hop duo “Dynamic Duo,” which has contributed greatly to the popularization of hip-hop. He will also appear as the main producer. He has demonstrated a wide range of musical talent through collaborations with various artists, and is a talented rapper with captivating vocals. Attention is focused on what kind of gem he will unearth. Also joining the lineup from Japan will be RIEHATA and Takanori Iwata as main producers. RIEHATA, a
world-renowned choreographer and dancer, made an impressive presence in “WORLD OF STREET WOMAN FIGHTER,” where he was recognized for his unique directing skills. He is expected to demonstrate his exceptional aesthetic acumen not only in his keen dance judging but also in discovering the next generation of artists. Takanori Iwata, a member of “Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS III,” is a multi-talented artist active in many fields, both as a solo artist and actor. His performance will demonstrate how he will bring out the potential of the participants and drive their growth. U-NEXT will be streaming “HIP POP Princess” exclusively in Japan on an unlimited streaming basis starting Thursday, October 16th. “HIP POP Princess” is a joint Japanese-Korean hip-hop girl group project in which participants with different and unique identities from hip-hop, K-POP, J-POP, and more will challenge themselves to transcend the barriers of language, culture, and generation to create a group. What kind of artist will emerge from this project? Please stay tuned for further updates. “Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess” Streaming start date: Thursday, October 16, 2025 *New episodes released every Thursday Streaming information: U-NEXT / Unlimited viewing (exclusive domestic distribution) / Japanese subtitles U-NEXT U-NEXT is the video streaming service with the largest number of titles available for unlimited viewing*. Enjoy over 400,000 titles, including movies, dramas, and anime. You can also watch live music and stage performances, as well as world-class sports like soccer, golf, and martial arts, all in real time. We also offer over 1.21 million manga and books, providing a genre-bending entertainment experience that seamlessly combines video, books, sports, and live shows in a single app. By integrating with Paravi in July 2023, we will offer an even more compelling service with a large lineup of dramas and variety shows from TBS and TV Tokyo. U-NEXT Inc. is a group company of U-NEXT HOLDINGS Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasuhide Uno). U-NEXT: https://video.unext.jp U-NEXT SQUARE: https://square.unext.jp *Researched by GEM Partners as of July 2025 Survey of foreign films, Japanese films, foreign dramas, Korean & Asian dramas, domestic dramas, and anime on major domestic subscription video streaming services. Some titles require a separate fee. *This email was sent automatically, so please do not reply.