HAON, MILLI and Global Rappers Face Show Me The Money 12's Legendary 60-Second Auditions
Show Me The Money 12 brings back its most intense audition round tonight as international contestants and established Korean artists compete for producer approval.
Mnet's hip-hop competition airs episode 2 on January 22 at 9:20 PM KST, featuring the show's signature "60-Second Fire Pit" round where rappers must prove themselves in one minute or face elimination.
International Stars Enter the Competition
For the first time, Show Me The Money features rappers from 32 regions competing in global auditions. Thai rapper MILLI, who became the first Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella in 2022, is among the most anticipated international participants.
Japan's Minami, a member of Osaka Ojo Gang who won World of Street Woman Fighter in July 2025, transitions from dance to rap competition. Hong Kong hip-hop veteran JB and Japanese rapper Red Eye also join the global lineup.
Production staff noted the heightened competition level, suggesting Korean contestants face serious challenges from international talent.
The 60-Second Format Returns
The second-round audition requires contestants to deliver their best performance in exactly 60 seconds while all four producer teams-Zico & Crush, Gray & Loco, J-Tong & Hukky Shibaseki, and Lil Moshpit & Jay Park-judge simultaneously for the first time in series history.
Pre-released clips show performances from OxyNova, Vice Versa, Nohsun, Lee Rohan, Chaboom, and BLASTA. According to the production team, episode 2 will feature both all-pass performances earning unanimous approval and unexpected eliminations.
Established Names Compete
Kim Haon (HAON), who won High School Rapper 2 in 2018, returns to competition despite his established career. The 25-year-old rapper finished as runner-up on RAP:PUBLIC in 2024 and won four Korean Hip-Hop Awards in 2025, including Track of the Year for "Bastard."
His participation sparked debate among fans who questioned why he's competing rather than serving as a producer. However, Haon's decision reflects his desire to prove himself on Show Me The Money's stage.
Other established rappers include Kwon Oh-sun, Raf Sandhu, and Microdot. Newcomers like Now I'm Young and Royal44 will also showcase their skills.
Record-Breaking Season
Season 12 received 36,000 applications, the highest in Show Me The Money history. The show returns after a three-year hiatus following Season 11's controversial December 2022 finale, when Lee Young-ji became the first female winner amid heated debates about popularity versus skill.
This season features 12 episodes, expanding from previous seasons, and marks the first collaboration with streaming platform TVING. The show moved from its traditional 11 PM timeslot to 9:20 PM on Thursdays.
A spin-off titled Show Me The Money 12: Yaksha's World premiered January 17 on TVING, where eliminated contestants compete for revival spots in the main competition.
Show Me The Money 12 airs Thursdays at 9:20 PM KST on Mnet and TVING.
