Grandmothers from Chilgok Take the Stage on "Show Me the Money 12"
"There Is No Age Limit to Excitement and Music" ... Spotlight on "K-Grandmother Rappers"
A Cultural Experiment Bridging Generations, Powered by Local Spirit and Sleepy's Support
The grandmother rapper group from Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, "Suni and the Seven Princesses," will take the stage in the hip-hop survival show "Show Me the Money 12" on Mnet.
Suni and the Seven Princesses was formed in August 2023 by eight grandmothers from Jicheon-myeon, Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province. Since then, they have appeared on TV shows, performed on stage, and starred in commercials, earning the nickname "K-Grandmothers" from major international media outlets thanks to their vibrant activities.
Grandmothers of 'Suni and the Seven Princesses' posing before the preliminary stage of Show Me the Money. In the center, leader Park Jeomsun (84) / Photo by Kim Ihwan
Last November, they won the nation's first-ever grandmother rapper group battle, "Show Me the Grandmother," held at the Jeom-O Alley Festival in Chilgok County, drawing nationwide attention.
The inspiration for this new challenge came from the TV at the local senior center. While watching the recruitment advertisement for contestants for "Show Me the Money 12," Kim Taehee (81) suggested, "Why don't we try it too?" and the group decided to apply on the spot.
With the heatwave subsiding, their rap practice, which had been on hold, resumed in earnest as they began preparing for the audition.
Lee Pilseon (88) laughed, saying, "I wondered if I should bring some calming medicine in case I get nervous on stage."
Their audition piece is a medley titled "It's Not Rap Without Us," which weaves together rap verses based on poems written by the grandmothers themselves.
The leader, Park Jeomsun (84), said, "I don't really know what an audition is, but trying something new is exciting. There is no age limit to excitement and music. Even among younger contestants, I am confident we can stand proudly on stage."
The group has a strong supporter. Rapper Sleepy, who has become an honorary ambassador for Suni and the Seven Princesses and their "grandsons," previously appeared on "Show Me the Money 6" in 2017.
He said, "I'm not an entertainer, I'm a rapper," and took to the stage, letting go of everything. The "Show Me" cap he received then was soaked with his sweat and passion.
Sleepy gifted this cherished cap to the grandmothers, encouraging them by saying, "Regardless of the outcome, your passion already makes you winners." The grandmothers will take this cap with them onto the audition stage.
The preliminary round for "Show Me the Money 12" is expected to take place sometime this month.
Another grandmother rapper group from Chilgok County, "Garden Elder Sisters," has also applied for the audition. Having lost to Suni and the Seven Princesses in last year's battle, they are determined to win this time, vowing to take their revenge.
Kim Jaeuk, the mayor of Chilgok County, stated, "The challenge taken up by Suni and the Seven Princesses is more than just participating in entertainment; it is a symbolic moment that showcases Chilgok's cultural strength and the challenging spirit of our elders. The very fact that grandmothers in their eighties are knocking on the doors of the hip-hop stage will resonate deeply across the country."
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