Mnet is taking K-hip-hop into the dating show lane.
The Korean music channel has reportedly opened applications for a new reality dating show featuring rappers from Show Me the Money, with female participants aged 19 and above invited to apply from 24 June to 30 June. The programme is said to be a relationship-focused format that will bring together non-celebrity contestants and rappers who have appeared on the long-running rap competition series.
While details such as the official title, confirmed rapper lineup, broadcast date, and streaming platform have yet to be announced, the concept is already getting people talking online.
[단독] <쇼미더머니> 출신 래퍼들이 여자친구를 구한다?! #MnetPlus_ORIGINAL
— Mnet (@MnetKR) June 24, 2026
직설적이고 본능적인 대한민국의 래퍼들과
2026년 여름, 새로운 인연이 될 여성 출연자를 모집합니다.
🔥 모집 기간 : 6/24(수)~6/30(화) 23:59 마감
🔥 지원 자격 : 만 19세 이상 여성 출연자 *2007년 6월 24일 이전… pic.twitter.com/VXXWR3w6Yw
Some fans have reacted with curiosity to the unexpected crossover, with the idea of Show Me the Money rappers entering a dating show drawing attention for its potential chaos, humour, and reality TV appeal. Social posts resharing the casting call have framed the show as a K-hip-hop twist on the dating reality format, tapping into the fan interest around rappers’ off-stage personalities.
However, many have questioned why Mnet is packaging the format around “finding girlfriends” for rappers, arguing that the setup feels one-sided and uncomfortable. Some have criticised the show’s framing as reductive, arguing that it turns women into romantic prizes for male rappers rather than equal participants in a dating format. Others have raised concerns over whether the female participants could be exposed to public scrutiny, especially if the show leans into reality TV drama.
The backlash also taps into a wider unease around celebrity dating formats, where non-celebrity contestants are often placed under intense attention while appearing opposite better-known figures. In this case, the hip-hop angle adds another layer to the conversation, with fans wondering whether the show will spotlight the rappers’ personalities and talent or simply turn them into reality TV spectacle.
how does one program manage to do it all: treat women as sexual objects, equate rap with cishet men, erase female and queer rappers, and reduce smtm to women wanting to fuck rappers, completely undermining the art in the process https://t.co/lbFqUHP1Wo
— Riva (@r1v4sh0s4) June 24, 2026
The criticism also speaks to a wider concern around how reality television packages music culture. Show Me the Money has long been one of Mnet’s biggest hip-hop franchises, introducing rappers to mainstream audiences and shaping public conversations around Korean rap. For many fans, turning that legacy into a dating show premise feels less like a fun spin-off and more like a flattening of the culture the series helped spotlight.
The new show arrives amid renewed attention on Show Me the Money, which returned for its 12th season earlier this year after a three-year break. Since its launch in 2012, the Mnet franchise has played a major role in bringing Korean hip-hop to mainstream audiences, spotlighting rappers such as BewhY, Loco, BE’O, and Mudd the Student.
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