On August 26, the program’s producers released a teaser video featuring JUSTHIS performing a diss rap, seemingly directed at Lee Chan-hyuk. The verse included pointed lines such as:

“Hip-hop is dead? Then get lost / To someone who started with love, this is religion”

“The Weeknd’s low-grade copy, plagiarized knockoff / Joke’s on you, I bloom like Murakami.”

The lyrics reference past comparisons between Chan-hyuk and The Weeknd while mocking his 2022 SMTM10 appearance, where he criticized the hip-hop scene for becoming arrogant and self-indulgent. JUSTHIS’s response appears to challenge Chan-hyuk’s originality and relevance in the genre.

Mixed Reactions and “Empty Scene” Accusations

Despite the bold diss, the reaction from the public has been largely critical. Many questioned whether dragging up a two-year-old critique was necessary—or even effective.

“The fact that they’re still dragging bait Lee Chan-hyuk threw years ago just shows how empty the scene is,” one netizen wrote.

JUSTHIS Lee Chan-hyuk dissperson' 'rapper' 'redjacket' 'bluebackground.

Others labeled the diss as noise marketing meant to boost attention for the flagging Show Me the Money brand:

  • “If he didn’t target someone, would anyone even watch?”
  • “Desperate attempt to keep hip-hop alive.”

There was also backlash regarding JUSTHIS’s military service ambiguity, especially when compared to Lee Chan-hyuk’s well-documented service in the Marine Corps. Comments included:

  • “There’s a reason people call them wannabe hip-hop heads.”
  • “He’s got bars but not the backbone.”

The Bigger Picture: What Happened to SMTM?

Once seen as a cultural juggernaut that revitalized Korean hip-hop, the Show Me the Money franchise has seen a decline in credibility due to controversies involving participating rappers and repetitive diss tactics.

The diss battle in the teaser may have reignited attention—but also reignited criticism of the scene’s lack of evolution. As Show Me the Money 12 prepares for its upcoming season, the spotlight is once again on the dissonance between performance and authenticity in Korean hip-hop.

Sources: nate