Rapper JUSTHIS has reignited controversy after his diss aimed at AKMU’s Lee Chan-hyuk resurfaced, particularly due to his fiery comments about hip-hop and military service.
The issue gained attention when JUSTHIS appeared on YouTube channel Danny Cho on September 5 in an episode titled “Hip-hop is Always Cool Rapper [Beard Drinks at Noon] EP.121.” There, he addressed backlash regarding his diss, which stemmed from Lee Chan-hyuk’s 2022 performance on Show Me the Money 10.
JUSTHIS admitted he had seen critical comments but dismissed them, saying: “Overall, it’s a different story. But regarding what I said, I don’t think it was good. I’ve read some of the comments, though not all.”
However, when pressed about three major criticisms—his alleged military exemption, the late timing of the diss, and accusations of copying foreign hip-hop—he refused to elaborate, stating: “I won’t answer that.”
Critics argue that JUSTHIS flaunts confidence in rap while allegedly not fulfilling his duty of military service, branding it hypocrisy. One pointed remark from netizens summarized the sentiment: “How can you diss when you didn’t even serve?”
In response, JUSTHIS fired back: “Everything I care about is in my music. What you care about is everything outside of music. What the f** does my rap have to do with the military?”*
Despite his sharp words, he also acknowledged Lee Chan-hyuk’s artistry: “I enjoyed his latest album.” Yet, he insisted that explaining controversies rarely ends well, adding: “If I wanted to talk, I’d have gone on Instagram Live. I put everything in my rap.”
The feud traces back to Lee Chan-hyuk’s 2022 Show Me the Money 10 stage with Mudd the Student, where he rapped: “At some point, hip-hop stopped being cool. It’s just a trend or a TV show. Show Me the Money is ruining the world.”
In August 2025, JUSTHIS countered with lines on Show Me the Money 12’s “VVS 2025 Remix” cypher: “Hip-hop is dead? Then get lost / For someone who started with love, this is religion / The Weeknd knockoff, plagiarized copy / Jokes on you, I blossom like Murakami.”
The pointed reference to The Weeknd, whom Lee Chan-hyuk had openly cited as an influence on his solo album ERROR, fueled speculation that the diss was indeed aimed at him.
Public backlash continues to mount, with comments such as:
- Still attacking after four years? Pathetic.
- He copies too, so what’s the difference?
- Disrespecting Lee Chan-hyuk’s opinion without logic.
Adding fuel to the fire, JUSTHIS later performed Lee Chan-hyuk’s song Panorama to the melody of The Weeknd’s Save Your Tears during a livestream, while wearing a Weeknd-brand hoodie—seen as another jab at the AKMU singer.
JUSTHIS, who has appeared as a producer and feature artist across multiple Show Me the Money seasons, is now caught between admiration for Lee Chan-hyuk’s music and criticism for how he chose to express his rebuttal.
For now, the debate rages on: is his diss a valid hip-hop response, or an ill-timed contradiction that undermines his credibility?
Sources: Daum
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