Kim Eun-young (; born May 25, 1990), known by her stage name Cheetah (), is a South Korean rapper. Cheetah rose to fame as the winner on the TV competition Unpretty Rapstar. She debuted in 2010 with the song "Stop (Money Can't Buy Me Love)" as a part of the duo Blacklist and was signed under C9 Entertainment. In April 2020, she left C9 Entertainment, which she belonged to from her debut, and founded the one-person agency, Ceuda Entertainment.
Career Before debuting in the music industry, Cheetah originally performed as an underground rapper on the streets after dropping out of high school. However, in July 2010 she officially debuted with the song "Stop (Money Can't Buy Me Love)" as a part of the hip-hop duo, Blacklist. With fellow member Lucy, the duo released two songs, "Nothing Lasts Forever" and "Stop". However, the group disbanded shortly afterwards.
After Blacklist, Cheetah made several solo appearances including featuring on other rappers' tracks and also appearing on the rap contest TV show Show Me the Money. In 2012, she joined hip-hop artist Crush in another duo group, called Masterpiece. The duo released the single, "Rollercoaster" in May 2012. Again, the group performed poorly with the public and resulted in disbandment.
In 2014, Cheetah released her first EP, called Cheetah Itself. The mini-album showcased her powerful rap and drew attention to her talent as a solo artist. The album aided in placing her on the contestant roster for the rap survival spin-off of Show Me The Money, Unpretty Rapstar.
In early 2015, Cheetah was revealed to be one of the contestants on the TV show Unpretty Rapstar. The competition notably included Lucky J member Jessi, AOA's Jimin, and other underground female rappers. In the show's finale, Cheetah was announced as the winner.
Since her rise in popularity from her appearance and win on Unpretty Rapstar, Cheetah has also appeared in multiple endorsements and fashion spreads. The rapper also participated in designing and releasing a fashion line in collaboration with Push Button.
In March 2015, Cheetah was reported as preparing for a new album, to be released later in the year.
Cheetah released her first single since appearing on Unpretty Rapstar. The song My Number was released on August 2, 2015.
In October 2015 Cheetah collaborated with Kim Junsu on his EP and featured in the track Midnight Show. In the same month, despite being known as a rapper, Cheetah appeared in the MBC singing variety show King of Mask Singer as a jazz singer.
In January 2016, she appeared as a mentor in Produce 101 and continued to reprise her role in the second season, in Produce 48 and in Produce X 101.
In 2018, she released her first Korean-language studio album 28 Identity.
In April 2023, she signed with new agency MLD Entertainment.
Personal life In January 2007, Cheetah was crossing a street when she was hit by a bus, leading to her hospitalization. Cheetah was sent into a coma for an extended period of time with little chance of waking up. However, she recovered without any major complications, although she lost the ability to sing due to the continued use of a respirator. Cheetah has stated that this traumatic experience is what drove her to succeed and "live with no regrets".
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR 28 IdentityReleased: February 28, 2018 (KOR) Label: C9 Entertainment, CJ E&M Publisher:Loen Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Cheetah ItselfReleased: June 27, 2014 Label: C9 Entertainment, CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download — Jazzy MisfitsReleased: May 25, 2020 Label: CEUDA Entertainment Publisher: Genie Music, Stone Music Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album KOR As lead artist "Expectation" 2014 — Cheetah Itself "Coma 07'" 2015 4KOR: 426,120Cumulative sales of "Coma 07'": Unpretty Rapstar 1 "Like Nobody Knows" 4KOR: 691,246 "My Number" 18KOR: 151,734 rowspan="4" "Star Wars" — "Not Today" 2016 —KOR: 16,373 "Style Diet" 2017 — rowspan="8" "Blurred Lines" — 28 Identity "I'll Be There" 2018 — "Stagger" — "Flight" 2019 — "Need Your Love 2020 — Jazzy Misfits "Sorry" — rowspan="2" "Villain" 2021— Collaborations "My Type" 2015 2KOR: 778,193 Unpretty Rapstar 1 "Can You Feel Me" 2016 7KOR: 281423Cumulative sales of "Can You Feel Me": rowspan="3" "Get It?"2016 — rowspan="12" "Don't Speak" 2017 — "I Am"2018 — DO n DO "HAN" 2019 —Queendom < Cover Contest >, Pt. 1 "Fall in Fall (Live ver.)" — The Call 2 Project No.1 "First Impression" — The Call 2 Project No.2 "My Love" — The Call 2 Project No.4 "Bastard" — The Call 2 Project No.5 "Don't Worry " — The Call 2 Final Project "Witch" 2020—Good Girl Episode 3 "Moonlight" — Good Girl Final "With A Song" — Soundtrack appearances "Side Road" 2015 — rowspan="5" King of Mask Singer Episodes 27 "Ari" 2019 — Black Money OST "Feel It!" 2020 — Good Casting OST Part 1 "Memories of a Shot" — OLD X NEW OST "We're All Lonely People" 2021 — [Vol.83] You Hee yul's Sketchbook: 53th Voice 'Sketchbook X CHEETAH'"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Appearances in albums Title Year Album"Magic Carpet Ride" () 2015 King of Mask Singer Episodes 27 "Come follow me" 2017 Hip-hop People 2 FINAL I "Q" Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Kim Hee-Gap & Yang In-ja Part. 2) "Dare to stop" () 2019 KILLBILL 3rd stage
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2020 Jazzy Misfits Sun-deok Film debut
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2016 My Horrible Boss Herself Cameo (Ep. 13)
Variety show Year Title Notes 2012 Show Me The Money Contestant 2015 Unpretty Rapstar Contestant; winner King of Mask Singer Contestant as "Naratmalssami" (Ep. 27) 2016 Hip Hop Tribe Producer Produce 101 Trainer Hip Hop Tribe 2: Game of Thrones Producer Two Yoo Project Sugar Man Contestant with Kangnam; winner (Ep. 18) 2017 Produce 101 Season 2 Trainer Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend Contestant (Ep. 303) Strong My Way Cast member 2018 Living Together in Empty Room Landlord (Ep. 24–26) Produce 48 Trainer High School Rapper Mentor Mimi Shop Cast member Strong My Way 2 Cast member 2019 Target: Billboard - Kill Bill Contestant Produce X 101 Trainer 2020 Player 7 Contestant Good Girl Contestant King of Mask Singer Contestant as "Virgin Ghost" (Ep. 267–268) 2021 We Become One 2021 Host Mobi's Marvel Cast Member Chosun Panstar judge Awesome Romance Host 2021–2022 Goal Girls Cast Member; Season 2
Notes
References
External links at C9 Entertainment