The ninth season of the series Show Me the Money (known as Show Me the Money 9 or SMTM9) premiered on October 16, 2020, and ended on December 18, 2020. It was broadcast every Friday at 23:00 (KST) on Mnet. The season returned to four producing teams, after having featured only two in the previous season. Dynamic Duo & Bewhy, Paloalto & Code Kunst, Zion.T & Giriboy, and Justhis & GroovyRoom formed the producing teams for the season.
The season saw approximately 23,000 applicants, the most in the show's history. However, fewer contestants were able to move on from the Rapper Selection Round compared to previous seasons, due to safety restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The winner of the season was Lil Boi, with Team Zion.T x Giriboy as the winning producer team. He won ₩100,000,000 in cash, a sports car, and a one-year project label for his music activities, totaling to ₩500,000,000. Producer Giriboy also became the first 3-time winning producer of the show, having previously won in seasons 777 and 8.
Judges Team GroovyRoom x Justhis (also known as Team Guljeot) GroovyRoom: Producer duo composed of Park Gyu-jung and Lee Hwi-min, currently signed under H1ghr Music, who previously participated as mentors/producers for seasons 2 and 3 of High School Rapper. Justhis: rapper under Indigo Music.
Team Code Kunst x Paloalto (also known as Team CoPal) Paloalto: Founder, rapper and former CEO of Hi-Lite Records, who in season 4 was a judge/producer for Team ZiPal and in season 777 for Team CodePalo. Code Kunst: Music producer signed under AOMG, formerly signed under the defunct HIGHGRND, who in season 777 was a judge/producer for Team CodePalo.
Team Dynamic Duo x Bewhy (also known as Team DyWhy) Choiza and Gaeko: Co-founders of Amoeba Culture who comprise the hip-hop group Dynamic Duo, and were judges/producers in season 6. Bewhy: Rapper and producer, currently signed under his own label Dejavu Group, who participated in season 4 and became the show's champion in season 5 as a member of Team AOMG. He was a winning judge/producer in season 8, with the BGM-v Crew.
Team Zion.T x Giriboy (also known as Team Jagi) Zion.T: Singer and producer under The Black Label and member of VV:D crew, who was a judge/producer in season 5 with Team YG. Giriboy: Rapper, songwriter and record producer signed under Just Music and WEDAPLUGG Records. He was a season 3 contestant under Team YDG, and a winning judge/producer in seasons 777 and 8 for Team Just Music and BGM-v crew respectively.
Teams After the 60 Seconds Team Trials, contestants who passed chose a producer team to join. There were ten members per producer team. Producer teams then selected contestants, if their team did not have ten members by the end of the 60 Second Team Trials:
Team GroovyRoom x Justhis: Mushvenom: Independent rapper, also known as TRICKER, who took part in seasons 2 and 6, and 8, and released TFT Mobile's commercial jingle "Dududunga". Khundi Panda: Signed under Dejavu Group. Mirani: Rookie rapper and member of VAT crew with fellow Team Member Munchman. She was initially eliminated during the 60 Seconds Team Trials, but was later revived and joined the team. Later signed with GroovyRoom's newly founded label AREA. Munchman: Member of rap and dance group MostBadassAsian (MBA crew) under Stoneship and VAT crew with fellow Team Member Mirani. Previously participated in season 8, in which he gained popularity after his elimination in that season's rapper evaluation round for performing his soon-to-be hit song "DDK". Kidd King: Member of Clarity Crew who previously participated in season 777, and in season 5 under his real name Baek Min-hyuk. Owen: See §Controversies. D.Ark: Season 777 contestant, as member of Team Illionaire Ambition. After his elimination from the show, he eventually signed under Psy's P Nation record label. Yenjamin: Signed under Brand New Music and leader of KIFF Clan. Previously participated in the second season of High School Rapper under his real name Kim Yoon-ho. Blase: Previously participated in season 8 as a preliminary member of BGM-v crew. Formerly known as Bla$e Kid. Kim Gyu-ha: Also known by his rapper name Reidaneon. He later participated in the fourth season of High School Rapper.
Team Code Kunst x Paloalto: Swings: Rapper and former CEO of Just Music, Indigo Music and WEDAPLUGG Records, who participated as a contestant in season 2 under Team D.O., in season 3 as a producer/judge, as the winning judge/producer for season 777, and in season 8 as a judge/producer. His participation this season was full of controversy due to his reputation as a well-respected rapper, his way of judging contestants dating back from season 777 and 8, and netizens believing that he won't pass the rapper evaluation round. Layone: Signed under OUTLIVE records. Previously participated in season 6 and 8. He initially received an all fail in the 60 Seconds Team Trials, but was later revived and joined the team. Mckdaddy: Member of VAGABONDS Tribe, signed under Grandline Entertainment, who was in seasons 777 and 8. Khakii: Rookie rapper signed under WAVY Seoul. Killagramz: Rapper and current radio show host in TBS and Arirang Radio, currently signed with K-Tune Collective, who was in seasons 5 and 6. Juvie Train: Member of The Movement and Buga Kingz crews, as well as project team Original Taste (OT). Ahn Byung-woong: Rapper signed under WAVY Seoul. Previously participated season 8 as a member of BGM-v crew in which was given the nickname "Lil Lil Boi". Jambino: Member of COZY CAVE crew. 365lit: Member of UnderSeongsuBridge (USB) crew, brother of fellow contestant and USB crew member Jupiter. Viceversa: Independent rapper who participated in seasons 777 and 8. He was initially eliminated during the 60 Seconds Team Trials, but was later revived and joined the team.
Team Dynamic Duo x Bewhy: Untell: Participant in season 8 as a preliminary member of BGM-v Crew. He initially eliminated during the 60 Seconds Team Trials, but was later revived and joined the team. Also participated in the third season of High School Rapper under his real name Oh Dong-hwan. Kaogaii: One-half of rap duo HOFGANG, signed under LBNC (formerly known as Lay Back Records). Heo Sung-hyun: Member of XALION crew with team member Kim Mono, who was in season 8, also known by his stage name ROSE DE PENNY. dsel: Member of FROST-30 crew, signed under LBNC. Chamane: Member of FRIEMILLI (FRML) crew who was in season 3. Kim Mono: Member of Innovor (IV) and XALION crews. Rohann: Member and leader of KIFF Clan, signed under Vismajor Company (VMC), who was in season 2 of High School Rapper (under the name Bae Yeon-seo, and later Lee Ro-han). Benzamin: Rapper signed under Primary's recently established record label PAKTORY COMPANY. Greengrim: Rapper signed under INTERPARK records. He initially eliminated during the 60 Seconds Team Trials, but was later revived and joined the team.
Team Zion.T. x Giriboy: Lil Boi: Rapper under his own label Halftime Records, one half of the rap duo Geeks, and member of the Buckwilds crew, who was in season 4. Wonstein: Rapper and singer signed under Mommy Son's label Beautiful Noise, who was in seasons 4, 777 and 8. Skyminhyuk: Member of My My Life crew, also known as SKY. Signed with Grandline Entertainment mid-season. Chillin Homie: Member of Naughty4Life (NFL) crew, signed under Mine Field, who was in season 777 and 8. Cho Soon-young: Member of HASHTAG crew who won MNET's hip-hop talent search My Major is HipHop, who is also known by his rapper name SYCHO. Lee Gi-wook: Member of 100 mwg crew, also by his rapper names xscapeway, or XS, and currently Streetbaby. Kitsyojii: One-half of rap duo HOFGANG, signed under LBNC. Mac Kidd: Signed under BASECREAM. Noahjooda: Independent rapper. Park Shin-wook: Previous participant in My Major is HipHop, also known by his rapper name HydroC.
Rounds Round one: Rapper Selection Round After sending in their audition clips, those selected by the production crew attended the Rapper Selection Round; as a safety precaution from the COVID-19 pandemic, the contestants were divided into groups of thirty with one producer, (with the exception of Dynamic Duo and GroovyRoom), assigned to judge them individually. Each contestant performed a short a cappella rap in front of the producer and other contestants. The producer(s) then provided an in-depth evaluation of the contestant, and determined if they advanced to the next round. Unlike previous seasons, where the producer typically handed the SMTM neck chain to the contestant, contestants who received a pass simply took a neck chain hanging on a nearby rack. About 122 contestants would advance to the next round.
Notable Rappers from the Rapper Selection Round Producer JudgePassed Selection RoundFailed Selection RoundGroovyRoomA-Chess, Chamane, Ourealgoat, Owen, Rohann, Syler, Son Simba, Choi Eui-seon,$ATSUKI, Juvie Train, Kim Geun-soo, Mirani, dsel, PLAN.Z.YUJA, Kim Hyo-dong, Damye,Park Seong-jun, BlueWhale, Lee Jin-woo, Kim NongmillJusthisKhundi Panda, Changbin, Lil Boi, kaogaii, sinchulbi,Takuwa, Yenjamin, Kerrigan May, Veiniyfl, Munchman,kitsyojii, Jeremy Quest, Park Min-gyu (1ndow), Go Jun-seo, Seo Yang-myeong, Lee Gi-wookKim Yeong-woo, Cocomong Mascot, Park Jun-soo, Rayshin, Lee Jeong-ho, Art Culture, Cha Yoo-jin, Shin Seong-bin, tendo, Shin Ji-hang, Sparky, BakkiriCode Kunst365LIT, JUPITER, JJK, Boy Wonder, Jiho Givenchy, Killagramz, KhakiiLee Luli, Mukuro, HahoePaloaltoChillin Homie, Leebido, Jeon Hyeon-jae, Cox Billy, YANU, M1NU, EPTEND,Jung Hye-in, Park Shin-wook, Swings,Cho Soon-young, Khan, SINCE, Cold BayOVDL, C.I.V.A Man. Mac9Dynamic DuoAhn Byung-woong, Mckdaddy, Mac Kidd, Tarae, Heo Sung-hyun,You Da-yeon, UZ, Wooseok, VEKOELBibii The Black Cat, Jang Yeong-jae, Jin Rak-heon, Lee Chang-bin,Lee Young-jin, Choi Sung-hoon, Chihoon, Puff Daehee, Bbaek Ga, Cuven HardiBewhyD.Ark, Kim Mono, Bruno Champman, Be'OKim San-ha, AchilloZion.Tnoahjooda, Mushvenom, Wonstein, Moolso, snzaePearl Kid, Crucial Star, Trilla Gang, Han Seung-min,Go Da-hyeon, Cheongju Mascot, 18K, Jang Sang-ok (Layboy)GiriboySkyminhyuk, viceversa, Jo Nam-hyuk, Johny, Untell, toigo, Naughty MaeBeopard, Malkey, Hong Seung-ho, woohanryang, Hotchkiss, MidasX, Seo Min-gyu, Lobanabeat!Other Notable Rappers that Passed the Rapper Selection Round Layone, MODO, Kim Gyu-ha, GFU, Choi Geun-ryeong, Greengrim, Park Ji-hyeon, Yuppy, Kim Dae-gyeong, Sikboy, Kim Tae-bin, Dilla, Shin Jin, Jambino
Round two: Producer Performances and 60 Second Team Trials The second round began with the Producer Performances, in which the producers performed in front of the contestants to convince the contestants to join their team. The performances were later used to pick which producer team they would face during the Team Diss Round, based on the contestants' votes.
Previously known as the One Minute Rap Round, the 60 Second Team Trials allowed each contestant one minute to rap in front of all judges. At least one team of judges were required to pass the contestant in order to proceed with the team selection process. However, the producer team(s) could subsequently give a "FAIL" to the contestant after the performance if they thought that the contestant was not qualified to join their team. In this case, the contestant would then choose a different producer team that they wanted to join. If the contestant received an "ALL FAIL" from either the first or second judging, they were eliminated from the show. Only 40 out of the 122 remaining contestants would advance to the next round, with 10 contestants on each producer team. A "revival round" for 8 eliminated contestants was held for those producer teams that did not have a full 10-member team.
Producer Performances