The tenth season of the series Show Me the Money (known as Show Me the Money 10: The Original) premiered on October 1, 2021. It was broadcast every Friday at 23:00 (KST) on Mnet. The season featured four new producer teams Yumdda and Toil, Gaeko and Code Kunst, Gray and Mino, and Zion.T and Slom.
This season saw approximately 27,000 applicants, the most in the show's history. The increase in number of contestants joining the show was due to the financial difficulties most rappers faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the lack of in-person concerts, events, and gigs, most of them began to focus on online streaming and web-content platforms which provide minimal income.
This season will also be a "10th Anniversary Project" that crosses broadcasting, online and Over The Top platforms under the concept of "The Original", celebrating the show's rich history of serving as a forefront of the Korean Hip-hop scene, as well as showcasing the emergence of up and coming Korean artists who joined the show.
The winner of this season is Jo Gwang-il, with Team Gaeko x Code Kunst as the winning producer team. He will receive a prize money of ₩300,000,000, plus a Mini Cooper, album production support and a 1-month stay in an ultra-luxury hotel suite.
Judges Team Yumdda x Toil Yumdda: Rapper and co-founder of the recently established Daytona Entertainment. Member of hip-hop collective Back N' Forth. Toil: Producer under Daytona Entertainment. Member of Wayside Town Crew.
Team Gaeko x Code Kunst Gaeko: Co-founder of Amoeba Culture and one half of the hip-hop group Dynamic Duo. Previously participated in season 6 and 9 as a producer/judge for Teams Dynamic Duo and DyWhy respectively. Code Kunst: Music producer signed under AOMG, formerly signed under the defunct HIGHGRND. He was a judge/producer in seasons 777 and 9 for Team CodePalo.
Team Gray x Mino Gray: Rapper and producer under AOMG. Previously participated in season 5, where he was one of the winning producers of Team AOMG. Member of VV:D crew with Team Zion.T x Slom producer Zion.T. Mino: Rapper and member of the K-Pop group Winner under YG Entertainment. Previously participated in season 4 under his real name Song Min-ho, where he finished first runner-up under Team ZiPal.
Team Zion.T x Slom Zion.T: Singer and producer under The Black Label. He was a judge/producer in season 5 with Team YG, and in season 9 where he was one of the winning producers for Team Zion.T x Giriboy. Member of Holocoin with fellow Producer/Judge Slom, and VV:D crew with Team Gray x Mino producer Gray. Slom: Independent producer. Member of Holocoin with fellow Producer/Judge Zion.T. He had co-produced most of Team Zion.T X Giriboy's discography in season 9. Previously signed under Halftime Records.
Teams The final Producer Team line-ups were formed during the Team Rapper Casting round, in which five members per team were selected.
Team Zion T x Slom (also known as Team Tsla) Sokodomo - Member of Eumcha1ld. Signed under Sony Music. Previously participated in season 777, and in season 3 of High School Rapper under his real name Yang Seung-ho. Don Mills - Rapper signed under VMC (Vismajor Company). Khakii - Signed under Wavy. Previously participated in season 9 as a member of Team Code Kunst x Paloalto. Northfacegawd - Signed under Starex Records. Formerly known by his rapper name Bredy when he started his rap career. A-Chess - Member of SP1B crew. Participated in all the previous seasons, but started advancing further than the Rapper Evaluation Round from season 7.
Team Gray x Mino (also known as Team Graynoma) Be'O - Signed under FameUs Entertainment. Previously participated in seasons 777 and 9, and in the third season of High School Rapper under his real name Yoo Chan-wook. Mudd the Student - Member of musical collective Balming Tiger. Anandelight - Christian rapper. Signed under Hadash Music. Geegooin - Member of Hip-hop trio Rhythm Power, who are co-CEOs of their own label Team Player. Formerly an artist of Amoeba Culture. Previously participated in season 4 as a member of Team AOMG, and in season 6. Unofficialboyy - Member of Team D.O.G. (Drug Online Gate). Rapper and ex-leader of Dickids crew and member of XXYXNAF crew. Signed under Ackermann. Previously participated in seasons 4, 5 and 7, season 8 as a preliminary member of Team BGM-v, in season 9, and the first season of High School Rapper. Also known by his rap names Luda, Trapstarsureen, and Baddie Homie, and through his real name Lee Su-rin.
Team Gaeko x Code Kunst (also known as Team CoKo) Jo Gwang-il - Rapper signed under Dippin' Carls Records. Known as one of the fastest Korean rappers, alongside Outsider. Was nominated for Rookie of the Year at the 2021 Korean Hip-hop Awards. Since - Independent rapper. She was invited by VMC (Vismajor) CEO Deepflow to sign to their company. Member of VAT crew. Winner of season 2 Openmicswg freestyle challenge. Previously participated in seasons 777 and 9. Tabber - Signed under Dean's label you.will.knovv. Ourealgoat - Signed under FDT. Previously participated in season 9. Ahn Byeong-woong - Signed under Wavy. Previously participated in seasons 8 as a preliminary member of 40-Crew and season 9 as a member of Team Code Kunst x Paloalto.
Team Yumdda x Toil (also known as Team Tonawayum) Koonta - Korean reggae artist signed under Sajah Records. One half of the collaboration group Rude Paper. Basick - Veteran rapper and CEO under his own label Outlive Records. Winner of season 4 as a member of Team Brand New Music. Previously a member of hip hop crew Jiggy Fellaz and duo Double Trouble with season 4 semifinalist Innovator. 365lit - Member of UnderSeongsuBridge (USB) crew. Previously participated in season 9 as a member of Team Code Kunst x Paloalto. Hwang Ji-sang - Independent rapper. Also known by his rapper name H-Venom. Song Min-young - The youngest contestant to join this season at 13 years old (Korean age).
Rounds
Round one: rapper selection round After sending in their audition clips, those selected by the production crew will attend the rapper selection round. As a safety precaution from the COVID-19 pandemic, the contestants will be divided into small groups, with each contestant socially distanced from one another, and have a plexiglass placed between him/her and the assigned producer. Each contestant will perform a short a cappella rap in front of the producer. The producer then provide an in-depth evaluation of the contestant, and determine if they advanced to the next round. Unlike the previous seasons where the producer typically hand the SMTM neck chain to the contestant, the contestant will grab the chain at the corner of the plexiglass. 132 contestants advanced into the next round.
Notable contestants from the rapper selection round Producer judgePassed selection roundFailed selection roundYumddaSong Min-young, Northfacegawd, Koonta, Woo Tae-hyeong, Choi Sang-hyeon, Hwang Ji-sang, Lee Dae-eun, Marvel J, Park Hyeon-gyu, Lil Sunder11, Dejibaby, Nakmin Choi, Lee Jin, Kim Ye-yun, Ian BTC (Bitcoin mascot), Choi Se-yeonToilBlase, Kwon Yeong-kwang, Greenbeige, Kim Dong-wook, Kim Sang-hun, Kim hyeon-jik, Daily Wave, Park E-Sell, YesJunior24, yoboy, Johny Kwony QDR, Min Jae-wook, Kim Ma-ri, Lee Jong-hunGaekoDon Mills, Since, Jo Gwang-il, Choi Hwan-hee, Kang Jong-hun, Kye Yul-E, N-Chovi, Yonge Jaundice, Seo Yu-chan, Padi, Tan, Trilla Gang, Kanto, Choi Jun-pyo, Yeyebeen, gonhills, Park Jin-oh, Views in i, Oh Soo-jung, Im Gyung-bin, Jung Hyung-junLee Kwang-seok, Bang Jae-min, Lee Chan-wuCode Kunstkitsyojii, Geegooin, Win, Gwabtopal, Kim Sung-min, Park Yu-bin, Bae Jae-won, Seo Min-gyu, Seo Jung-hun, Song Yeong-chan, Shin Jong-min, Shin Jung-ha, Ourealgoat, Lee Seon-min, Jeon He-ri, Castle J, Timefever, Choo Hyun-seungPing Ping Man, Indego Aid, Off Beat Genius RapperGray365lit, San E, Khakii, Eugene Cha, Kang Jeong-ho, Pullik, Loxx Punkman, Kim Dae-hyeon, Kim Min, ggangse, Anandelight, Anngyeungjaebee, Unofficialboyy, Im Seon-kyun, Jeong Eui-yeong, Jo Hyeon-je, Chan Hyun, Choi Min-hyeong, FelessYuk Ji-dam, Lee Jae-ho, Kim Min-su, ELooE, Hotchkiss Kim Dong-hee, Lee Jae-hunMinoA-Chess, Mudd The Student, Basick, Yumewanaii, Sycho, Choi Min-seo, Sparky, Be'O, Anandelight, Kim Hyeon-ah, Raphael, Park Su-hwan, Shin Jae-hyeok, Shin Jeong-min, Woojay, Uzi, Yoon Joo-hyeok, Jeong Jae-hwan, Ji Chanel, Ha Seong-min, Hijvc KidNY Dogg, Kang Dong-hunZion.TSokodomo, Son Yeong-dae, Kang Seong-sik, Kim Min-seok, Kim Jin-yeob, Noa, Lil Hodong, Song Jin-woo, Yanu, Yankie, Jang Rae-hyuk, James AnKim Kyung-hwan, Han Young-junSlomShin Hyong-jun, Implanted Kid, Ahn Byeong-woong, Mac Kidd, Tabber, Kim Do-woo, Kim Min-woo, Nudeboi Seo, Simo, Loxx Punkman, Min Kyeong-ho, Song Jun-ho, Ohiorabbit, Lee Jae-seong, Jeon Chan-ju, Terry, PosadicKim Seung-ho
Received the SMTM necklace from one of the SMTM producers and will advance to the next round. Eliminated from the show
Round two: 60-second beat rap The remaining 132 contestants will participate in the 60-second beat rap, where each contestant must do a one-minute rap in front of all judges. At least one producer team has to pass the contestant in order to progress to the next round. This season will also incorporate the use of augmented reality (AR) to emphasize on the contestants who received an "all pass" or "all fail" status. If the contestant receives an "All Pass", the stage will virtually go up, signifying his/her continuation to the next round. Conversely, contestants receiving an "all fail", are eliminated from the show and must surrender their SMTM necklace by throwing it to the virtual fire. At the end of the round, the producers will select eight memorable contestants that failed the round for the Revival round. They will perform the a cappella version of their 60-second rap performance in front of the Producers and will decide whether to revive the contestant or not. A total of 56 contestants (51 contestants that passed this round, five contestants were revived) advanced to the next round.
Notable contestants at the 60-Second Beat Rap