| “ |
Your best outfit is confidence [1] |
” |
| —Jessi | ||
Jessi (Korean: 제시, formerly known as Jessica H.O) is a Korean-American rapper and singer. She is a former member of the hip-hop groups Uptown and Lucky J, and project girl groups Unnies and Refund Sisters.
She made her solo debut on December 1, 2005 with the single album "Get Up", under the name Jessica H.O.
History
Early life
Jessi was born as Ho Hyun Joo (호현주) or Jessica Ho on December 17, 1988 in New York City, and raised in New Jersey. Her family consists of her parents, who are Korean immigrants and two older brother. She went to the same school as Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany and Jessica.
Jessi moved to South Korea when she was 15 and used to be a SM Entertainment trainee. Jessi pass the audition and almost signed a contract, but then she left because SM didn’t fit her style of music.[2]
2005–2006: "Get Up" and Uptown
On December 1, 2005, she made her solo debut with the single album "Get Up" and performed the title song, "Get Up", on the TV program Music Bank.[3]
A year later, in 2006, she was added in the hip-hop group Uptown, replacing their original vocalist, Yoonmirae, and their debuted on May 25 with the studio album Testimony.
2009: "The Rebirth"
On January 15, 2009, Jessi released her first digital single, "The Rebirth". She then took a break from music and returned to the United States.[4]
2014–2016: Lucky J and Unpretty Rapstar
On July 17, 2014, after a five year hiatus, Jessi debuted as a part of the hip-hop trio Lucky J, under YMC Entertainment. From January to March 2015, she participated in the first season of Unpretty Rapstar. In 2016, Jessi was a member of the first season of the variety show Sister's Slam Dunk and its group Unnies. The project group released their first single on July 1, 2016.
2017–2019: UN2VERSE, "Down" and signing with P Nation
On July 13, 2017, Jessi released her first mini album, UN2VERSE. A year later, on July 6, 2018, she released her sixth and last digital single under YMC Entertainment, "Down".
On January 24, 2019, she signed with PSY's new agency, P Nation.[5] Her first release under the agency was the single "Who Dat B" on September 23, 2019.[6]
On November 1, 2019, she released the single "Drip" which featured Jay Park.
2020: NUNA, Refund Sisters
On July 30, Jessi released her second mini album NUNA with "NUNU NANA" as the title track.
On the June 20 episode of Hangout with Yoo, Lee Hyori revealed she wanted to form her dream girl group consisting of herself, Uhm Jung Hwa, Hwa Sa, and Jessi.[7] On July 30, it was confirmed the four would be holding their first meeting to discuss on the project.[8]
The project group, Refund Sisters, debuted on October 10 with their first and only digital single "Don't Touch Me". Under the group Jessi's official stage name is Eun Bi.[9]
2021: Comeback with "What Type of X"
On March 17, 2021, Jessi released the eleventh digital single "What Type of X". On October 5, 2021, P Nation confirmed that Jessi would release her twelfth digital single "Cold Blooded" in collaboration with dance groups from Mnet reality show Street Woman Fighter.
2022: ZOOM
2023: MORE VISION, "Gum"
On April 14, 2023, Jessi signed an exclusive contract with Jay Park's record label MORE VISION.
Discography
Mini albums
Single albums
- "Get Up" (2005)
Digital singles
- "The Rebirth" (2009)
- "I Want To Be Me" (2015)
- "Ssenunni" (2015)
- "Raise Your Heels" (2015)
- "Excessive Love" (2016)
- "Don't Make Me Cry" (2017)
- "Down" (2018)
- "A Match" (2019)
- "Who Dat B" (2019)
- "Drip" (2019) (feat. Jay Park)
- "Digital Lover (Jessi ver.)" (2020)
- "What Type of X" (2021)
- "ZOOM" (2022)
- "Gum" (2023)
Collaborations
- Kwaejina Ching Ching Nane (with Kim Young Im, Crispy Crunch) (2016)
- "Bebopalula ♡ Jessi (삐빠빠룰라)" (with Tae Jin Ah) (2016)
- "K.B.B" (with Microdot, Dumbfoundead, Lyricks) (2016)
- "All I Need" (with Flowsik) (2018)
- "Wet" (with Flowsik) (2018)
- "Thorn" (with Microdot, Double K) (2018)
- "Verdades" (with Dillaz, Suran, MONSTA X) (2019)
- "Life Is Beautiful" (with Vava, YiTai Wang, Dok2) (2020)
Features
- White Romance Vol.1 - "Christmas Song" (2007)
- Wheesung & Bumkey - "How Much is Your Love" (2014)
- Vasco - "Bonnie & Clyde" (with C-Luv) (2015)
- J.Y. Park - "Who's Your Mama" (2015)
- San E - "I Deserve It" (with Illinnit, i11evn) (2015)
- Primary - "Just Like You" (with Yankie) (2015)
- Black Nut - "Something I Can Do" (2015)
- Heize - "Me Myself & I" (with Wheesung) (2015)
- Turbo - "We" (with K.Will) (2015)
- Double K - "Never Enough" (2016)
- Baechigi - "Hangover" (2016)
- Gun - "Crazy Guy" (2016)
- Microdot - "Talkin' Bout" (2016)
- G2 - "We Are Young" (2016)
- Kim Gyu Heon - "Star" (with Babylon) (2017)
- The Quiett - "THE 1LLEST" (2017)
- Dumbfoundead - "Send Me To War" (with Year of the OX) (2017)
- Jay Park - "Run It" (with Woo Wong-Jae) (2018)
- Los - "Gyopo Rap (Remix) (with Jay Park, G2) (2018)
- Maniac - "MoneyMakerz" (with Jay Park) (2018)
- Webster B - "Lee Rohan" (with ELO) (2018)
- Superbee & twlv - "Mogul" (with Swings, Skull) (2018)
- Paloalto - "Price Tag" (with Ja Mezz (2018)
- Avatar Darko - "Super Duper Freak" (2018)
- Sik-K - "Mi Casa Es Tu Casa" (with The Quiett) (2019)
- Ted Park - "Dripping" (2019)
- DAWN - "DAWNDIDIDAWN" (2020)
OSTs
- "Glamorous Temptation OST Part.3 (2015)
- "Cinderella and Four Knights OST Part.4 (2016)
Participation releases
- "My Type" (with Cheetah, featuring Kangnam) (2015)
- Unpretty Rapstar Compilation (2015)
- "Two Yoo Project - Sugar Man Part.28" (with DJ Juice) (2016)
- "Fantastic Duo 2 Pt. 13" (2017)
- High School Rapper Regional Competition Part.2 ("I'm Good" (with MC Gree)" (2017)
- "Mix and the City Part.3" (with Xie) (2017)
- "Mix and the City Part.4" (with DJ H.One, Hyomin, TRITOPS, Jimin, Xie, Kim Chang-ryul) (2018)
- "Kill Bill 2nd Live" (2019)
- "A Match (Kill Bill)" (2019)
Links
Korea
China
References
- ↑ https://pnation.com/artists/3
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfjb9cGQ0-k
- ↑ Koreaboo: The 10 Year Journey from Jessica H.O to Lucky J's Jessi
- ↑ Mwave: (Interview)′Unpretty Rapstar′ Jessi Spills on Why She Left Korea, Struggling with Korean Culture and More
- ↑ Allkpop: PSY Officially Announces The Establishment Of His Company P Nation
- ↑ Soompi: Jessi confirmed to make first comeback since signing with P-NATION
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Soompi: Lee Hyori, MAMAMOO’s Hwasa, Jessi, And Uhm Jung Hwa Confirm Plans To Hold 1st Meeting For New Girl Group Project
- ↑ Soompi: Yoo Jae Suk Interviews Kwanghee And Kim Jong Min For Manager + Refund Expedition Picks Stage Names
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini albums (EPs) | ||||
| Singles albums | ||||
| Digital singles | The Rebirth • I Want To Be Me • Ssenunni • Raise Your Heels • Excessive Love • Don't Make Me Cry • Down • A Match • Who Dat B • Drip • Digital Lover (Jessi ver.) • What Type of X • ZOOM • Gum | |||
| Filmography | ||||
| Reality shows | Somehow Family | |||