Biography

Jessica Hyunju Ho, known mononymously as Jessi, is an American rapper and singer based in South Korea. Jessi originally debuted in South Korea in 2005 and briefly joined the Korean hip-hop group Uptown in 2006. After a hiatus, she returned to music as part of the hip-hop trio Lucky J and as a soloist under YMC Entertainment, until the group's disbandment in 2016. She then signed with PSY's record label P Nation in 2019 as its first artist, where she continued her solo career until her departure from the label in 2022. Several of her solo and collaborative singles have been commercially successful, with five Top 10 entries in the Gaon Digital Chart, including her highest-charting solo single "Nunu Nana" and the chart-topping single "Don't Touch Me" as part of the Refund Sisters. Jessi is a prominent presence in Korean variety programs. She achieved mainstream popularity as part of the first season of Mnet hip-hop competition show Unpretty Rapstar, where she placed second. She also served as a judge in the competition shows High School Rapper and Cap-teen, as well as a host in her own YouTube talk show with SBS, Show!terview with Jessi. She is also notable for her regular appearances in programs with comedian Yoo Jae-suk, such as guest appearances in Running Man and Hangout with Yoo, as well as being a series regular on Sixth Sense.