ZICO & Crush Win Show Me The Money 12 Producer Vote, Claim Jung Junhyuk With Priority Pick
Season 12's team rosters are finalized - and the track mission is next.
Episode 7 of Show Me The Money 12, which aired February 26 on Mnet and TVING, brought the team-matching phase to a close with 20 contestants distributed across four producer squads. The episode ranked No. 1 among teenage viewers for its time slot (Nielsen Korea, metropolitan paid cable, including terrestrial broadcast) and topped GoodData Corporation's FUNdex integrated TV-OTT non-drama buzzworthy content chart for the third week of February.
The Producer Showcase Came First
Before a single team was formed, the four producer pairs took the stage in front of all 31 remaining contestants - the show's traditional "producers perform for the contestants" ritual, which gives rappers a live look at who they might be working with.
GRAY and Loco opened with a hits medley that got the room singing along. ZICO and Crush delivered a tight, polished set that showcased the chemistry they've built through years of collaboration outside the show. J-Tong and Hukky Shibaseki went the unexpected route, handing out vegetables to the crowd mid-performance - weird enough to be memorable. Lil Moshpit and Jay Park closed things out with an energy-heavy set.
Contestants didn't hold back their reactions. Several called it a concert they couldn't have paid to see.
ZICO & Crush Take the Vote - Then Act Fast
All 31 contestants voted on their favorite producer performance. ZICO and Crush won, earning a "Priority Matching Pass" - the right to claim one rapper before open selections began.
They didn't sit on it. The duo immediately used the pass on Jung Junhyuk, a versatile performer who'd drawn interest from all four teams. The pick made their intentions clear from the jump.
A Bidding War for Four Names
The main matching session had contestants showcasing for producers, who then extended offers before the rapper chose their team. Four names drew all-team interest: Tray B, Jung Junhyuk, Raf Sandhu, and Kim Ha-on.
Producer recruitment tactics reportedly included tangerine giveaways and handwritten notes - all drawing laughs while the actual competition played out underneath.
Final placements for the most sought-after contestants: Jung Junhyuk went to ZICO & Crush via the priority pick. Tray B chose Lil Moshpit & Jay Park. Raf Sandhu and Kim Ha-on both joined ZICO & Crush. Thai rapper MILLI, who received offers from two teams, ultimately signed with GRAY & Loco.
Who Didn't Make It
YLN Foreign - who had fought back into the competition through the Yaksha's World TVING spin-off - was eliminated during team matching, a jarring exit given the path taken to get there. Also cut: Dibo, Aiyan, Evan, Inoa, Chaboom, Chiochikano, and PAAK.
Kim Kipyo, NillNico, and Wez Atlas received producer offers but couldn't secure a final team slot and were also sent home.
Final Team Rosters
ZICO & Crush - Kim Ha-on, Nosun, Raf Sandhu, Marv, Jung Junhyuk
GRAY & Loco - Kwon Osun, Mason Home, MILLI, Oxynova, Forgeyatthebottom
J-Tong & Hukky Shibaseki - Nowaimyoung, Double Down, Royal 44, Youngshrr, Flickybang
Lil Moshpit & Jay Park - Zene the Zilla, Jeffrey White, Tray B, Flowsik, DKAY
Track Mission on Deck
The episode ended with a preview of the track mission - the phase where teams record original music and compete for real chart traction. It's the part of the show that has historically produced Korean hip-hop's biggest mainstream crossover hits, and what most viewers have been waiting for.
