Yezi
Lee Ye-ji (born August 26, 1994),[1][2] better known by her stage name Yezi, is a South Korean rapper and singer. She debuted as a member of South Korean girl group Fiestar in 2012. Yezi was a semi-finalist on Unpretty Rapstar 2 in 2015, during which she released several singles. Her debut solo maxi single, Foresight Dream, was released on January 28, 2016.
Yezi | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lee Ye-ji |
| Born | August 26, 1994 Gangneung, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | Fiestar |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이예지 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 利礼智 |
| Revised Romanization | I Ye-ji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Ye-chi |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 예지 |
| Revised Romanization | Ye-ji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ye-chi |
Early life and career
Yezi was born in Gangneung, Gangwon Province and grew up there. She was a student at Kang Won-rae Dance School and learned dancing from Clon.[3] She traveled four hours to Seoul every weekend to perform as a backup dancer for singers such as Park Mi-kyung and Hong Kyung-min.[4] Her parents were originally against her working in the entertainment industry, but changed their minds when they saw how much Yezi was advancing, and she moved to Seoul in her second year of middle school.[5]
Yezi auditioned at LOEN Entertainment after one of their trainees saw her videos posted on Cyworld. The videos were the two most popular on the social network at the time, and showed Yezi singing and dancing.[6] Yezi became interested in rap while listening to rapper Yoon Mi-rae.[6] After training at LOEN for three years, she debuted in the new girl group Fiestar in August 2012.[7][8]
Solo career
2015-2017: Unpretty Rapstar 2 and Solo Debut
In September 2015, it was announced that Yezi was part of the lineup of Mnet's Unpretty Rapstar 2. The show is the second season of the television series, Unpretty Rapstar, a competition for female rappers.[9] She was initially disliked by viewers because she kept asking others to repeat themselves; it was later revealed she told Mnet staff her hearing is "not that good".[10] She then criticized the show's producers in her freestyle rap,[11] which was edited out and not broadcast. Yezi became popular with viewers after her bold performance of "Crazy Dog" in the third episode.[12][13] She was eliminated in episode eight, but returned for the semi-final after winning a revival round.
Two of Yezi's performances were released as singles during the show: "Solo (Remix)" (featuring Jay Park and Loco) and "Listen Up" (featuring Hanhae). Both songs charted on the Gaon Digital Chart, at numbers 16 and 27, respectively.[14][15] Yezi was not well known as a member of Fiestar, and had significantly more public recognition after Unpretty Rapstar.[13][16] She stated: "Before the show, people were like 'I think I saw her somewhere', but now people recognize me immediately, even if I'm not wearing my performance clothes."[13] Her fans appreciated her "fierce" rapping style and "bad girl" image.[17][18]
Yezi pre-released a new version of "Crazy Dog" on December 11, 2015. It was produced by Rhymer of Brand New Music and features San E, one of the judges on Unpretty Rapstar.[17] Her debut maxi single, Foresight Dream, was released on January 28, 2016. It was produced by Rhymer and has four songs, including "Cider", which was promoted on various music shows.[19] Another song, "Sse Sse Sse", features fellow contestants Gilme, KittiB and Ahn Soo-min.[16]
On 23 December 2015, Yezi released a promotional single titled "Z-Noid" for the game Counter-Strike Online and also filmed a music video.
On 7 July 2016, Yezi also featured on the soundtrack for Wanted (South Korean TV series) in a song titled "Shadow" alongside Jung Chae-yeon. On 8 September, she released a single which called "Chase" with singer Babylon. The Jazz version was released at 12 noon on the same day.
On 24 May 2017, Yezi released her second digital single "Anck Su Namum". This album marked her first producer credit since debut for an album of her own, accompanied by her usual composition and writing credit. Shinsadong Tiger is the co-producer of this album.
2018-present: Solo Career with JG Star
On May 25, 2018, Yezi's girl group, Fiestar, disbanded after five years of activity as the members did not sign contracts with Fave Entertainment again.[20] All members decided to go their separate ways upon leaving the company. Yezi would feature on singles by Jung In, YONGZOO, and her former labelmate, NANO (History's Jaeho), before signing with a new management agency.
On July 2, 2019, JG Star Entertainment announced that Yezi had signed with their agency.[21] Her first single under the agency, "My Gravity," was released on January 30, 2020.
On October 18, 2020, Yezi appeared on a popular Korean show, The King of Mask Singer, singing songs such as BTS' "Dynamite" and Lee Hi's "Rose" to announce her return and wanting to be seen as a multi-talented musician rather than a rapper with just a "strong image." She hopes to collaborate with artist Yoon Sang someday, inspired by his collaboration with former labelmate IU.[22]
Yezi would go on to subsequently release various singles such as "Home," "Mimew (미묘(迷猫))","Raining All Night," "Secreto," and "No Name," showcasing her versatile talent in rapping, vocals, and dance.[23]
Her most recent single, "Acacia," released on June 12, 2022. Yezi participated in writing and composing songs, "Mimew (미묘(迷猫))," "Raining All Night," and, "Acacia."[24]
Discography
Single albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [25] | |||
| Foresight Dream |
| 19 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [27] | |||||
| "Such a Woman" (Zia featuring Yezi) | 2014 | — | After 11 Days | ||
| "Don't Stop" (Unpretty Rapstar 2 contestants) | 2015 | 17 | Unpretty Rapstar 2 Compilation | ||
| "Solo (Remix)" (featuring Jay Park and Loco) | 16 | ||||
| "Listen Up" 함부로 해줘) (featuring Hanhae) | 27 | ||||
| "Crazy Dog" (미친개) (featuring San E) | 45 | Foresight Dream | |||
| "Cider" (사이다) | 2016 | 51 | |||
| "Chase" (끌려다녀) (featuring Babylon) | 108 | Non-album singles | |||
| "Anck Su Namum" (아낙수나문) | 2017 | — | |||
| "I Love You Even Though I Hate You" (미워도 사랑하니까) (as Tango Girl) | — | King of Mask Singer Episode 111 | |||
| "Runaway" (도망가) (with Sool J and ultimadrap) | — | Non-album singles | |||
| "Love Me" (날 사랑해요) (with Jung In) | 2018 | — | |||
| "In Your Eyes" (눈을 맞추면) (with YONGZOO) | — | ||||
| "My Gravity" | 2020 | — | |||
| "Home" | — | ||||
| "Home (Fenner Remix)" | — | ||||
| "Mimew" (미묘(迷猫)) | — | ||||
| "Raining All Night" | — | ||||
| "Secreto" | 2021 | —[a] | |||
| "No Name" | 2022 | — | |||
| "Acacia" (아카시아) | —[b] | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Album participations
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Sobok Sobok" (소복소복) (Sohee feat. Yezi) | 2017 | The Fillette |
| "It's my mind" (내 맴) (with LE and NC.A) | Hip Hop Tribe 2: FINAL ll | |
| "Love Me (Remastered)" (날 사랑해요) (with Jung In) | 2018 | A-jae Sensibility |
| "Maladjustment" (부적응) (NANO feat. Yezi, Prod. J.pearl) | & |
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [27] | ||||
| "Shadow" (그림자) (with Jung Chae-yeon) | 2016 | — | Wanted OST Part 3 | |
| "In Your Eyes (Drama Ver.)" (눈을 맞추면) (with YONGZOO) | 2018 | — | Are You Human? OST Part 7 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Notes
References
- ^ Kim Ji-yeon (January 18, 2016). "[인터뷰] 예지 "갓예지? 미친개예지로 불러달라"". enews24 (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ [Fiestar – My name is Cao Lu, Yezi]. TenAsia (in Korean). September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Seo Byeong-gi (December 15, 2015). "'언프리티 랩스타2'참가 '피에스타' 예지…"나 자신에 막말…솔직해서 시원하대요"". Herald Business (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Jang Mi-ran (March 9, 2016). "'주간아이돌' 예지 "과거 홍경민 박미경 댄서출신"" ['Weekly Idol' Yezi "In the past, backup dancer for Hong Kyung-min and Park Mi-kyung"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "A Reversal of Six Personalities. Let's play, FIESTAR!". HIM (in Korean). Seoul, South Korea. November 2012 – via Daily Kpop News.
- ^ a b Lee Min-ji (January 2, 2016). . Newsen. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Gil Hye-jeong (December 7, 2015). "예지 "'언프리티랩스타2', 후회없이 해보고 싶었다"(인터뷰①)" [Yezi, "I wanted to go all out with no regrets in 'Unpretty Rapstar 2'"]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ Ho, Stewart (August 31, 2012). . enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Won Ho-jung (September 8, 2015). "'Unpretty Rapstar' presents Vol. 2 with 11 rappers". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Jo Eun-mi (October 3, 2015). [Mnet acknowledges 'Devil's editing' on 'Unpretty Rapstar']. Insight (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Lee, Madeleine (December 1, 2015). "2015 Was Korean Rap's Breakthrough Year". Noisey. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Yi, Yoonjung (December 4, 2015). "FIESTAR Yezi to Release New Track 'Crazy Dog' Before Official Solo Debut". BNT News. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c Kim Yena (December 17, 2015). "[bnt interview] 'Crazy Dog' Yezi, "No Regrets"". BNT News. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "2015년 42주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. October 15, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "2015년 48주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. November 26, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Won Ho-jung (January 29, 2016). "[Album Review] Yezi goes hard on solo debut". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "'Unpretty Rapstar' Yezi to drop 'Crazy Dog' featuring SanE". K-Pop Herald. December 9, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Yi, Yoonjung (December 11, 2015). "Fiestar Yezi to Release 'Crazy Dog' Prior to Her Solo Debut!". BNT News. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Lee, JinHo (January 28, 2016). . enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "FIESTAR's Contract With Agency Ends + Members Go Separate Ways". Soompi. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "FIESTAR's Yezi Signs With New Agency". Soompi. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "Former Girl Group Rapper And Solo Artist Shows Off Soulful Voice On "The King Of Mask Singer"". Soompi. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "Yezi (Fiestar) profile, age & facts (2022 updated)". kpopping.com. May 29, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "예지". 멜론 (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "2016년 05주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. February 11, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "2016년 02월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. March 2016. p. 2. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- "Don't Stop". September 13–19, 2015.
- "Solo (Remix)". October 4–10, 2015.
- "Listen Up". November 15–21, 2015.
- "Crazy Dog". December 13–19, 2015.
- "Cider". January 24–30, 2016.
- ^ 2021년 26주차 Download Chart.
- ^ 2022년 20주차 Download Chart.