San E

Jung San (Korean: 정산; born (1985-01-23)January 23, 1985), more commonly known by his stage name San E (Korean: 산이), is a South Korean rapper. He debuted in 2010 under JYP Entertainment, where he was the label's first solo rapper. He left the company in 2013 to sign with hip hop label Brand New Music. In late 2018, Brand New Music terminated San E's contract after the rapper made a series of controversial remarks about feminism.

San E has released one full-length album: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2015), and three extended plays: Everybody Ready? (2010), 'Not' Based on the True Story (2013), and Season of Suffering (2017). San E has received several major awards, including Best Hip Hop Song at the 2010 Korean Music Awards, Best Rap Performance at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and the Hip Hop Award at the 2016 Golden Disc Awards and at the 2016 Seoul Music Awards.

San E was born on January 23, 1985 in South Korea. He moved with his family to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, when he was a middle school student because his parents had been struggling financially as a result of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He attended the University of Georgia, where he majored in graphic design.

2008-2009: Mixtapes and underground fame

San E released his first mixtapes Ready To Be Signed and Ready To Be Famous in 2008 and 2009, respectively. As a way to draw attention to his self-released music, San E jokingly dissed established underground rapper Verbal Jint in one of his songs. The diss brought him attention from the Korean hip hop community and from Verbal Jint himself, who invited San E to join his hip hop crew, Overclass.

2010-2012: JYP Entertainment and Everybody Ready?

Still unsigned, San E won Best Hip Hop Song at the 2010 Korean Music Awards for the track "Rap Genius." Soon after, he became the first solo rapper to sign with JYP Entertainment, one of the "big three" records labels in the k-pop industry. That September, he released his first mini-album, Everybody Ready?, which featured fellow JYP Entertainment artists Min (of Miss A), and Joo and Yeeun (of Wonder Girls). He debuted several days later on the television music show, M Countdown, with his single "Tasty San," featuring Min. In November, San E started another round of promotions for the single, "LoveSick," the music video for which starred label mate Sohee of Wonder Girls.

In 2011, San E released several singles, including “Please Don’t Go," a collaboration with rapper Outsider and singer Lee Changmin (of 2AM). The song reached #14 on the Gaon Digital Chart, making it his highest charted song while contracted under JYP Entertainment. He also collaborated that year with Verbal Jint, Beenzino, Swings, and other artists on the single "Stand Up, Japan!" which benefited Japan’s relief efforts after the Tohoku tsunami.

2013–present: Brand New Music and top ten success

In April 2013, San E ended his contract with JYP Entertainment, saying that he was leaving on good terms. That June, he joined hip hop label, Brand New Music, home to his Overclass crew mate, Verbal Jint. San E achieved his first #1 hit on the Gaon Digital Chart with the song, "Story of Someone I Know," from the album 'Not' Based on the True Story. His next three singles, "Where Did You Sleep?" (feat. Verbal Jint and Swings), "Break-Up Dinner" (feat. Sanchez of Phantom), and "What's Wrong With Me" (feat. Kang Min Hee), all reached the top ten of the Gaon Digital Chart.

San E's success continued with the single "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness," a collaboration with Raina (of After School). The song was an instant hit and achieved #1 on ten music charts shortly after its debut. The song went on to win awards that year at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards, the MelOn Music Awards, and the Seoul Music Awards. His next single, "Body Language" (featuring Bumkey), was also a #1 hit, topping both the Gaon Digital Chart and seven Korean real-time music charts shortly after its release, despite its 19+ rating.

In June 2017, San E was featured in Hyoyeon's single "Wannabe". San E was also the rap mentor for KBS2's survival show, The Unit.

Studio albums

Extended plays

Charted songs

Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards

Golden Disk Awards

Korean Music Awards

MelOn Music Awards

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Seoul Music Awards