Only three months into their debut, H//PE Princess (pronounced “Hype Princess”) are still discovering the kind of artists they wish to become. But at KCON LA, where the septet made their U.S. performance debut, some of those defining traits were already brought to light. Formed via Mnet’s audition program, Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess, H//PE Princess officially debuted on May 27 with 17.7, their five-track mini-album named after the members’ average age when the group was formed. Blending hip-hop, K-Pop, and J-Pop influences, the album reflects the members’ youthful voices and creativity as they begin carving out their own identity.
At the convention’s Toyota Music Den stage, members COCO, YSY, YUJU, DOI, RINO, NIKO, and SUJIN brought their album to life with a jam-packed thirty-minute showcase. Emerging onstage in coordinated red-and-black streetwear, H//PE Princess kicked off with their debut title track “Stolen,” pairing their laid-back swagger with sleek, synchronized choreography. “One day” brought a more sentimental moment to the showcase. Leaving choreography behind, the members moved to the edge of the stage and serenaded the crowd as everyone swayed their hands overhead in unison. For a song about turning the members’ dreams into reality – turning “maybe one day” into “today” – it was befitting for their first their U.S. performance.
“DAISY” snapped the showcase back into high gear before that energy carried into “gOOd!,” where the group’s impressive breakdancing drew roars from the crowd. H//PE Princess closed their showcase with the then-unreleased track, “AWA” (“bubble” in Japanese), a hard-hitting declaration to move on their own terms by treating external noise and gossip like bubbles – something to pop and leave behind. The members’ vibrant rap verses commanded full attention. In a short span of time, H//PE Princess showed a snapshot of who they were at debut and where they may take their sound next.
Beyond their performances, H//PE Princess showcased their “princess” charms, from “Vocal Princess” NIKO drawing loud cheers with an a capella snippet of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile,” to YSY serving charismatic expressions that earned her the title of “Aura Princess.” The following day, the group connected with their fans, called H//PY (pronounced as “happy”), at hello82LA. The intimate setting allowed for interaction between the artists and fans, some of whom have been supporters since the beginning of their competition show. The members held a fansign, filmed TikToks with H//PY, and surprised them with hi-wave interactions as they filed out of the venue. In a short span of time, H//PE Princess showed a snapshot of who they were at debut and where they may take their sound next.
Fresh off their whirlwind week of performances and fan events, the members of H//PE Princess spoke with Kpopconcerts.com to reflect on performing for their U.S. fans, their growth since debut, and the ambitions guiding what comes next.
KPC: Welcome to Los Angeles! How has your stay been so far, and do you have any L.A. bucket list items you would like to accomplish while you’re all here?
SUJIN: First, I think L.A. is a very cool city, and I love it. One of my bucket list items was to be on stage in L.A., which I achieved yesterday, and I’m happy about it. Now I want to try performing on a bigger stage than yesterday’s. Also, I want to visit Hollywood.
KPC: It’s been a few months since you all officially debuted as H//PE Princess. Looking back on your debut versus now, what already feels different?
RINO: Right after we debuted, I kept worrying [about] what will happen next, but with more experience and getting to know each other, I am getting more confident.
KPC: Your debut album, 17.7, captures your group’s average age when you debuted. Years from now, when you look back on this album, what do you hope it reminds you of?
COCO: 17.7 is the pinnacle of H//PE Princess at the moment, but a few years from now, we will be listening to it with more growth and experience. It will be an album that will remind us of where it all started.
KPC: What do you think makes a song or stage performance unmistakably ‘H//PE Princess’? Is there a specific choreo detail, stage formation, or vocal moment that best defines your live energy?
Niko: It’s definitely our cypher. When we did our fan meet and greet in Japan and Korea, we entered the stage with cypher. I feel that we showcase our performance strength through cyphering, so I think that’s something that will represent us.
KPC: All seven members participated in writing “One day,” which reflects both your individual journeys toward debut and the beginning of H//PE Princess. Was there a particular feeling or part of your own story that each of you especially wanted to preserve in the song?
COCO: ”One Day” means, some day. All seven of us have been striving hard to reach our goal, so it has a very strong meaning to us. There is a lyric that means, “If a faint dream is calling me, Even if I break down, I will stand back up every time” in the song, and it really describes my feelings toward reaching the dream, so it is a special lyric to me.
KPC: Because creative participation is such an important part of H//PE Princess’ identity, what is something you would like to take greater ownership of in the future—whether that’s songwriting, producing, choreography, visual concepts, styling, or something completely different?
YSY: Our group is a hip-hop group, but our goal is for all of us to be able to do in-house production and producing. So I think there’s a greater ambition, individually and as a team, for producing. To do that, we’re learning and teaching ourselves more about music all the time. Even though our level of participation may be a bit low right now, we want to gradually increase it so that eventually we can become a group that produces our entire album ourselves.
KPC: H//PE Princess brings together members from Japan and Korea, with shared goals that go beyond either country. As you begin meeting listeners around the world, what do you hope can remain universal about H//PE Princess even across different languages and cultures?
DOI: We want to express through our own unique music that we can embrace not just our nations, but also genres like K-Pop, J-Pop, and hip-hop. We also believe that we can create music by respecting and understanding each other’s cultural differences, and we hope fans will take note of that.
KPC: KCON LA marks another major milestone in that global journey. Performing in front of U.S. fans for the first time, was there a specific moment or reaction from the crowd that left a lasting impression?
RINO: The audience reaction in L.A. was absolutely amazing. Even after our performance, so many people approached us to comment that it was really great, and that spoke to my heart.
KPC: You’ve accomplished many “firsts” together in a very short period of time. What is the next “first” that each of you would most like H//PE Princess to experience together?
COCO: The seven of us have been working together to debut, and now that we are a team, we would love to go to different countries together, where we have never been.
KPC: Now that no rankings or missions are defining what comes next, how do you want to measure your growth as artists?
YUJU: Now, rather than competition, we want to establish our identities as artists. Even before our debut, we had many opportunities to perform on big stages. From that, we felt our growth after each performance, and we want to continue to grow from our performances in the future.
KPC: What’s next for H//PE Princess? What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
SUJIN: It’s a secret so I can’t say too much. Please look forward to our work and performances. We’ll do our best so we hope many opportunities come our way as well. Thank you.
KPC: Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to your global fans?
RINO: Hi everyone around the world! Please get to know H//PE Princess, and get hooked on our charm.
COCO: We want to spread good energy through our music, so we are going to work hard toward it. Please look forward to what’s coming up!
YSY: Please continue to be our driving force and our energy, and thank you for motivating us to work harder. We’ll repay you by showing you a better version of H//PE Princess. Thank you.
YUJU: Although we’re a new group who debuted just 3 months ago, there are many sides of us that we want to show you so please keep an eye on us. We hope to visit many different countries as H//PE Princess. Thank you.
Niko: We are going to work hard so we can meet H//PY all around the world. I hope you will continue to support us and shower us with lots of love.
DOI: I’ll do my best, please look upon us kindly.
SUJIN: We are a group where each of us has such unique personalities, and as H//PE Princess who as a team and individually, have many charming points, we hope the wider audience and H//PY will continue to watch us. We hope to continue this long run(journey) and become a symbol of hope for all of you. Thank you.