San E

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title: "San E" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1985-births", "living-people", "brand-new-music-artists", "jyp-entertainment-artists", "korean-music-award-winners", "melon-music-award-winners", "mama-award-winners", "musicians-from-incheon", "people-from-bupyeong-district", "south-korean-hip-hop-musicians", "south-korean-hip-hop-singers", "21st-century-south-korean-male-rappers", "south-korean-hip-hop-record-producers", "21st-century-south-korean-rappers", "south-korean-television-personalities", "university-of-georgia-alumni"] description: "South Korean rapper (born 1985)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_E" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South Korean rapper (born 1985) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	San E
background	solo_singer
image	171014 SAN E.jpg
landscape
caption	San E at the Friendship Super Show on October 14, 2017
native_name	정산
native_name_lang	ko
birth_name	Jung San
birth_date
birth_place	Bupyeong District, Incheon, South Korea
genre	Hip hop
occupation
instrument	Vocals
years_active	present
label
spouse
associated_acts
::

| name = San E | background = solo_singer | image = 171014 SAN E.jpg | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = San E at the Friendship Super Show on October 14, 2017 | native_name = 정산 | native_name_lang = ko | birth_name = Jung San | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Bupyeong District, Incheon, South Korea | origin = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = | instrument = Vocals | years_active = present | label = | spouse = | associated_acts =

Jung San (; born ), more commonly known by his stage name San E (), 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. He left the company in 2018 and established hip hop label FameUs Entertainment in 2019.

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.

Early life

San E was born on January 23, 1985, in South Korea. He moved with his family to Atlanta, Georgia, US, 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.

Career

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.

2013–2018: Brand New Music and top ten success

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/San_E_-_2014_Seoul_International_Drama_Awards.jpg" caption="San E at the 2014 [[Seoul International Drama Awards"] ::

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.

In late 2018, Brand New Music terminated San E's contract after the rapper made a series of controversial remarks about feminism.

2019–present: CEO of FameUs Entertainment

In 2019, San E established hip hop label FameUs Entertainment and recruited rappers Errday, Malkey, and Be'O. They released their first compilation album God FameUs on April 9, 2020.

Personal life

Relationship and marriage

San-E married his girlfriend in a private ceremony on September 24, 2022, in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

On September 13th, 2025, San E announced he and his wife were expecting their first child.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | |Peak position | Sales | KOR | The Boy Who Cried Wolf () | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 17 | 1,816+ | | | | ::

Extended plays

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | |Peak position | Sales | KOR | Everybody Ready? | 'Not' Based on the True Story | Season of Suffering | Ballad Rap Song | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 20 | [No data available] | | | | | | | | | 27 | 1,558+Monthly sales of Not Based on the True Story: | | | | | | | | | 22 | 845+Monthly sales of Season of Suffering: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Charted songs

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | |Peak position | Sales | Album | KOR | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | "Tasty San" (feat. Min) | 2010 | 45 | [No data available] | Everybody Ready? | | | "LoveSick" | 19 | | | | | | "Someone's Dream" (feat. So Hyang) | 2011 | 48 | Dream High OST Pt. 3 | | | | "Please Don't Go" (feat. Outsider & Changmin) | 14 | 407,462+ | Non-album single | | | | "Wish U To Be Unhappy" (feat. Bee of Rphabet) | 54 | 242,259+ | | | | | "Big Boy" (feat. Bee of Rphabet) | 39 | 108,996+ | | | | | "Story Of Someone I Know" | 2013 | 1 | 1,139,790+ | 'Not' Based on the True Story | | | "Where Did You Sleep?" (feat. Verbal Jint & Swings) | 8 | 570,537+ | | | | | "Break-Up Dinner" (feat. Sanchez of Phantom) | 3 | 608,340+ | | | | | "What's Wrong With Me" (feat. Kang Min-hee) | 2014 | 4 | 952,054+ | You're All Surrounded OST Pt.1 | | | "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) | 1 | 2,176,748+ | Non-album single | | | | "Body Language" (feat. Bumkey) | 1 | 727,872+ | | | | | "Brand New Day" (with Brand New Music artists) | 30 | 100,723+ | Brand New Year Vol.3 | | | | "Coach Me" (with Hyolyn) (Feat. Jooheon) | 2015 | 16 | 150,317+ | No Mercy Part.1 | | | "On Top Of Your Head" () (feat. MC Gree) | 17 | 122,579+ | The Boy Who Cried Wolf | | | | "Me You" (feat. Baek Yerin) | 2 | 1,127,476+Cumulative monthly sales of "Me You": | | | | | "Like Father, Like Son" () | 23 | 143,833+Monthly sales of "Like Father, Like Son": | Non-album single | | | | "Sour Grapes" () (with Mad Clown) | 2 | 774,942+Cumulative monthly sales of "Sour Grapes": | | | | | "Like An Airplane" () (feat. Gary) | 2016 | 12 | 250,502+ | | | | "Sugar and Me" () (with Raina) | 5 | 418,248+ | | | | | "I Am Me" (feat. Hwasa of Mamamoo) | 2017 | 61 | 28,700+ | Season of Suffering | | | "Mohae" (feat. Bolbbalgan4) | 5 | 158,185+Cumulative monthly sales of "Mohae": | Non-album single | | | | "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness: Summer Again" () (with Raina) | 2021 | 62 | | Non-album single | | ::

Filmography

Television variety programs

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Notes
2014	Show Me The Money 3	Appeared throughout season as producer on "Team Brand New Music."
2015	Show Me The Money 4	Appeared throughout season as producer on "Team Brand New Music."
Unpretty Rapstar	Host of season 1
Unpretty Rapstar 2	Host of season 2
Off to School	Cast member for episodes 44-46
2016	Hip Hop Nation	Co-host with Shin Dong Yup
2016–2017	Battle Trip	Co-host (until April 2017)
2017	The Unit	Mentor/Host of season 1
2018	High School Rapper 2	Mentor
2021	Show Me the Money 10	Contestant
::

Awards and nominations

[[Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards]]

|- | 2013 |"Story of Someone I Know" |Song/Artist of the Year (August) | |- | 2014 | "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) | Song/Artist of the Year (July) |

[[Golden Disk Awards]]

|- | 2015 |"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) |Digital Bonsang | |- | 2016 | The Boy Who Cried Wolf | Best Rap/Hip Hop Award |

[[Korean Music Awards]]

|- |2010 |"Rap Genius" |Best Hip Hop Song |

[[MelOn Music Awards]]

|- | rowspan="4"| 2014

| rowspan="3"|"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) | Best Song | |- | Hot Trend | |- | Rap/Hip Hop | |- | "What's Wrong With Me?" | OST |

[[Mnet Asian Music Awards]]

|- | rowspan="4"| 2014 | "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) | rowspan="2"|Song of the Year | |- | rowspan="2"| "Body Language" | |- |Best Rap Performance | |- |"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" (with Raina) | Best Collaboration | |- | rowspan="2"| 2015 | rowspan="2"| "Me You" | Song of the Year | |- | Best Rap Performance |

[[Seoul Music Awards]]

|- | 2014 | San E & Raina | Hip Hop/Rap Award | |- | 2015 | San E | Hip Hop/Rap Award |

References

References

1. link. Mnet]]
2. (2014-06-18). "Rapper San E living his dream".
3. link. (2018-11-16)
4. (2017-01-18). "[SC줌人] 산이, 새 음반은 '자서전' 형식..진짜 힙합 들려준다".
5. link. (2010-03-30)
6. (2015-12-02). "[2015 MAMA]'베스트 랩 퍼포먼스' 산이 "아버지 힘 내세요"".
7. link. (2016-01-20)
8. (2016-01-14). "[25th 서울가요대상] 산이 "새 앨범 나온 범키에게 힘 불어넣어 달라"".
9. (2015-09-28). "'위대한 유산' 산이 "15살에 미국 이민, 父 고등학교 청소부"".
10. "San E".
11. link. (2010-10-15)
12. link. (2015-05-18)
13. (2010-03-30). "7th Korean Music Awards winners".
14. (2010-09-22). "Why did San E join JYP Entertainment?".
15. (2010-09-16). "[포토엔]산이, '물 만난듯 신난 무대' 엠 카운트다운".
16. (2010-11-02). "San E releases 'LoveSick' MV + autographed album giveaway!".
17. (2011-04-25). "San E release new track, "Please Don't Go"". [[Allkpop]].
18. "Gaon Digital Chart - April 24-30, 2011 (see #14)".
19. (2011-04-06). "Nuol, San-E, Verbal Jint & more collaborate for "Stand Up, Japan"". [[Allkpop]].
20. (2013-04-30). "San E To Leave JYP Entertainment On Good Terms".
21. (2013-06-03). "San E signs with Brand New Music after parting ways with JYPE + releases "Rap Circus" MV".
22. (2013-08-01). "Hello Venus' Nara Has San E on the Couch in "Story of Someone I Know" MV".
23. "Gaon Digital Chart - August 4-10, 2013 (see #1)".
24. "Gaon Digital Chart - November 10-16, 2013 (see #8)".
25. "Gaon Digital Chart - November 24-30, 2013 (see #3)".
26. "Gaon Digital Chart - June 8-14, 2014 (see #4)".
27. (2014-06-12). "San E and Raina achieve an all-kill with 'A Midsummer Night's Sweetness'".
28. (2014-02-12). "Winners from 'The 3rd GAON Chart Kpop Awards'!".
29. (2014-11-15). "After School's Raina captures fans attention with stunning figure + thank you speech by San E".
30. (2015-01-24). "After School's Raina, Flower-Like Beauty 'Thank You For The Great Award'".
31. (2014-08-05). "San E Sweeps Music Charts With Newest Single "Body Language"".
32. "Gaon Digital Chart - August 3-9, 2014 (see #1)".
33. "Girls' Generations' Hyoyeon to put out new solo track".
34. link. (2017-09-26). 텐아시아
35. link. (2018-12-06)
36. Gibson, Jenna. (2018-12-06). "Rapper Symbolizes Backlash Against South Korea's Feminists".
37. Kim. Suyeong. (April 9, 2020). link
38. Ahn Ha-na. (September 24, 2022). "산이 결혼, 슈트 입고 싱글로 마지막 셀카 공개 [M+★SNS]".
39. "Gaon Music Chart - 산이".
40. "Gaon Album Chart, May 2015".
41. (2014-02-12). "Winners from 'The 3rd GAON Chart Kpop Awards'!".
42. (2015-01-28). "Winners from 'The 4th GAON Chart Kpop Awards'!".
43. "2014 MelOn Music Awards". LOEN Entertainment.
44. "MAMA vote 2014".
45. (2 December 2015). "The 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards: BIGBANG and EXO Take Home The Grand Prizes".

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