Jessica Hyun-ju Ho, popularly known as Jessi, was born on December 17, 1988, and is one of the most successful Korean-American artists and musicians. Her music spans several ranges, from Rap and R&B to K-pop – the mainstream genre from Korea – and has a solid fan base in both South Korea and North America. While she has enjoyed a long career as a member of several groups, she has also managed to establish her name as a solo artist. As of today, Jessi has become a special figure in the South Korean music industry, and she has also made regular appearances in several media outlets. We’ll help you celebrate her birthday right here.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Jessica Hyun-ju Ho
Nickname:
Jessi
Birth date:
December 17, 1988
Age:
35
Zodiac Sign:
Sagittarius
Height:
5' 6"
Net Worth:
$8 million
Background
Jessi was born Jessica Hyun-ju Ho on December 17, 1988, in the Queens borough of New York City. She is known today as one of the emblematic figures of K-pop, and as one of the most successful South Korean artists and musicians. While she is primarily recognized for her work as a K-pop artist, her projects span a range of styles and genres. To prove her rise to popularity, she has steadily garnered a solid fan base in both the U.S. and South Korea over the last two decades.
Jessi grew up in New Jersey, before moving to South Korea with her family at the age of 15. Her family settled in Seoul, where she attended the Korea Kent Foreign School. In 2005, at the age of 17, she released her first single, titled ‘Get Up.’ A year later, she joined the hip-hop group Uptown. Jessi released a solo album in 2009 before retiring from music and returning to the U.S.
In 2014, after a break of five years, she finally re-entered the music scene as a member of the group Lucky J. The band immediately became successful, and Jessi began pursuing other roles as a rising figure in the music business. At first, she began taking part in T.V. shows like “Unpretty Rapstar,” in 2015, and went on to be featured in several songs by different artists in the following years. Jessi has kept a low profile as regards her personal life, yet she has been outspoken about her years of struggle during her break from music, as well as her early efforts to make ends meet as a fledgling musician. Nowadays, she is considered to be one of the most successful rising artists in K-pop.
Career timeline
Jessi joins the hip-hop group Uptown as a lead singer.
Jessi releases a final single, then takes a long break from the music industry.
Jessi ends her break from music and releases a single with the trio Lucky J.
Jessi signs a new contract with the label P Nation, and goes on to release several records with the record company.
Why We Love Jessi
She is creative and original
One of Jessi’s distinguishing features is her originality. Unlike many young musicians, Jessi refused to sign a record deal with a big label, because she disagreed with their creative approach. Jessi prioritized originality and her vision in her music.
She is multi-talented
Jessi is a multitalented artist; she can sing, she can write music and she can also host. She has a keen talent for music theory, composition, and songwriting, which gives her an edge and a special touch to her music.
She has different styles
Unlike many K-pop artists, Jessi’s music is unique because she borrows from different musical styles and genres. She draws inspiration from R&B, Pop and hip-hop, and incorporates these into a unique style.
5 Surprising Facts
She was in a star-ridden school
Jessi went to the Korea Kent Foreign School alongside future fellow K-pop stars, Tiffany Young and Jessica Jung.
She had an American childhood
Jessi was born in New York, and grew up in New Jersey before she moved to Korea at the age of 15.
She had difficulty adjusting
Jessi suffered from her move to Korea and says she found it particularly difficult to adjust to the country’s culture.
She was on “Unpretty Rapstar”
Jessi was a contestant in “Unpretty Rapstar,” and finished the competition in second place.
She went through tough beginnings
Following the release of her early singles, Jessi found little success and struggled financially.
Jessi FAQs
What is Jessi’s full name?
Jessi’s birth name is Jessica Hyun-ju Ho
Why did Jessi take a break from music?
Jessi took a break from music between 2009 and 2014. There are several reasons for that, but she attributes it mainly to difficulty adjusting to Korean culture and an initial lack of success there.
What are Jessi’s fans called?
Jessi has a solid fan base, members of which are affectionately nicknamed ‘Jebbies.’
Jessi’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2024 | December 17 | Tuesday |
2025 | December 17 | Wednesday |
2026 | December 17 | Thursday |
2027 | December 17 | Friday |
2028 | December 17 | Sunday |