History
The group was unknown to many Koreans in the beginning of their career due to hip-hop music‘s lack of popularity in Korea. They began their success from their second album titled "High Society" featuring songs as "Peace Day", "Lesson 2 (The Sunset)", etc. Then with the big success of their third album "Swan Songs"(released in late 2005), they have become one of the most popular hip-hop figures in Korea. "Fly", the title song and "Paris" from their third album made a big hit in Korea and became number one songs on many Korean music channels as well as on online music charts[citation needed]. "Fly" was also chosen for the video game FIFA 07 and Pump it Up NX. Epik High‘s fourth album, "Remapping the Human Soul" (released in January 23, 2007) has shown a very different music style from their previous albums. "Fan", the fourth album‘s title song, and "Love Love Love" have been big hits in 2007.
Success of fourth album
Their fourth album, Remapping of the Human Soul, was released on January 23, 2007. The fourth album was supposed to come out in October 2006, but due to problems in the job the date was postponed[citation needed]. The album sold almost 90,000 copies in its first month and pushed Epik High to the number one spot for best upcoming artist. It sold a total of 130,000 copies as the final result. They were chosen as the best artist of the month.[citation needed] Also they decided to become ‘no genre, just music‘ from fourth album. Some songs in the fourth album has been banned from several channels due not to the use of swear words but to issues dealing sexual crimes, war, education and religion to which the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is trying to stop air play as stated by Tablo in an interview with The Korea Times.[2] With the title song "Fan (Fanatic)", pushed Epik High upwards to number one on many music charts and also number one selling music album. Epik High has also been growing fame in Japan with their song "Flow", which features Emi Hinouchi. They will release a CD sample in Japan. There have been offers to remake "Fly" as well as "Paris".[3]
Members
Tablo
Tablo (Lee Sun-Woong [???]) (born on July 22, 1980 in South Korea), also known as Daniel Armand Lee to American and Western audiences , is a Korean Canadian rapper in and leader of the group Epik High. Known not only for appearing in Korean variety shows and sitcoms such as MBC‘s Nonstop5, Tablo is also noted for having attained both a Bachelor‘s Degree and Master‘s Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, respectively from Stanford University, California, USA.[citation needed] Tablo claims to have been a long time fan of hip hop music, citing an almost lifelong affair with the culture itself. While listening to hip hop at an early age through artists such as Run-DMC and acquiring Cold Crush tapes, he concurrently gained recognition as a rhymer. His major and enduring love affair with making hip hop music was sparked later in life however, after hearing Drunken Tiger rapping, the group "Epik High" was formed in 2000 at an early time in the culture‘s local evolution; Tablo has since claimed to be the first emcee to have used the "rhyming rifle" technique. With the hip hop scene in Korea and for Korean emcees being known for their fickle tendencies, Tablo has through the years kept alive his legacy and career through numerous shows, appearances on influential overseas (American most notably) hip hop artists work, such as EPMD and now plans to release a solo album within the near future.
During early life, Lee suffered from bouts of depression, the origins of which are currently unknown. Through these times of hardship, hip hop music served as an outlet for him and after his interest sparked later in life, Lee decided to make hip hop the focus of his career. Lee‘s father was adamant that he not embark on such a course, fearing that his son would endure the same hardships that he had suffered in his own youth. Tensions arose in the family and as a result of these, Lee frequently tried to escape and leave home. Eventually, he accepted his father‘s wishes and began to forget about music, ostensibly asking a friend to live out his own wishes to be making hip hop music. This same friend is said to have died of cancer sometime afterward, thus serving as an impetus for Lee to re-enter the music industry at the behest of his dying friend.
Mithra Jin
Mithra Jin(Choi Jin [??]) (born in [January 6], [1983]) is the rapper in this group. Mithra Jin was originally a poet whose poems also worked as rhymes. Park emceeing and poetry readings were the first places where he met his future partner Tablo. They were introduced by a mutual friend and clicked right away because each other‘s style of poetic rhymes was comparable.
"I‘m capable of anything. Anything on the face of this planet, I‘m capable of. And I know that. That‘s the dangerous thing about me, ‘cause I know it. And by knowing it...I‘ll do it. Just to show that...yes, somebody out there got enough balls to do it." - Mithra Jin
DJ Tukutz
DJ Tukutz (Kim Jung-Shik [???]) (born in [November 19], [1981]), is the DJ in Epik High. DJ Tukutz first got into DJ-ing in the summer of 1995 while spending his time at illegal raves and warehouse parties, where his passion for the scene and music began. He started playing at local raves and parties in Japan‘s underground Hip-Hop scene, before moving up to South Korea in 2000 to attend the Technics DJ School. After returning from the academy, he hooked up with Tablo and headed to the States. He worked and DJ-ed on radio shows, live events and clubs around the Boston and New York City area.
When Tablo states "Street T" in certain songs such as "Nocturne" and "Flow", he is making a reference to the DJ Tukutz
