Epik High

Epik High is a hip hop group from South Korea, composed of three members - Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. All three members of Epik High can sing, write lyrics, and compose and arrange music. Their music has been known to be a “lyrical piece of literature” and “urban poetry”, lyric orientated, soulful and often witty while addressing serious social issues such as identity, discrimination, community, unity and change as a whole.

Tablo has a Masters Degree from Stanford University (California, USA) where he majored in English Literature and Creative Writing. When he was 17 years old he wrote the song Rainy Christmas with the famous Korean singer 김건모 (Kim Gun Mo). While attending Stanford University, Tablo was part of an underground hip hop group known as 4n Objects, which caught the attention of CB Mass and Drunken Tiger, leading to them eventually offer to support Tablo in releasing a solo album in Korea.

Mithra Jin had been featured on over 11 major albums in Korea even before Epik High’s debut. Mithra Jin and Tablo met through the Movement Crew (a collaboration of hip hop artists who are determined to promote social and political awareness through hip hop culture and music), during a freestyle contest in Seoul. Mithra Jin was pursuing a solo career of his own, but with his artistic vision and style matching so well with Tablo’s, the two decided to join together.

DJ Tukutz is Epik High’s DJ, “the boy with the magic fingers”. He started DJing in 1995, and has attended the Technics DJ School in South Korea. He has DJed in not only Korea, but also in Japan at raves, and in America on radio shows, live events and clubs around Boston and NYC.

Epik High’s debut album was Map of the Human Soul, released in 2003 and featuring some big Korean hip hop names such as CB Mass, Drunken Tiger and T. This album and the following three (High Society (2004), Swan Songs (2005) and Remapping The Human Soul (2007)), have featured other well-known Korean artists such as Nell, Clazziquai, Loveholic, TBNY, unknownDJs, Pe2ny and more.

In 2005, Epik High won several awards including Best Hip Hop Artist at the Korean Gold Disc Awards, and a tie for Best Artist of the year. Their song Fly, from their third album Swan Songs was a huge hit, claiming the #1 place on many Korean TV music programs and online music charts. This song also appeared in the video game FIFA 07.

Epik High, and especially Tablo, are often featured in the releases of other artists’, and have a side-project known as Blac Bakery.

Their latest releases, Pieces, Part One (2008), and Remapping the Human Soul feature a different style of music that their previous albums. Some more aggressive, and controversial and other more heartfelt.

Credit: LastFM.com