Highlights (that were missed) from my interview with Epik High's Tablo
Here's what I couldn't include in my article
I recently had a chance to speak with Epik High’s Tablo for a second time, which is truly an amazing opportunity. Those who have been following the Korean music industry regard Epik High as one of the pioneers of Korean hip-hop. In fact, members of BTS, Seventeen and many others have listed them as influences in their music.
Perhaps I will write about this some more in the future, but I can share that Canadian media has not fully embraced K-pop when it comes to coverage. There are so many movers and shakers in the Korean entertainment industry with Canadian ties, and we have barely scratched the surface on that. Not to mention, how many fans we have here in this country and beyond.
That being said, I was pretty excited to see our national paper take interest in a piece with Tablo from Epik High, who spent his childhood in Vancouver.
However, The Globe and Mail serves an audience that is not as familiar with K-pop than other arts and culture publications. That means that a lot of what I wanted to include in my latest interview had to be cut short due to word count. Some of you messaged saying you wanted more. I hear you, because I did too.
That’s why I wanted to share a few highlights from my interview that didn’t make it in, but will add a little more insight to who Epik High is, how Tablo’s collaboration with BTS’s RM came to be, and the meaning behind their new EP, Strawberry.
On why they released their EP Strawberry to mark 20 years together
The members of Epik High have alluded to the fact that their 10th studio album, Epik High is Here (which was released in two parts) would be their last. In fact, Tablo famously ended Part 2 by saying “Epik High was here”, which signalled a different chapter for the group.
During our interview, Tablo mentioned that a 10th studio album “is rare” and “seemed like a good number to end things on.” But while they were in LA performing at a music festival, Epik High found themselves making music again.
“We realized there was nothing else we know how to do. You know, you separate the three of us and we will all do our own thing. But when we're together, there's really not anything else we know how to do together.”
Tablo also added that being together with his bandmates Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz for two decades can be “daunting” number.
“You know, it's the number where like a human life convinces themselves that they are adults. A lot of people think when they break out of their teens and go into their 20s, they think they’ve lived a sufficient amount of life. And then you become 25 and you become 30. You realize, ‘Oh, I was just a kid. You should have worried less about how I’m an adult now and just enjoyed it more.’”
On his strong meme game
Tablo has been promoting the Epik High’s All Time High tour and Strawberry through hilarious memes. When I asked what was the idea behind it, Tablo said it was simply because “we didn’t do much marketing for the album.”
“Honestly, I think I'm up there with like some of the best on the internet. It would take a lot to make me laugh now because I am the provider of best memes on the internet right now,” he joked.
“I like memes, I think they’re fun,” he continued.
“I just felt like it was one way to communicate the album and to get the point across and to get people interested in it.”
Tablo adds that he and his daughter love memes and communicate over text through them. Below are two of his favourite memes he created to promote Strawberry.
On collaborating with BTS’s RM
Tablo and RM recently worked together on the song “All Day” off the BTS member’s debut studio album, Indigo. Tablo said the collaboration was a long time coming.
“RM hit me up when I was getting on a plane to go to Singapore for a show, and I guess I wasn’t even able to hear the song because I was about to take off,” he said.
“And he's like, ‘You're not gonna hear the song first?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I will hear it. But I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be good.’”
Tablo adds that his verse for “All Day” came very quickly soon afterward, and that the collaboration was something he and RM had always talked about.
“It just took surprisingly long for it to happen.”
Tablo says he is often taken by surprise to hear artists like RM refer to him as a hero.
“For example, [my daughter] will be watching an interview by an artist that she likes. Then in the middle of the video, they'll name drop Epik High. Because I'm her dad, [my daughter] will come to my room and be like, ‘Hey, Daddy, I'm watching this, and they were talking about you.’” he said.
“It happens quite often. So I am first of all, surprised and then I'm very grateful for it.”
Related reading and listening
Epik High’s Tablo on Longevity, Mental Health, and the Truth About His Stanford Controversy (Complex Canada, March 2022)
Epik High’s Tablo Talks About the Rumor That Changed His Life (VICE, Feb 2022)
In other news…
THIS WEEK IN BTS: Jimin scores his first solo Hot 100 #1
The BTS singer scored his very first solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with new single “Like Crazy” this week. He also became the first solo South Korean artist to ever reach the top spot on the chart.
Suga is releasing his debut album (finally!) + a new documentary
Disney+ has released the first teaser for Suga: Road to D-Day, a documentary that will chronicle the BTS member’s travels to Tokyo, Las Vegas, San Francisco and more. The film will also include scenes from the singer’s tour and in the studio.
According to a Disney+ press release, Suga: Road to D-Day will follow the artist as he goes on a “musical journey” during his travels around the world “in search of inspiration in the form of a new sounds and experiences.”
Meanwhile, BIG HIT MUSIC announced this weekend that Suga is releasing his first official solo album, “D-DAY.”
"'D-DAY' marks the concluding chapter of a trilogy by SUGA’s another moniker, Agust D, succeeding the previous mixtapes, 'Agust D' and 'D-2'" said a press release from BIG HIT MUSIC.
"The album delves into the personal journey of SUGA as Agust D, offering an intimate portrayal of his life as an artist. We ask for fans’ love and support for the last chapter of his trilogy."
THIS IS ALL HAPPENING VERY FAST! Yoongi is also going to do fan calls. Remember to have fun and treat people with kindness!
The album comes out on Friday April 21, 2023 at 1 PM (KST).
j-hope reveals plans to enlist as active duty soldier
BIG HIT MUSIC has released more details about j-hope’s upcoming military enlistment.
“j-hope intends on enlisting as an active duty soldier, and there will be no separate or official ceremony at the time and date of his enlistment at the new recruit training center. The enlistment ceremony held at the training center is a place meant for new recruits and their family and close friends. In order to prevent any chaotic situations and safety accidents, we strongly insist that fans do not visit the site. Please just send your warm wishes of greetings and encouragements in heart only.”
Wishing j-hope good health, safety and all the very best!
The Glory plot twist! Actors Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon are dating
In what is possibly the biggest plot turn of The Glory universe, it was revealed over the weekend that actors Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon are dating. The two are co-stars in the hit Netflix series, with Lee playing the accomplice and love interest of Song Hye-kyo’s character as she seeks revenge on her high school bullies (Lim plays the main bully).
On April 1, Lim Ji Yeon’s agency Artist Company confirmed Dispatch’s report of their romantic relationship, stating, “Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun have gone from being close colleagues to the stage of cautiously getting to know one another better with positive feelings.”
Meanwhile, Lee Do Hyun’s agency Yuehua Entertainment similarly stated, “After spending some time as close colleagues, the two of them developed an interest in one another, and they are cautiously getting to know each other.”
No spoilers, but perhaps that scene in the plastic surgery clinic had more tension that we thought!!!!
NewJeans release a commercial designed as a bop
NewJeans has released a new pop (pun intended) track called “Zero” as part of their new Coca-Cola collaboration. Yeah, it’s surely an ad for the iconic drink. But I’m NOT mad about it!!! While I was not sure if I liked the chorus very much, it eventually found its way to me. The song is an earworm, and by the end of this week you might just hear me walking around singing “Coca-Cola is tasty…”
In a press statement, the label ADOR shared: “Both NewJeans and Coca-Cola Zero have a distinctive charm that can’t easily be emulated by just anyone. We’re looking forward to the unique synergy that will be created by the two of them coming together.”
What I’m watching:
While this newsletter is primarily focused on Asian entertainment, I would also like to share my second love: indie movies!
I had the chance to watch Raine Allen-Miller’s delightful film Rye Lane on the big screen last week and it was the perfect antidote to what has been a wild news cycle.
The film follows two 20-somethings (played by David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah) who are each going through bad breakups, and end up connecting over a particularly eventful day in South London.
The film is truly a love letter to Brixton and ordinary London life. It was such a cute movie! And someone who doesn’t like long films, it was perfectly timed at 1 hour and 22 minutes.
The leads are also perfect! Vivian Oparah made all the grand romantic gestures, which I loved!
Rye Lane is now out on Disney+ Canada.
See me elsewhere
K-pop's origins has always been inspired by Black music, and 4th generation has fallen hard for Y2K R&B. For Joysauce, I take a deep dive into this, but also tackle some of the tougher topics like cultural appropriation. I spent over a month working on this piece and I am very proud of how it turned out. Please read!
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Epik High was my first foray into K-Pop/K-hip-hop, so this interview was a delight!
Hooray for Jimin!