Reaching a New Plateau: Epik High
It was in 2005 that three young musicians put their heads together to creatе a unique hip-hop album in South Korea, despite the fact that the genre lacks popularity. The result was disastrous. No one recognized their presence, and the reality was colder than they expected.
Every door they knocked on did not answer. Perhaps it was determination or an act of stupidity, but the group decided to give it another try. The group’s second album was released later in late 2005. Once again, favor wasn’t on their side.
Hip hop group, Epik High is composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz. It was on the group’s third try when success finally arrived at their feet. The third album, Swang Songs, helped the group become one of the most popular and influential hip-hop groups in the nation.
The album reached a new plateau for hip hop as it wiped practically all Korean music channels as well as online music charts. Since then the group has released two more complete albums and a mini album.
The group’s success story is definitely intriguing. However, there are more interesting stories about the group’s movement in the music scene. It had been known for some time now that each individual members of the group are highly networked in the information world.
Yes, that is the Internet. As musicians, they have been promoting and spreading their music across the world, through channels such as YouTube and Facebook. One thing led to another, the group’s music spread like wildfire in the U.S. And it reached the top place on the iTune chart, known as most respectable music chart in the U.S. next to the Billboard chart.
Number one, can you believe that? In a recent T.V. show appearance, Tablo, the group’s leader said that he couldn’t believe such a result could be achieved. A song produced in Korea and sang in Korean lyrics being number one on an American chart. How odd is that? It is very odd. It is not only proof of Korea’s promising future, but also hints us that the whole world is watching our every move.
Tablo mentioned that he and the members had a rare opportunity to join a meeting with big shot music execs in the U.S. As thrilling it was for the group, great disappointment followed when one exеc ignorantly said Asian music will never make it to the iTunes in the next decade. A few months later, Epik High rewrote history.
The humble bunch are not proud of the accomplishment. Rather, they feel there still is infinite room for improvement. They are no longer adolescent rappers trying to make a statement. They are our cultural ambassadors to the world. Consciously or unconsciously, they are doing a heck of a job. |
