Popular South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High was working on a song called “End of the World” before the pandemic hit last year. Now, …
Popular South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High was working on a song called “End of the World” before the pandemic hit last year. Now, the band’s frontman Tablo says, “I wish that this song is not relevant.” His group had 2020 all planned out, from a Coachella performance to a world tour. Then early last year, Tablo said he and bandmates Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz saw their plans “completely becoming dust.” With the world sharing their feelings of “fear, confusion and trepidation,” the group stayed home to document the moment in songs, crafting a new double album called “Epik High Is Here.” The just-released first half is a collection of 10 songs featuring a diverse roster of artists including K-pop heavyweight CL, rising rapper Woo and Kim Sawol, the South Korean folk and rock singer-songwriter. Tablo said one of his favorite songs in the album is “Rosario,” one of two lead tracks, which reflects duality in his inner world – and perhaps this moment in the pandemic. “I have some demons that I can’t shake off,” he said. “But at the same time, I’m very optimistic.” He said the trio had given lots of thought to the flow of the album, balancing it with a mix of “dark and very hard-hitting” songs and those that give “a moment to breathe.
