-Tablo
Epik High Is Here… and so is everyone else, apparently! The legendary hip-hop trio (Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz) released the first part of their 10th full-length studio album Epic High Is Here with a star-studded list of features including G Soul, Nucksal, Changmo, Miso, B.I. and others. Their first release since 2019’s Sleepless In______ , the group is back with their unique brand of bitter realism with an underlying message of confidence. Although this release is great to listen to purely for an auditory experience, this is one of those albums that I would highly recommend looking up the lyrics in order to get the most out of the clever wordplay and references happening.
The first track, “Lesson Zero”, is a nod to previous releases that had ‘Lessons’ 1-5. But instead of graduating to ‘Lesson Six’, the track is about unlearning some of the bad habits and false propaganda so prevalent today.
The lyrics “weren’t directed at anyone specific… It was just me hyping myself up during my own struggles and telling myself to fight against any fears — which anyone, even those not in the industry, can relate to. We are all legends in our own way and deserve to say: ‘I am a legend and I’m here to stay.’”
–CL for Rolling Stone magazine
The first title track “Rosario”, features 2NE1’s CL and Zico and makes you feel like taking on your enemies in a slow-motion montage. The title is Spanish for ‘rosary beads’, calling out those who act like they are some sort of sinless saint as they both idolize and criticize others and notes the hypocrisy of saying prayers and shedding tears when those same people are the ones who try to harm others with their words. CL and her underrated vocals assure us that these living legends aren’t about to be brought down; in fact Zico thanks his haters for making him stronger and Mithra Jin mocks “I raised a set of stairs with the stones you threw”. The theme ties in nicely with the classic film-inspired music video, which hints that no matter how many ways enemies try to destroy them, they’ll continue on indestructible. I also love that they took a shot at the over repeated line that is often thrown around in immature fanwars that “[my favorite group] paved the way.” Tablo takes it a step further by saying “I paved the way for all those that are paving the way.” Not does the group have the clout to say that after conquering the industry for almost two decades, the song is basically saying that the real ones will always be ‘paving the way’ because every step they take will be something innovative and contribute to part of a bigger picture.
“I’m hoping that anyone who hears this song can feel for a moment like a living legend. Like they’re the greatest. And take a confident step forward in life. That’s what this song is for.”
‘Epik High Is Here Documentary’ on YouTube
The second title track, “Based On A True Story” does a complete 180 with a softer sound accompanied by swelling instrumentals that complement Heize‘s vocals in the chorus. The track expresses the feeling of suddenly relating to everything and making others problems personal when you are too hurt by your own scars.
Another standout on the album is “Acceptance Speech”, featuring former iKON leader B.I. (wow, did I miss his voice!) The track talks about going through the ups and downs of life; how when times get tough you need to really think about who and why you’re doing this all for. Hence B.I.’s chorus “I did it for you”, followed by his promising verse “I’m coming home.” The ‘acceptance’ is not only in the sense of receiving an award, but also in the accepting the hardships and losses that come with any measure of success.
“People see the glorious moments, but it’s the difficult moments that made us…. But that’s what life is like, isn’t it? The good always comes with the bad.”
Mithra Jin about “Acceptance Speech”
The last two songs serve as a kind of thematic summary/ end-credits for the album. At first listen, G Soul‘s chorus in “End of the World” makes this seem like your standard love song. But the lyrics are filled with frustration over the injustices and pain that humans cause to each other. Instead of giving up hope in a hopeless situation, the track tells us these thoughts should move us to love even more fiercely in whatever amount of time we have left, as if it’s the end of the world. “Wish You Were” incomplete expression brings us back full circle to the album’s title. Despite the hardships, despite others claiming that he’s ‘washed up’, Tablo realizes that rather than being stuck in the past, it is better to live in the present, moving forward, with his family and supporters around him. And in that sense, there is no better place to be, than right here.
“The concluding message of this album is… yeah, it really does feel like the end of the world sometimes, and we are living in uncertainty and fear. But if it’s the end… let’s love each other like it. Let’s live like it. Dream like it. That’s what I want. That’s what Epik High is really about.”
-Tablo
What were your favorites on the album? Let us know in the comments!