Go Away With … Epik High

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune and other outlets
August 13, 2024

South Korea’s most famous hip-hop group, Epik High, has created some of that country’s most influential music over the past two decades. Acclaimed for their clever lyrics – which tackle sociopolitical issues with biting wit and humor – the trio is in their element performing live. On their current world tour promoting their critically-acclaimed mixtape “PUMP,” rapper-songwriter-producer Tablo trades verses with co-lyricist Mithra Jin, while co-producer DJ Tukutz takes a break from laying down beats to show off his b-boy moves.

“At the moment, we’re wrapping up four shows in Australia and heading to the United States and Canada for a 23-city tour,” Tablo said. “I renewed my passport six months ago and it’s already out of pages and I’m scared that I’m not gonna be able to go back home. What I’m trying to say is that we are running full speed on some never-before-seen energy, and this year’s North America tour is gonna feel fresh as hell as a result, even for people who’ve seen our shows before. So come join us again in the nearest city!” Epik High’s tour includes concerts in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, where they will perform Sept. 11 at the Riviera Theatre.

Q: Are there any cities on this current tour that are new to you?
Tablo: We’ve always taken the risk of adding first-time cities to each tour. It sometimes means deliberately not taking sure bets and performing at smaller venues, but we’ll gladly do it because meeting new fans is always worth it. For the North America leg this year, we’re going to Tempe, Kansas City and Tampa for the first time.

Q: Your crew on tour doesn’t all speak the same language. How does that work communicating?
Mithra: I try to use my sixth sense.
Tukutz: Kakao Talk.
Tablo: What they mean is that luckily I speak three languages, which unluckily means I have to pull double duty as a translator. Believe me, I’m no fan of AI, but I’m encouraging my members to start using ChatGPT.

Q: What are some songs you’ve worked on while on the road?
Tablo: Creativity by nature is always “on the road.” I wrote my verse for our new single “ANTIHERO” in the green room during a guest appearance at Psy’s concert. I wrote “OK GOOD” in a hotel room in Tokyo.
Tukutz: The beat for “Down Bad Freestyle” was actually sketched during a previous North American tour. I think it was somewhere in Texas on a day off.

Q: Your concerts are very physical. How do you maintain your health while on tour?
Tukutz: The most important factor in choosing our hotels is the fitness facilities. I am a gym addict. But when we can’t stop at a hotel…
Mithra: …We exercise together in the green room.
Tablo: Epik High probably has the most minimal rider out of any artist in the world. We literally only ask for coffee, water, some dumbbells and a yoga mat.

Q: Have your travels provided any inspiration for the songs that you perform?
Tablo: Uber rides are underrated sources of inspiration. A complete stranger’s playlist sometimes sparks something unexpected.

Q: When on tour, do you seek out local food?
Tablo: This is a Mithra question.
Mithra: I always hope to search for and visit meaningful restaurants in the area.
Tukutz: When it comes to food while traveling, I’m like Mithra’s puppet. I eat and drink whatever he recommends.

Q: On days you don’t have a concert, do you sightsee or stay at the hotel and rest?
Tablo: Tukutz and I will literally go everywhere. Once while we were doing a show in London, we went to like five galleries in a single day. When we did a festival in Abu Dhabi, we went to a car museum and I don’t even know how to drive.
Mithra: Honestly, I try to get as much rest as possible during the tour. Our tour schedule is almost like hell, with hardly any days off. However, on those rare days off, I try to enjoy the city we’re visiting. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the architecture and taste the food of each city.

Q: Is there a place other than where you currently live that you would like to live?
Mithra: Clear skies, very fast internet speed, and delicious food. Any city that has these three things is perfect for me.
Tablo: Shanghai, Tokyo, Melbourne, Austin… Too many to name!
Tukutz: Every time I go abroad, I often think about whether I could move and live there. The city that fits this idea the most is Las Vegas. It’s just perfect.
Tablo: This guy is a risk taker.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
Mithra: Hawaii – tranquility, weather, relaxation. Winter in Sapporo – snow-covered city, warm food.
Tukutz: I don’t have many memories of vacation trips. Maybe Hawaii? Actually, as long as my smartphone notifications aren’t buzzing, anywhere is good. A place without messages is a vacation spot.
Tablo: When your work has you on planes and in hotels all the time, vacation takes on a different meaning. Nowadays, I enjoy staycations in Seoul.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?
Mithra: I wasn’t a child, but my first time flying was with Tablo when I was like 20 and the destination was Jeju Island. Unfortunately, during the landing, we experienced severe turbulence due to a powerful snowstorm and I thought, “This is it, I’m going to die.” Throughout the trip, the wind and rain – along with huge waves – prevented us from doing much sightseeing, so we ended up staying in the hotel for the entire trip.
Tablo: It was the worst trip ever.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
Mithra: I had a trip that was the best in my life but almost turned out to be the worst. It was my honeymoon. After a happy holiday in Bali, Indonesia, we were about to return home when a volcano erupted on a nearby island called Lombok. The volcanic ash covered the sky, and we had to wait at the airport because the planes couldn’t take off. Fortunately, we were able to return to Seoul soon, but it’s still a nerve-wracking memory when I think about it now.
Tukutz: It wasn’t a vacation, but quite a while ago during a tour, I had to fly to another city. That day, the turbulence was so severe and I was already scared – but that day it shook for hours. Tablo and I ended up holding hands and praying. It’s an experience I never want to repeat. Since then, I’ve been afraid of flying.
Tablo: It seems that flying with me is not that great?

Q: When you return from a trip, do you unpack right away?
Mithra: Of course.
Tablo: We have laundry to do.
Tukutz: I saw a short content recently that said if you unpack right away after a trip, you have psychopathic tendencies, and that’s exactly me.
Tablo: So we’re all psychopaths?

Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
Tablo: New Year’s Day in Jeju Island. It was celebratory yet calm, which felt refreshingly new.
Mithra: For some time now, I have been going on a family trip every New Year’s. Finishing the year safely and spending those two weeks away makes me happy no matter what I do.

Q: What are your five favorite cities or states?
Tablo: Seoul, Busan, New York City, Shanghai, Tokyo.
Mithra: Seoul, Hawaii, Sapporo, London, Yellowknife (Canada).
Tukutz: Seoul, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, London.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
Tablo: I pack very light. AirPods, small iPad, running shoes, foam roller.
Mithra: Laptop, iPad, beard trimmer, emergency medicine.
Tukutz: Pillow from home. It’s essential for long trips.

© 2024 JAE-HA KIM
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