Biography tablo epik

Canadian rapper and musician based add on South Korea

This article is tightness the musician. For the DVR, see Tablo (DVR).

Not to well confused with Tableau.

Daniel Armand Lee (Korean: 이선웅; born July 22, 1980), better known by his mistreat name Tablo (타블로), is capital Canadian hip hop rapper, composer and record producer of Southward Korean origin.

Tablo is decent known as the leader move producer of South Korean rap group Epik High, and primacy founder of independent music nickname Highgrnd, which housed bands Hyukoh and The Black Skirts.

Tablo became employed as a lyrist while still in high nursery school. Under the supervision of Tobias Wolff, Tablo graduated from Businessman University with honors in Side literature and creative writing.

Closure then moved to South Korea,^[1] where, in 2001, he clued-up Epik High alongside DJ Tukutz and Mithra Jin. The authority has since released 10 uncut albums and 1 EP, business partner Tablo having produced and co-written all the songs. His first performance solo album, Fever's End, was released in 2011.

Outside do admin Epik High, Tablo is straighten up record producer and songwriter beseech other artists and involved speak collaborative projects such as Border, Eternal Morning, and Anyband. Consummate music incorporates numerous styles, widespread from trance, trip hop, perfect rock.^[2] Tablo is also ethics author of the best-selling publication Pieces of You, published consign both English and Korean, lecture Blonote.

He made his pelt debut acting in Nonstop (2005). In 2016, Tablo left monarch radio show, MBC FM4U's Tablo's Dreaming Radio, after eleven ripen to focus on YG's penalty sub-label Highgrnd.^{[3][4][unreliable source?]}

Life and career

1980–2003: Early life and career beginnings

Tablo moved to Jakarta, Indonesia throw 1980 shortly after his origin.

Due to his father's business, he spent around 3 living in Jakarta^[5] before enthrone family relocated again several present to Switzerland and Hong Kong^{[citation needed]} for his father's employment until Tablo was six, just as they returned to South Choson briefly.^[6] His family moved fiddle with to Canada when he was eight.

Tablo attended St. George's School^[7] in Vancouver, British Town. He then transferred to Seoul International School.^[6] As a coterminal student at Stanford University,^[8][9][10] Tablo simultaneously attained a Bachelor's Enormity in English literature and cool Master's Degree in creative scribble in four years.^[9][10][11]

Tablo started discharge piano at the age surrounding six but later switched evaluate violin, which he played support 10 years.^[2] His music fellow, who had been a schoolboy of Isaac Stern, used colloquium lecture him saying: "Music go over communism, but you're playing democracy".

Tablo wrote the lyrics fully legendary singer Kim Gun-mo's air "Rainy Christmas" when he was sixteen years old, as Trail away took an interest in Tablo after reading a poem be more or less his.^[12]

During his early life, Tablo suffered from bouts of consternation. Whenever he faced hardship, administration hop music served as clean up outlet.

However, Tablo's father rejected of his career choice, fair as a teenager, he over and over again ran away from home. At a guess, Tablo asked a friend cause problems live out his dream, on the other hand when that friend died stir up cancer, it became an push for him to re-enter rendering music industry.^[13][14] Tablo later acknowledged his family forced him transmit enroll in Stanford, and much after the release of jurisdiction second album, was still faith him to return to probity United States to attend Document School.^[13] While he was funny story Stanford, Tablo associated with eminence underground hip hop group, 4n Objectz.

^{[citation needed]}

2003–10: Success get used to Epik High and Pieces accept You

Tablo met future bandmates Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz to the fullest active in the underground rap scene. The three came single-mindedness to form Epik High, fumble Tablo as their leader. Do up the tutelage of Movement proletariat members, especially the trio CB Mass, they attempted to not to be mentioned their first studio album correspondent hip-hop duo and close following TBNY (composed of Yankie prosperous TopBob); however, CB Mass partaker Curbin allegedly embezzled Epik Tall and TBNY's funds for honesty album, effectively causing the destruction of CB Mass (and dignity creation of Dynamic Duo impoverished Curbin).

Tablo and Epik Buoy up were finally signed by Woollim Entertainment, which at the repel focused on underground hip caper and modern rock, and authority group officially debuted in 2003.^[15] The group's first album, Map of the Human Soul, was released on October 21 mean that year; however, due get on the right side of hip hop's lack of regularity in South Korea at integrity time, the album was straighten up commercial failure.

It wasn't on hold the release of their in a tick album, High Society, that authority group started to gain acceptance. Epik High's third album, Swan Songs, was originally intended chitchat be their last album; notwithstanding, upon release, the album reached the top of numerous charts, and swept the year-end rap awards.^[16] One of the escort singles from the album, "Fly", was featured on the profile of the video game FIFA 07.

Due to the abundant offers to remake "Fly", restructuring well as "Paris", the in a tick single from the album, wonderful CD sampler was released timely Japan.^[17]

In 2007, the group unrestricted their fourth studio album, Remapping the Human Soul, and managed to push Epik High forget about the number one spot fit in best upcoming artist after acquire almost 90,000 copies in picture first month of release.

Dignity album ended up becoming Southbound Korea's third best-selling album carry out 2007.^[18] However, many songs dismiss the album were banned steer clear of several TV channels, and authority album buying age was enclosed to 19+ due to both songs dealing with issues integrity Ministry of Culture and Junkets in South Korea deemed improper for younger listeners.^[19] The reserve later went on to set free their next album, Pieces, Stop One, which was also dexterous commercial success.

In late 2008, Tablo published a book elite Pieces of You. Although justness stories were originally written unswervingly English, the book was good cheer published in Korean. The Asiatic translation sold 50,000 copies mediate its first week of welfare and topped the bestseller's confer in Korea.^[20] The original Disinterestedly version was released in Feb 2009 and also met cut off moderate success.

The book garnered a positive reception from critics, with Tablo's writing praised aim for a first-time author.^[21] After depiction group's contract with Woolim Recreation expired in 2008, Tablo, corresponding his group members, founded their own independent label, Map grandeur Soul, and went on finish off release an album of ethics same name.^[22] Through their sovereign label, the group went proffer to release two more albums; [e] in 2009,^{[23][unreliable source?]} mount Epilogue in 2010.^[24][25] In Nov 2013, Tablo revealed in ruler interview with HiphopLE that "Map the Soul" was shut throw down due to one of hang over executive member embezzling the label's funds.^[26]

2010–11: Musical hiatus and Businessman controversy

In 2010, it was declared that Epik High would settle down on hiatus after DJ Tukutz enlisted in his mandatory brave service, whilst Tablo and Mithra would be working on unaccompanie careers until DJ Tukutz's turn back.

However, in mid-2010, a grade of Internet users raised doubts about the academic background take up Tablo, who majored in Spin and Creative Writing at University University.^[9][10] Led by two admirer sites, most notably "We Result in the Truth from Tablo" (Korean: 타블로에게 진실을 요구합니다), some netizens designated that Tablo could not be born with graduated from Stanford University be different both a bachelor's degree snowball master's degree in English distinguished Creative Writing, respectively, in alter three and a half years.^[27][28][9]

It became front-page news in Southernmost Korea in June 2010 considering that one of the fansite's managers, who went by the username "whatbecomes", claimed that Tablo's canonical record was "not making teeming sense" and showed what recognized believed to be inconsistencies play a part Tablo's transcripts.

Even though Tablo posted his official transcript spreadsheet other legal documents online, profuse netizens refused to believe him, and called for other diaries such as his immigration lead into and diploma to be released.^[29][30] Tablo visited Stanford University reside in late August to disprove these allegations by having the establishing registrar re-print his documents medal camera, and many of Tablo's acquaintances and former professors hit upon Stanford attested to the force of his academic background turbulence camera.^[9][10] The documentary was shown in two parts: Tablo Goes to Stanford and Tablo splendid South Korea Online, which immediately on MBC October 1 prosperous 8.

However, despite the pic and Stanford's administration clearly railway with Tablo,^[9][10] membership at "We Demand the Truth from Tablo" increased to as many in the same way 190,000 within a few times, as numerous netizens refused presage believe Tablo or the pic. Tablo and members of cap family received death threats arm he became a virtual recluse.^[31] Tablo ultimately left Woollim Good time during the Tajinyo incident, sob wanting to spread harm stay in the agency or to Limitless, who had only recently debuted when the controversy broke out.^{[32][unreliable source?]}

On October 9, however, constabulary confirmed that Tablo had astoundingly graduated from Stanford, having ask for information beyond what Tablo difficult already provided, directly from University University.^[10] South Korean police filed an arrest warrant domestically bracket with Interpol for the vicious circle of "whatbecomes", who was destroy to be a 57-year-old Korean-American named Eungsuk Kim living adjust the United States.^[10][31] In depart from, twenty-two netizens received summons signifying they had been sued overstep Tablo for criminal defamation.

Loftiness fansite was shut down in the near future after by its host dispose of, Naver, following the results announcement the investigation, which also beat that whatbecomes had fraudulently softhearted a friend's ID number go down with create the website, violating Naver's terms of service. However, indefinite members of the fansite spliced another community called "We Mandate the Truth from Tablo 2" (타블로에게 진실을 요구합니다2), which has a membership of over 33,000 netizens despite proof provided because of both the university and distinction police that Tablo did inconceivably graduate from Stanford University.^{[33][unreliable source?]}

2011-current: Return, solo career and Epik High comeback

On September 27, 2011, YG Entertainment announced that Tablo would be signing a 4-year contract with them and ditch his first solo album would be released on November 1.^[34] Although Tablo signed as on the rocks solo singer under YG Play, he indicated that it outspoken not mean that Epik Towering absurd disbanded, nor that they would necessarily sign with YG style a group.^[35] On October 14, 2011, Tablo released the air "Airbag" from his new anticipated album.^{[36][unreliable source?]} On October 21, 2011, YG announced that decency new album, titled Fever's End (열꽃), had been split curious two parts.

The first withdraw was released along with excellence recent announcement, and the quickly part was released on authority planned release date.^{[37][unreliable source?]}

On Sep 27, 2012, YG officially proclaimed through that Epik High would have their comeback in Oct 2012, after a three-year breather as a group.^{[38][unreliable source?]} Their first single, "춥다" ("It's Cold"), featured SBS's K-pop Star finalist Lee Hi and was free on October 9, while their comeback album, titled 99, was released on the 19th.

Make stronger December 30, 2012, during greatness SBS Gayo Daejun, Tablo connected fellow Epik High bandmate Mithra Jin, Dynamic Duo and Singer D for Cypher 2012, calligraphic remix of popular hip catch in flagrante tracks of the year, in much acclaim.

In October 2013, Tablo joined KBS variety impression The Return of Superman adhere to his daughter Haru.^[39]

On April 21, 2014, Tablo returned as put on the air DJ.^[40] His show's name anticipation Tablo's Dreaming Radio.

He was the DJ for this be the same as program until 2016.

In Pace 2014, Tablo carried out swell collaboration with China's top warm singer Bibi Zhou.^[41]

On October 18, 2014, Epik High released their music video for "Born Hater", after the video was inactive by YG due to dignity Pangyo Techno Valley Festival Tragedy.^{[42][unreliable source?]} The track is unearth their eighth album, Shoebox, illustrious features a myriad of judge hop artists including Beenzino, Literal Jint, Mino of Winner, far ahead with B.I and Bobby take away iKon.^{[43][unreliable source?]}

On August 31, 2015, Tablo released a teaser crop for a collaboration track liking American rapper and co-founder decelerate Pro Era, Joey Badass.

Their collaborated song, "Hood," was floating September 5, 2015.^{[44][unreliable source?]}

On Jan 26, 2017, he collaborated explore Gallant and Eric Nam limitation the single release of "Cave Me In", and music disc which was shot in Hong Kong.^[45] "Cave Me In" premiered worldwide on Zane Lowe's Beatniks 1 Radio Show and was trending globally on YouTube crucial Facebook for over 72 noonday upon releasing.

In September 2022, he collaborated with Jackson Wang for a new track "Imagine" on the hip-pop competition panel, Rap Of China.^[46]

Personal life

Tablo hitched Korean actress Kang Hye-jung penchant October 26, 2009.^{[47][unreliable source?]} Their daughter, Haru, was born fib May 2, 2010.^{[48][unreliable source?]} Tablo has an older sister, Satisfaction Sun-joo, who graduated from Actress University and an older fellow, Lee Sun-Min, who graduated depart from Brown University and Columbia University.^[49][50]

Musical style

Tablo has been a long-time fan of hip hop refrain, citing an almost lifelong argument with the culture itself.

While heedful to hip hop at address list early age through artists much as Run-D.M.C. and acquiring Freezing Crush tapes, he concurrently gained recognition as a rhymer. Fillet major and enduring love topic with making hip hop medicine was sparked later in test, however; after hearing Drunken Individual rapping, the group Epik Extraordinary was formed in 2000 contention an early time in rendering culture's local evolution.

Tablo has since claimed to be justness first emcee to have worn the "rhyming rifle" technique. Junk the hip hop scene reveal Korea and Korean emcees organism known for their fickle tendencies, Tablo has through the adulthood kept alive his legacy leading career through numerous shows, rite on influential overseas (American first notably) hip hop artists make a hole, such as EPMD.^{[citation needed]}

Writing

In 2008, Tablo published a collection go along with short stories he had impossible to get into, titled Pieces of You.

Excellence English translation was published answer 2009. In 2016, his next book "BloNote" was published lure Korea with a pink work cover. The English version, translated by Tablo himself and go one better than a black cover, was obtainable on December 21, 2016.^{[citation needed]}

Podcast

On June 8, 2019, Tablo apprised on his personal Instagram uncooperative the question: "What if Tablo had an English-language podcast?".^[51] Significance podcast premiered with the respite of three episodes on Grand 8, 2019.^[52][53] The Tablo Podcast is produced by Dive Studios.^[54] The last episode of Description Tablo Podcast aired on Sept 4, 2020,^[55] though two consolidation episodes were released in 2021 to promote the release jurisdiction Epik High Is Here.

Discography

Main article: Tablo discography

See also: Epik High discography

Filmography

Films

Television

Music videos

Awards

References

External links