The 2023 Countdown – #4
One of my all-time favorite groups is next on my countdown. And it’s not BTS, nor a member of BTS. I was High Skool (even if the fandom name is cringey) before I became ARMY and these three gentlemen—Tablo, Mithra Jin, DJ Tukutz—are an amazing trio of artists whose work inspired BTS. As Tablo says in “Rosario”,
Where I set foot becomes the way
I paved the way (I paved the way)
For everyone that is pavin’ the way
So at number four on my countdown, the ever relevant, Epik High:
Track 1| Strawberry
2023 Favorite New Songs: #–
These motherfuckers are poets
They write and question about everything from atomic science to uh… uh, riddles and rhymes
Tablo and Mithra are definitely poets and this jazzy intro sets the mood of the album.
Track 2| On My Way (Feat. Jackson Wang)
2023 Favorite New Songs: somewhere in there … #100 – 51
I’m a need you to shup up for a minute …
You wanted to hurt my soul, but you’re only hurting my ears
I don’t need your love; hate me, I don’t give a fuck
The song opens with Table declaring he’s on his villain arc and I’m here for it. He’s known for his more angry lyrics and I can relate when I’m in that mood. The defiance and strong sense of indepence are Tablo to a T.
In the second versa, Mithra Jin, who may just be my “ult” (aka ultimate bias/favorite across all groups/singers) delivers his usual poetic lyricism as the theme of the song expands on leaving, of being on one’s way.
Birth becomes death
Where the flowers bloom, the snowflakes bloom, and light becomes darkness
You go back the way you came
A speck of dust buried in the ground
Made a flower bloom just to have the hands of the world stomp on it
Guest feature Jackson Wang closes out the verses fitting the vibe and message of the song. He’s a versatile artist and his voice goes well with the other two singers.
Please baby can you gimme room to breathe
You don’t know what it feels like to be me
Broken heart, but I like the way it bleeds
And I gotta say the ending of the song was just 100% agreeable to me. 😉
I quit my job today…
While the song didn’t make my ranked top 50, I still consider it a favorite.
Track 3| Catch (Feat. Hwa Sa)
2023 Favorite New Songs: #27
Starting out with Hwa Sa singing, “even if you stab me, it’s just a waste of time” the song readily fits the theme of the album.
In Tablo’s verse, he talks about his journey, overcoming obstacles and opposition, and showcasing his determination. “Epik High to make your core sound … I’m not just self-made, I’m handmade”
Then Tablo ends out his verse with his usual FU and one of my favorite lines:
My MBTI is IDGAF
You stopped me when I ran
So thank you very much
And fuck you
Hwa Sa is a queen and her chorus really makes this song for me.
Even if I go slowly, even if I run out of breath
Even if I fall for a while
You’ll never catch me
Then my fave, Mithra, comes in with his version of his success story. What can I say besides this guy truly is a poet? And he and his band mates are, of course, “still all time high.”
Even if I try to cover my eyes, I only cover the way ahead of you
Stepping on our footprints and chasing after them
When walking downhill, slide above the clouds
On top of enmity, envy, and jealousy, a deep stroke
Even when you stumble and fall to the floor, dance in despair
Track 4| Down Bad Freestyle
2023 Favorite New Songs: #42
This break in the songs is just a fun little jab at life in these times.
Someone just got cancelled … have you seen all the tweets though?
If you’re down bad, make some noise!
Singing those last lines is just cathartic, a release of all one’s worries and troubles.
Track 5| God’s Latte
2023 Favorite New Songs: #3
This last song on the album is easily my favorite. It delves into questions about existence, morality, and truth. There’s the expression of a shared human experience of pain and suffering. The notions of good and evil are challenged.
These are all topics I love to explore and immediately draw me into the song.
The song expresses a bit of my own relationship with religion and how I view the world, especially Mithra’s verse (natch). I don’t believe in heaven or hell. I don’t believe in sin or virtue. The way that Epik High approaches this topic, even though there are clear references to a religion I do not believe in, this song speaks to me; I relate to it; I love it.
At a cafe in Seongsu-dong I sat down for coffee with God
He ordered a strawberry latte and asked what I’ll have
I looked at the menu I said, baby just give it to me black
I don’t like my truth sweetened, I like it bitter
He smiled and said
“What do you want to know? Ask me anything
I’m busy but I have a few minutes free”
Hmm, I have the internet, Wikipedia and can find any answer
Oh right, “What kind of people end up in hell?”
I asked and then took a sip
He couldn’t answer for a while, then said, “Time’s up”
I burned my tongue
In a world full of desires, there is only disagreement
Human nature is no different than an animal’s
Showing each other sharp teeth to fill our own empty hearts
Chew up the truth, throw up the pain
We all live in the same hell
Who’s pointing a finger at who?
It’s funny, while you pretend to hold good and evil in your hands,
while you decide a prize or punishment for others
It’s you that is on the scale
In this crazy world that has even nailed God, it’s a sin to be sane
There’s no one below and no one above
But everyone is trying
To be God
I believe in life. I believe in compassion. I believe in love. 🤍