Tablo is the rapper, singer, lyricist, and composer of Epik High. Tablo has a Masters Degree from Stanford University (California, USA) where he majored in English Literature and Creative Writing. When he was 17 years old he wrote the song Rainy Christmas with the famous Korean singer Kim Gun-mo. While attending Stanford University, Tablo was part of an underground hip hop group known as 4n Objects, which caught the attention of CB Mass and Drunken Tiger, leading to them eventually offer to support Tablo in releasing a solo album in Korea.
Mithra Jin is the rapper and lyricist of Epik High. Mithra Jin had been featured on over 11 major albums in Korea even before Epik High's debut. Mithra Jin and Tablo met through the Movement Crew (a collaboration of hip hop artists who are determined to promote social and political awareness through hip hop culture and music), during a freestyle contest in Seoul. Mithra Jin was pursuing a solo career of his own, but with his artistic vision and style matching so well with Tablo's, the two decided to join together.
DJ Tukutz is Epik High's DJ, "the boy with the magic fingers". He started DJing in 1995, and has attended the Technics DJ School in South Korea. He has DJed in not only Korea, but also in Japan at raves, and in America on radio shows, live events and clubs around Boston and NYC. He had also composed many of Epik High's songs.
Epik High's debut album was Map of the Human Soul, released in 2003 and featuring some big Korean hip hop names such as CB Mass, Drunken Tiger and Yoon Mi-rae (T). This album and the following three (High Society (2004), Swan Songs (2005) and Remapping the Human Soul (2007)), have featured other well-known Korean artists such as Nell, Clazziquai Project, Loveholic, TBNY, unknownDJs, Pe2ny and more.
In 2005, Epik High won several awards including Best Hip Hop Artist at the Korean Gold Disc Awards, and a tie for Best Artist of the year. Their song Fly, from their third album Swan Songs was a huge hit, claiming the #1 place on many Korean TV music programs and online music charts. This song also appeared in the video game FIFA 07 as the signature Korean track.
Epik High, and especially Tablo, are often featured in the releases of other artists', and have formed several side-project including Blac Bakery, Blu Sunflower and A.R.K.
Their releases, Pieces, Part One and Remapping the Human Soul, featured a different style of music than their previous albums. Some songs more aggressive and controversial, and other more heartfelt.
In 2009, Epik High formed their own independent label, Map the Soul Inc., with their first release under this label being the book-album, 魂: Map the Soul. In late July, Epik High collaborated with the Korean electronic DJ team, Planet Shiver, to remix a number of Epik High's previous hits with the result being that of songs which sounded nothing like the original, yet still remained addictive. Epik High returned in September with a new two-disc album called [e], which consisted of 30 tracks, their largest yet. Altogether, the number of songs released for 2009 alone consisted of well over 50 tracks—including skits and remixes.
In 2010, despite the fact that DJ Tukutz temporarily left Epik High to enter the Korean army to perform his mandatory 2 year service, Tablo and Mithra Jin, now under Woolim Entertainment, were able to release Epilogue. This would be Epik High's last and only album under Woolim Entertainment before Mithra Jin joined the army to perform his service, and Tablo, disappearing from the spotlight as a result of harassment from Korean netizens who questioned the authenticity of his academic education at Stanford University.
With the completion of their army service in 2012 for DJ Tukutz and Mithra Jin, both members joined Tablo in signing with YG Entertainment, home to most notably, BIGBANG and 2NE1. With Tablo's release of his solo album, Fever's End under YG Entertainment in 2012, all members of Epik High are united again and are set to release their much anticipated album in September.
Eight By Eight
Epik High Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I biteuwa nan whipped creamgwa ttalgicheoreom mix.
Na eomneun I mudaeneun machi bakwiwithout rim,
Machi nakksi without pin, it's nuthin' without this.
So amuri yeoljeongi buldeongirado neon danji
Deulleorirago, so better study my flow.
Nideuri naekkeol neokkeoin cheok haedo I don't care. because
Nan geureom naega ipdeon oseul baro change.
Hiphop a la future. nae moksorineun biteuui seukinijin, john tesher,
Ttak dallabuteo. my technique, lyrical kamasutra.
Neon gyeourui banpalti... 'ama chuwo'.
Dapdaphae. ni gasaneun mayak jungdokjacheoreom 'yag'hae. manghaedo nugul tatae?
Ssibeobwatja neon geujeo kkeom ppuniyeosseo.
Ni jeongsinsangtaeneun pojangmacha ssaumkkun... 'byeong'deureosseo.
Nae nuneul ttokbaro bogo jijeobwa reservoir dogs.
Satdaejireun no thanks, imi tteonagan beoseu.
Seokeoseuui eoritgwangdae flow, (heureum)
Neon manmanhame chwihaesseo you son of a...
Eorin baepsaeya, nal ttareujima, dachyeo. tto gatyeo.
Geu geochin taepung sok I got you.
Meogisaseul I scenee urin kkokdaegi. geu nugudo,
Amudo, not a thing's gonna break me.
Neon beolsseo moksoriga jamgyeotjanha.
Akgiro chimyeon joyuri eongmangi doen gita.
Baejjangdo eomneunge jajonsimman ssaeseo gwaenhi keulleobapeseo
Gak japgo kotgumeong beolleongdaemyeo, ireogo itda.
Neon uri dwikkongmuni jjotneura aemeokji.
Jal sebwa urin beolsseo 8nyeonina haemeogeotji.
Sedaegyochega pillyohadago? sayanghalge.
Neon gyesok jiltuna hae, nan swilteumeobsi nal jaebalgyeon halge.
Oneuldo biteureul gareunda. hyeoui gisureul darunda.
Mareun ipsureun damulla. seonbonggisureul jabeun na.
Manheun silsuwa bin issuemani jeonbuneun anin geol.
Jeokjeolhan biyuwa ip chiyumani jeonbura mideo.
Nae mareun cheolligildo harumyeon dadareul cheonma. kkaejyeobeorin
Sasangdeurui samageul yeonda. makdareun byeonhwaedo nan apjangeul seotda.
Geureoke yeoksaneun nal makjange sseotda.
'Ir'iran daneo. sutjaron aju najeo.
Geu ichie matge 'ir'ro beoneun dondo jageo.
Ttaeron samjaga bol ttae natseon gwanggyeongigetji.
Nasa pullin nyeoseokdeul da bimyeongeul jireugetji.
Nan ormgyeoganeun jilbyeong, look, nobody's iller.
Ama yukbaengmanui killeo hiteulleo, neone mogeul jjilleo.
Eorin children gwangyeeobseum mureup kkurko bireo. jeopalgye gateun nyeoseokdeul,
I kill you wit ma rhyme stick-up.
This is eight by eight, I'll beat you scene
By scene and take by take.
You're fake and and I'm greater than great.
Uriege daeiphal ttae, eumageun aeingatae.
Negeneun pyeinbakke andoeneun geimgatae. X2
The world is mine, hate it or love it, maeilbam kkaejineun meori
I can't even walk in this condition, nal ttaerineun hyeonsil.
Naui geimeun yeogi baro hanguk hiphap.
Yeojeonhi paegineun neomchigo bulgateunikka, can't stop yo.
Geurae nuga nal mageo?
Nan nae jugwaneul ttara sacred tujareul badeo.
Tell me who tryin' to block, haterdeuldo pumane ana.
Modeun sunganeul dama. I'm the king, boy
Eodiseo gae ttongparigateun saekkideuri gyesok aengaeng georyeo?
Na jigeum hwanatgeodeun, ije geuman maemmae beoreo. nae raebeun jjeoreo.
Hanseokbongui eomeonicheoreom ni jajonsim ttawineun bul kkeugodo tteok sseol deut sseoreo.
Neon nal mot beotyeo. neon neomu eoryeo.
Naega beoreok hago sorichimyeon neon eoreum eoreo.
Naneun hanbeon ssipgi sijakhamyeon danmul da ppajil ttae kkajineun
Jeoldae anbaeteo. ginjanghae, I'll take ya.
The lyrics of the song Eight By Eight by Epik High are filled with metaphors and wordplay, making it a challenge to interpret. The song seems to be about the rapper's (or the group's) journey to becoming successful in the Korean hiphop scene. The use of the metaphor of a train journey is prominent, with the rapper referring to himself as a train that is speeding towards its destination, as he raps "Yuhaengcheoreom beonjineun nae seutaireun machi gamgicheoreom sick" (My rhymes are spreading like a train, cold as an icicle). He talks about his technique, flow, and skill as being unbeatable and encourages his listeners to "better study my flow."
The rapper also talks about the challenges he faces as a musician and how he handles them. He mentions the industry being nothing without him and how he focuses on himself and his craft, saying "Na eomneun I mudaeneun machi bakwi without rim, Machi nakksi without pin, it's nuthin' without this" (This stage without me is like a stick without a net, like a pool table without a ball, it's nothing without this). The lyrics suggest that the rapper is confident and unapologetic about his talent and that he'll continue to do his thing regardless of what people say.
Line by Line Meaning
Yuhaengcheoreom beonjineun nae seutaireun machi gamgicheoreom sick.
My style is spreading like a virus on a train, like a cold in a classroom.
I biteuwa nan whipped creamgwa ttalgicheoreom mix.
I'm like a mix of a beat and whipped cream, sweet and smooth.
Na eomneun I mudaeneun machi bakwiwithout rim,
This meaningless field is like a pear without the skin,
Machi nakksi without pin, it's nuthin' without this.
Like a nut without its shell, it's nothing without my contribution.
So amuri yeoljeongi buldeongirado neon danji
No matter how much you pretend, you're still just
Deulleorirago, so better study my flow.
Acting clever, so learn from my style.
Nideuri naekkeol neokkeoin cheok haedo I don't care. because
Even if you imitate me, I don't care, because
Nan geureom naega ipdeon oseul baro change.
I changed the way I see things like I changed clothes.
Hiphop a la future. nae moksorineun biteuui seukinijin, john tesher,
Hip hop of the future, my voice is akin to a second skin, like John Tesher's,
Ttak dallabuteo. my technique, lyrical kamasutra.
From the start to the end, my technique is like a lyrical kamasutra.
Neon gyeourui banpalti... 'ama chuwo'.
You're a flavor of the season... temporary at best.
Dapdaphae. ni gasaneun mayak jungdokjacheoreom 'yag'hae. manghaedo nugul tatae?
Doubtful, your words are like a poisonous bait, who falls for your trap?
Ssibeobwatja neon geujeo kkeom ppuniyeosseo.
You just passed by without leaving a mark.
Ni jeongsinsangtaeneun pojangmacha ssaumkkun... 'byeong'deureosseo.
In your mentality, it's like a filthy drinking house... full of diseases.
Nae nuneul ttokbaro bogo jijeobwa reservoir dogs.
My eyes have scanned and imprinted on the reservoir dogs.
Satdaejireun no thanks, imi tteonagan beoseu.
I don't need lessons, already left class.
Seokeoseuui eoritgwangdae flow, (heureum)
Seo Taeji's influence flow, (breath).
Neon manmanhame chwihaesseo you son of a...
You kept sucking like a baby, you son of a...
Eorin baepsaeya, nal ttareujima, dachyeo. tto gatyeo.
Little sheep, don't follow me, go and graze somewhere else.
Geu geochin taepung sok I got you.
In that narrow typhoon, I got you.
Meogisaseul I scenee urin kkokdaegi. geu nugudo,
We're the survivors of this movie. No one,
Amudo, not a thing's gonna break me.
Nothing can break me.
Neon beolsseo moksoriga jamgyeotjanha.
All you can do is hold back your voice.
Akgiro chimyeon joyuri eongmangi doen gita.
If you look up, a meteor that lost its place shines.
Baejjangdo eomneunge jajonsimman ssaeseo gwaenhi keulleobapeseo
Begging with only my skills, barely making a living,
Gak japgo kotgumeong beolleongdaemyeo, ireogo itda.
Hiding my legs and running, trying to survive.
Neon uri dwikkongmuni jjotneura aemeokji.
You're nothing but a hindrance to us.
Jal sebwa urin beolsseo 8nyeonina haemeogeotji.
Look closely, we've already been doing this for 8 years.
Sedaegyochega pillyohadago? sayanghalge.
Need permission from the world? No need to have regrets.
Neon gyesok jiltuna hae, nan swilteumeobsi nal jaebalgyeon halge.
You keep trying to stop me, I'll just climb higher without a rest.
Oneuldo biteureul gareunda. hyeoui gisureul darunda.
Today I spit again, I deliver the message of reality.
Mareun ipsureun damulla. seonbonggisureul jabeun na.
All the words I speak are heavy. I hold a microphone like a mountain climber.
Manheun silsuwa bin issuemani jeonbuneun anin geol.
Countless trial and errors, but not giving up just once.
Jeokjeolhan biyuwa ip chiyumani jeonbura mideo.
Believing in the accuracy of my aim and my lips.
Nae mareun cheolligildo harumyeon dadareul cheonma. kkaejyeobeorin
Even a small fraction of my words move people every day.
Sasangdeurui samageul yeonda. makdareun byeonhwaedo nan apjangeul seotda.
Selling the wounds of the world. Even against changes, I clenched my jaws.
Geureoke yeoksaneun nal makjange sseotda.
This much jealousy tried to kill me.
'Ir'iran daneo. sutjaron aju najeo.
I guess it's 'ir', hurry and come close to the shore.
Geu ichie matge 'ir'ro beoneun dondo jageo.
Stand on that and take me to the sea.
Ttaeron samjaga bol ttae natseon gwanggyeongigetji.
Sometimes when I look outside, I'm reminded of the neon lights.
Nasa pullin nyeoseokdeul da bimyeongeul jireugetji.
The trapped girls in NASA will all hold their breath.
Nan ormgyeoganeun jilbyeong, look, nobody's iller.
I'm a contagious disease, look, nobody's iller.
Ama yukbaengmanui killeo hiteulleo, neone mogeul jjilleo.
I'm killing you with a spoonful of medicine, making you swallow your pride.
Eorin children gwangyeeobseum mureup kkurko bireo. jeopalgye gateun nyeoseokdeul,
The young children run wild in the amusement park, similar to the trapped girls,
I kill you wit ma rhyme stick-up.
I kill you with my rhymes like a stick-up.
This is eight by eight, I'll beat you scene
This is eight by eight, I'll beat you scene,
By scene and take by take.
by scene and take by take.
You're fake and and I'm greater than great.
you're fake and I'm greater than great,
Uriege daeiphal ttae, eumageun aeingatae.
When it comes to us, our music is unique.
Negeneun pyeinbakke andoeneun geimgatae. X2
To you, it's just a game that can't progress. X2
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Miiiine
on 선곡표
Thank you for the explaination, may I ask for the link or hangul name of the song by Lee Mija singer?