Epik High is back! After a successful 2022 with a massive global world tour and performing at music festivals like Coachella, Epik High is rolling in hot with massive plans in 2023. What a better way to kick it off than by releasing new music and another world tour. Their latest EP, Strawberry, is another addition to their massive and extensive library. It doesn’t disappoint and is well worth the wait.

Tracklist: 

1. “Strawberry” 

2. “On My Way (Feat. Jackson Wang)” 

3. “Catch (Feat. Hwasa)”

4. “Down Bad Freestyle” 

5. “God’s Latte”

The Album

Epik High starts off the album with the jazzy, hip-hop instrumental that eases you right in with the album namesake, “Strawberry.” Despite having limited vocals on the track, it is smooth and groovy, laying down the foundation that this album is going to be a good time. However, do not let the cover of the album and the sounds fool you; while it may seem sweet and easy going, there is still the Epik High-quality depth that resonates on a personal and emotional level. As “Strawberry” narrates, Epik High are poets and they will capture you with their art, style, and lyrics that unearth a beautiful and comforting meaning to the album. 

As the album progresses, two songs in particular take the spotlight with key features that are just the strawberry on top. “On My Way” features Jackson Wang (GOT7) and “Catch” features Hwasa (MAMAMOO). Both make great additions to the long repertoire of amazing collaborations that Epik High have in their arsenal.

“On My Way,” in the words of Tablo himself, is the “in my villain arc” type of song that is full of angst, a bit of sass, and anger. Enough with trying to put in an effort and waste time being in misery in a situation (or a relationship) that isn’t going anywhere. They’d rather be on their way to doing something better and not feeling sad or heartbroken. Jackson’s wispy and husky vocals add another level of feeling, like you’re walking away, making “On My Way” that much more elevated.

On the other hand, “Catch” switches it up by offering a more upbeat song that is a love letter to haters. No matter how much you try and bring Epik High down, they simply cannot catch up. There is nothing left that can phase them, and while they continue to see success after success, the haters can simply keep hating and see if they can even get on their level. 

If you’re looking for more of their grungy hip-hop sound, “Down Bad Freestyle” is such a nasty (in a good way) and addictive song. The track takes the observations of the world, specifically the internet world, that is just so hyper focused on negativity and in turn knowing the effect that it may have on you as the user. Sometimes there are rough days, and being down bad from doom scrolling and consuming such mediums can happen. So to combat, maybe getting out and being around others or simply outside may do you a lot better rather than being “down bad.” 

Closing out the album is “God’s Latte” which is thoughtful and pensive. When taking a deeper look into the lyrics of the song, it’s quite thought provoking in that it holds a conversation with God (or whatever higher entity that is out there) and questioning why people are the way they are and how this concept of good and evil or going to hell comes into play. But as the song describes, after some thought, the answer is complicated, which makes “God’s Latte” a call out to human nature. Perhaps what resonates the most is Mithra Jin’s last few lines pointing out how people may try to play God but we’re all the same–no one else is better or worse than the other. 

Perhaps that is what is so great about Epik High’s Strawberry and work in general. They really will get you thinking about topics and themes that you might have not thought about before. There is also this level of comfort that is so good that Epik High just knows how to blow it out of the water and makes this another solid album. 

With only days away from kicking off their All Time High Tour in Europe and North America, Epik High is locked and fully loaded to have a blast and greet fans once again. With Tablo bringing in the hype with all the memes, you know that they’re more than ready to be on stage again and start 2023 right.

Author’s Note: All song and lyric analysis were used thanks to the translations by Genius Korea.