How Tablo Changed the Game for Korean Hip-Hop
Photo: @blobyblo
Tablo isn’t just a rapper or a producer. He’s a storyteller who has spent over two decades reshaping what Korean hip-hop can sound and feel like. As the frontman of Epik High, a Stanford graduate, and a published author, he has built a career defined by emotional honesty, poetic lyricism, and creative risk-taking. His journey has taken him from international classrooms to underground clubs in Seoul, to festival stages around the world. Through it all, he has never stopped evolving. Whether writing about personal grief, cultural pressure, or mental health, Tablo makes space for vulnerability in an industry that often avoids it. His work speaks to anyone trying to make sense of chaos and still create something meaningful from it.
Early Life and the Formation of Epik High
Tablo, born in Seoul, South Korea, has lived a life marked by constant movement and reinvention. Thanks to his father’s job, his family moved frequently, and he spent parts of his childhood in Indonesia, Switzerland, and Hong Kong before settling in Canada at age 12, where he eventually became a citizen. He attended St. George’s School in Vancouver and later Seoul International School. His academic journey took a remarkable turn when he enrolled at Stanford University, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s in creative writing in just four years, studying under the mentorship of celebrated author Tobias Wolff.
Tablo’s connection to music started early. He learned to play the piano and violin as a child, and by high school, he was already writing lyrics. At just sixteen, he penned lyrics for Korean legend Kim Gunmo, a major milestone that hinted at the career to come. Still, music wasn’t always encouraged. His family had concerns about the instability of a creative career, and Tablo himself faced depression growing up. Hip-hop, however, became both an outlet and a source of strength, giving him a voice to express emotions that had long gone unspoken.
Returning to South Korea in the early 2000s, Tablo dove headfirst into the underground hip-hop scene. It was here that he met Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, and together they formed Epik High in 2001. The group debuted in 2003 with the album Map of the Human Soul, but it wasn’t an instant commercial hit. Hip-hop hadn’t yet found a solid foothold in the Korean mainstream. That started to change with their second album, High Society, and exploded with Swan Songs in 2005. Songs like “Fly” gained attention beyond Korea, even landing on the FIFA 2007 soundtrack. With Tablo’s lyricism at the core, Epik High began carving out a space for hip-hop that blended poetic storytelling with electronic, rock, and trip-hop influences. Their work often reflected themes of personal struggle, social criticism, and the complexity of modern life.
Creative Breakthroughs and Independent Projects
One of their biggest milestones came in 2007 with Remapping the Human Soul, with songs like “Love Love Love.” Despite facing censorship for its bold themes, the album became the third best-selling release in Korea that year and solidified Epik High’s position as leaders in the genre. Tablo had a hand in writing and producing every track, steering the group’s creative direction and lyrical identity. They went on to release Pieces, Part One in 2008, and after parting ways with their original label, they launched their own independent label, Map the Soul. This gave them the freedom to release albums like 魂 Map the Soul and [e] in 2009, and Epilogue in 2010, all of which pushed their artistry even further.
Outside of Epik High, Tablo explored solo ventures that allowed for even more introspection. His first solo album, Fever’s End (2011), was a deeply emotional project split into two parts. Tracks like “Airbag” featuring Naul, “Bad” with Jinsil, “Tomorrow” with TAEYANG, and “Home” with Lee Sora showcased a rawer, more vulnerable side of him. These songs dealt with grief, healing, and self-reflection, resonating with fans who had followed his ups and downs, including a highly publicized period of controversy and personal hardship in the early 2010s.
As a collaborator and producer, Tablo’s range is just as impressive. He’s worked with a wide spectrum of artists, from Rain on “I’m Coming,” to LEE HI on multiple tracks including “UP ALL NIGHT,” and with Joey Bada$$ on “Hood.” His creative fingerprints are also on songs by TAEYANG, SECHSKIES, The Black Skirts, and more. In 2015, he took things a step further by launching the independent label HIGHGRND, where he helped spotlight new talent like HYUKOH and The Black Skirts. That same dedication to artistry extended to his other passions. Tablo is also an author of the short story collection Pieces of You and the reflective book Blonote, and he’s hosted radio shows and made occasional appearances as an actor.
Legacy, Recent Work, and Resilience
Even after more than two decades in the industry, Tablo continues to innovate. He released the single “Dododo” in 2016, and followed up with “Cave Me In” in 2017, a collaboration with Gallant and Eric Nam that was praised for its smooth production and cross-cultural appeal. In 2019, he co-wrote “Song Request” for Lee Sora, featuring SUGA of BTS. He’s remained active with Epik High as well, performing at major festivals like Coachella and SXSW, and pushing the boundaries of hip-hop with orchestral sets at the Seoul Jazz Festival.
In 2024, he dropped PUMP COLLECTOR’S EDITION, which included the energetic track “Michelin CYPHER,” proving he’s still a relevant voice in the scene.
But it was in May 2025 that he released one of his most meaningful songs to date: “Stop The Rain,” a collaboration with BTS leader and legend RM. The song, which had been in the works for years, tackles mental health, despair, and perseverance. It’s performed mostly in English and draws from the personal diaries of both artists. Tablo shared that the song’s release was delayed because he didn’t want to burden RM with the emotional weight of the lyrics during a time of intense public scrutiny. But RM ultimately encouraged its release, a decision that speaks to the trust and creative respect between the two artists. The rain metaphor, long a motif in Tablo’s lyrics, appears once again as a symbol of renewal and resilience.
Through it all, Tablo has remained committed to honesty and authenticity in his music. Whether he’s leading Epik High, producing for others, writing books, or collaborating with global icons, he continues to shape Korean music in a way few others have. His career represents a willingness to speak hard truths through art.
Check Out These Tracks
“OK GOOD” by Epik High
“BRB” by Epik High
“No Different (Feat. Yuna)” by Epik High
“All Day (with Tablo)” by RM
“rain bird (Feat. Tablo & Colde)” by CODE KUNST