Epik High (Korean: 에픽하이) is a South Korean hip-hop trio formed in 2001, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Primarily based in Seoul, the group signed with Woollim Entertainment and released their first two studio albums, Map of the Human Soul (2003) and High Society (2004), to minor success. The trio rose to fame with the release of their follow-up studio albums, Swan Songs (2005), Remapping the Human Soul (2007), and Pieces, Part One (2008), spawning the hit singles "Fly", "Paris", "Fan", "Love Love Love", "One" and "Umbrella". Although the majority of these albums were censored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism due to themes of crimes, war, religion, and education, Epik High established themselves as one of the leading hip-hop artists in the country, gaining a cult following and critical plaudit.
Daniel Armand Lee, better known by his stage name Tablo (타블로), is a Canadian hip hop rapper, songwriter and record producer of South Korean origin. Tablo is best known as the leader and producer of South Korean hip-hop group Epik High, and the founder of independent music label Highgrnd, which housed bands Hyukoh and The Black Skirts.
Dong Young-bae, better known by his stage name Taeyang or SOL, is a South Korean singer. He made his debut in 2006 as a member of the South Korean boy band BigBang. Following the release of several albums and extended plays with his group, Taeyang pursued a solo career in 2008, releasing his first extended play, Hot. The EP was acclaimed by critics and went to win the award for Best R&B & Soul Album at the 6th Korean Music Awards. Hot was followed by his first full-length studio album Solar (2010), which was released in July 2010 and peaked atop the Gaon Album Chart.
YG Entertainment is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. In addition, the company operates a number of subsidiary ventures under a separate public traded company, YG Plus, which includes a clothing line, a golf management agency, and a cosmetics brand.
One of a Kind is the first extended play of South Korean rapper G-Dragon. It was released on September 15, 2012, digitally, and September 18 physically, through YG Entertainment. The EP consists of seven songs all written or co-written, and co-composed by G-Dragon himself.
AKMU, formerly Akdong Musician, is a South Korean duo consisting of siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun signed to YG Entertainment. As prominent figures of South Korea, their musical impact in their native country has earned them numerous accolades and the honorific title "The Nation's Siblings". They are also cited as "musical prodigies" and "geniuses".
Winner is a South Korean boy band consisting of four members: Kim Jin-woo, Lee Seung-hoon, Mino, and Kang Seung-yoon; originally a five-piece band, Nam Tae-hyun departed in November 2016 for reasons associated to his mental health. Their immediate success was cited as "unprecedented" for a newly debuted artist, thereby birthing the moniker "Monster Rookies" within the industry. The band's musical impact in their native country further trademarked the act as a "Trust and Listen" group and as the "Kings of Summer".
Rise is the second studio album by South Korean recording artist Taeyang, member of the boy group Big Bang. It is his first album in four years since Solar in 2010. Rise became the third highest charting K-pop album, and also the highest charting K-pop album by a Korean soloist on the Billboard 200 chart by debuting at number 112, number one on the Billboard World Albums Chart, number one on Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album also debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart. A Japanese edition of Rise was packaged as part of Taeyang's Japanese debut album, Rise + Solar & Hot, on August 13, 2014.
"Ringa Linga" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Taeyang. It was released as a digital single on November 8, 2013, through YG Entertainment. Later, it became the first single to be released from his second studio album Rise (2014). It was written and composed by Big Bang bandmate G-Dragon and Shockbit.
2014 S/S is the debut album of South Korean group Winner. It was released on August 12, 2014, by the group's record label, YG Entertainment. The members were credited for writing the lyrics and composing the majority of the album's songs.
Kim Ji-won, known by his stage name Bobby (Korean: 바비) is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and member of iKon. In 2016, he formed a sub-unit with Mino under the name MOBB. He is best known for finishing in first place on Mnet's survival show Show Me The Money 3.
Shoebox is the eighth studio album by the South Korean hip hop group Epik High. It was released digitally on October 21, 2014, and physically on October 22, through YG Entertainment. "Spoiler" and "Happen Ending" served as the title tracks for the album.
"Good Boy" is a song recorded by South Korean duo GD X Taeyang, members of the boy band Big Bang. It was released on November 21, 2014, as the second hip-hop project from YG Entertainment, the first being "Niliria" by G-Dragon featuring Missy Elliott a year prior. The single was written by G-Dragon, who also produced it along with the Fliptones and Freedo. "Good Boy" became a chart-topper on Billboard's World Digital Songs and a Top 5 hit on the Gaon Digital Chart. Additionally, a physical single was released and topped the Gaon Albums Chart.
"Born Hater" is a song by South Korean hip hop group Epik High, released on October 18, 2014, as one of their single tracks from their eighth Korean studio album, Shoebox. The song features rappers Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, and Bobby.
"Loser" is a song by South Korean boy band Big Bang. It was released on May 1, 2015, alongside "Bae Bae" as the group's fifth single album M, and as the first single of their third Korean-language studio album Made (2016). The single marked BigBang's first release since Still Alive (2012). Written by G-Dragon, T.O.P, Teddy and produced by Teddy alongside Taeyang, "Loser" has been described as a hip hop and R&B song.
Nam Tae-hyun, also known as Taehyun, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, producer and actor. In March 2017, he founded a music label, South Buyers Club. Sometime afterwards, the label was renamed to The South. Under the label, Nam debuted the band South Club, of which he is leader, main vocalist, guitarist, and main composer. He was previously the main vocalist of K-pop group Winner, in which he also composed and produced. In November 2019, Nam announced that he closed his music label and that the band had signed with new management.
"Last Dance" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band BigBang. It was released on December 13, 2016, through YG Entertainment, as the sixth single for the group's third Korean-language studio album Made (2016). It was written by group members G-Dragon, T.O.P, and Taeyang and produced by G-Dragon and Jeon Yong Jun. Commercially, "Last Dance" peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
"Eyes, Nose, Lips" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Taeyang, serving as the second single for his second studio album Rise (2014). It was co-produced by Teddy Park, Bekuh Boom, Dee.P and P.K, and written by Park and Taeyang. The song peaked at the top of the Gaon Digital Chart and the K-pop Hot 100, and went on to become the second best-performing single of 2014.
The Power World Tour is the second world tour by South Korean music label YG Entertainment in 2014, the last being the Past, Present & the Future world tour in 2006. The tour marks the entertainment agency's first family concert in two years. The tour kicked off at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan for a two-day performance on April 12 and 13 before visiting other cities in Japan, China and Korea. The tour was officially sponsored by Samsung Galaxy in China, Taiwan and Singapore.
