Epik High, currently on their North American ‘THE PUMP' Tour hit the Los Angeles stage at the city’s iconic Wiltern Theatre in Korea Town. The K-Hip Hop trio, consisting of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, made their way onto the scene in 2001, releasing their first album Map of the Human Soul in 2003. With their mantra ‘no genre, just music’ the group has gone on to build a mass following marking them top players in the K-Hip Hop Scene, crafting hit songs like ‘Fly’ off Swan Songs (2004) and ‘Love Love Love’ from album Remapping the Human Soul (2006) among numerous others. Their latest release, mixtape PUMP was dropped summer 2024 and is the feature of current ‘THE PUMP' Tour.
The lights dim and the show begins with a quick video of the members as they humorously play ‘Epic High Quiz Show’. They asked questions such as what was the name of Epik High’s most recent mixtape? and how many “mfers” are in 'GROUP CHAT FREESTYLE’? Once the Quiz show was over a QR code appears on screen, was Epik High trying to steal my information? Luckily for us, they were just showcasing their 24/7 stream of 'chill beats' located on their YouTube channel.
Shortly after, Epik High appeared on stage, DJ Tukutz positioned behind the DJ Booth, Mithra Jin and Tablo atop it while the trio burst into opening song ‘ANTIHERO’ off their newest album PUMP. The group transitioned into ‘Fly’ with the crowd immediately springing into the air at the first notes.
The trio made their introductions, belting their names to the famous melodies of Hallelujah, YMCA and The Imperial March. Tablo, announcing “this one is for DJ Tukutz” launches into “trash motherfuckers, rat motherfuckers, backstabbing ass scumbag mother fuckers” the intro to ‘GROUP CHAT FREESTYLE’. Legends here to stay, the group goes on to perform ‘Rosario’, and ‘BURJ KHALIFA’ .
Making their way into the crowd they head into ‘K-DRAMA’, a fan favorite off PUMP, singing to and high five-ing fans as they make their way through the audience. Mithra Jin running all the way through the balcony as Tablo makes his way towards the back of the orchestra level commenting that he was shocked to see just how far the audience went. Members continue rounding through the theatre with promises of “everyone will get a fair shot to get hit by water", take note Waterbomb LA, while spraying fans from top to bottom.
As the night begins to near the end, the group move on to ‘Kill this Love’, High Technology’ and ‘One’ playing out to an audience glistening with fresh water droplets while jumping high off the ground. The trio wrap up the night with melancholic ‘Home is Far Away’ but not before the group bids farewell to fans with a sentimental “We are always thinking of you, even when home is far away.”
The crowd, lightsticks high, joyously flipping the artists off, jump with excitement as the trio make their way back out to perform encore songs ‘Born Hater’ and ‘Don’t Hate Me’. The group end the night autographing a towel that they launch into the crowd, one fan lucky enough to catch the item.
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