Beautifully written of pain and anger. That's all I can say about Epik High's latest album Shoebox. After two year hiatus since their previous album, 99, Epik High is finally back with their brilliant lyrics and addictive beats with several featuring artists in addition to the already awesome tracks.
As a long time fans, you may be relieved that this album s finally back to the old sound of Epik High you fell in love with (some, if not most, their fans were quite anxious when 99 was released saying that they were making YG's music not Epik High's). As for new listeners, you will definitely fall in love with their beautiful and witty lyrics (you can't help it when both rapper in the group are poets) and really cannot ignore the wicked addictive beats created by DJ Tukutz. At the end of the day, you'd probably ended up purchasing their old albums on online portals :)
Most of lyrics are written by Tablo with additional rap written by Mithra Jin. Seeing from his previous works (both music and book), I always knew that he is really dark person, as in he rarely write about happy things. Knowing that this is the third project (second for Epik High) after the Tanjinyo incident, I kind of expected some anger and/or pain. To my surprise, all tracks are either sad or angry. Not as depressing as Fever's End, but still :)
The first track to open the album is Encore. With beautiful sound of violin to open the track but it then rises up with the sound of from turntable, the song tells you story about struggling through the pain and finally got the strength to rise back up and come back again. This track to show the world that with what ever hardship the group has been trough, they are back stronger than ever. Lyrics 'Fuck and thank you' in the song got me smiling. It was as if they are saying 'I hate you for hurting me but I am thanking you for making me stronger.' I also love how they put the sampling of The Miracles's I Didn't Realize The Show Was Over to state the fact that Epik High are still here, they're not done yet.
Born Hater and Amor Fati have similar anger with stronger approach. Living by the tittle, Born Hater is about haters in general. No further explanation needed LOL. With the line up Beenzino, Verbal Jint, Winner's Mino, iKON's Bobby and B.I make this track full of rappers with, apparently, experiences of dealing with haters. When I first watched the MV, the opening beat had already caught my attention. The awesome beats continued until the end of the song and it is something you cannot get off you ears and mind for quite sometime. My one of favorite lines are Tablo's 'Tanjinyo, go ahead and crawl up too. I'm trying to love you.' And yes, ladies and gentlemen, that young boy called Bobby really can rap thus he won the rap survival show. Not to mention the already-developed rap flow of Kim Han Bin aka B.I.
When Born Hater makes you want to stomp you feet to the ground and scream (or curse, maybe? I know I do), Amor Fati gives you different vibe of anger (I don't know if anger is the right term. It's the combination of feeling helpless and disappointed). Featuring Nell's Kim Jong Wan, the track gives you melancholy feeling making you ask yourself questions about life itself. It is an emotional song with deep lyrics.
In Burj Khalifa, they are basically bragging about how their music is so addictive it can make you high 'My High is Epic.' With the addictive tunes and additional strong lyrics from Yankie and Dynamic Duo's Gaeko make this track an anthem that you cannot move on from easily. It is one of my favorite tracks it bring up your mood. Really good to listen early in the morning when you barely able to open your eyes :)
Happen Ending and Spoiler are the tittle tracks for the album and, somehow, both songs share similar theme. The sadness of ending a relationship. The tempo are not that slow to get you depressed but once you listen to the lyrics and the way they rap/sing, you will get the vibe. Lyrics 'You gamble with love, but that same love is someone’s life savings. Then you get someone else to buy your lies, having that next person pay your debts' and 'Do we come together to love or do we come together in order to break apart?' in Happen Ending really got me.
Fight Ourselves is another featuring track with Younha, and yes it really meets my expectation of sorrowful, painful and heart-clenching song. The track is so painful it makes you want to curl on your bed doing nothing or drinking in a cafe while watching rain through the window and just cry. This is not the first time Epik High collaborate with the singer (or the other way around) and their combination is always able to break the sentimental side of me. It is another sad sing about love and relationship. About the never ending fight between a couple that they got so tired of it 'This is me and you. Stop.'.
I dare to say Life is Good is the only song with positive vibe in this album. 'Even if you pray for my misfortune, and want me to bite the dust, I’m gonna be fine. My life is good.' The chirp voice of Jay Park featured in the song added happy feeling to it. Even though some of the lyrics are about how people want to see you fail and destroy you but the happy tunes make you don't give a damn and just keep smiling. It give you strength to face the mean world.
Over all, the album is excellent. I really have nothing to say. Call me subjective but I really do love every single song in the album. Tablo once mentioned that this album is for those who feel hurt and wronged. I really can feel their intention, moreover knowing the incidents happened to them in the past, makes me understand the darkness, emotion and struggle in this album. Epik High is back. Epically.
Album image is taken from google
Lyrics translation by Tablo
