Maps of Music
Remapping the Human Soul (2007)
Where the lyrics of Remapping the Human Soul take you, and where it was really made.
Over 200 songs were written for this album, yet only 27 of the 47 recorded made the final track list.
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Overview
- Remapping the Human Soul is the fourth studio album by South Korean hip hop trio Epik High
- Released 23 January 2007 through Woollim Entertainment and CJ Music
- Two CDs with 27 tracks
- Singles Fan and Love Love Love were promoted as part of the album
- Split into Part 1 (The Brain) and Part 2 (The Heart)
Background
- Followed the popularity of the single Fly from the 2005 album Swan Songs
- The group spent a year and a half writing over 200 new songs
- 47 songs were recorded, and 27 were selected for the album
- Subject matter covers sex, religion, and war
- The album had its sales age-restricted
- Some songs were banned from South Korean radio stations
- Part 2 (The Heart) was produced by Tablo
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
Disc 1
| 1 | The End Times (Opening) | 1:46 |
| 2 | 白夜 | 5:17 |
| 3 | 알고보니 | 4:10 |
| 4 | 실어증 | 4:41 |
| 5 | Mr. Doctor | 3:58 |
| 6 | Runaway (Mithra's Word) | 4:06 |
| 7 | Exile (Halftime) | 3:09 |
| 8 | Still Life | 5:40 |
| 9 | 피해망상 Pt. 1 | 4:34 |
| 10 | 희생양 | 4:34 |
| 11 | Nocturne (Tablo's Word) | 4:48 |
| 12 | 혼 | 4:26 |
| 13 | In Peace (Closing) | 1:25 |
Disc 2
| 1 | Slave Song (Overture) | 1:39 |
| 2 | Flow | 3:34 |
| 3 | Love/Crime (Fan Prelude) | 0:24 |
| 4 | Fan | 3:44 |
| 5 | 거미줄 | 4:42 |
| 6 | 선곡표 | 3:34 |
| 7 | 중독 | 4:21 |
| 8 | Underground Railroad (Intermission) | 3:22 |
| 9 | FAQ | 2:37 |
| 10 | Love Love Love | 3:51 |
| 11 | Girl Rock | 3:22 |
| 12 | Broken Toys | 4:06 |
| 13 | 행복합니다 | 3:35 |
| 14 | Public Execution (Finale) | 0:52 |
| 15 | Fly (remix) | 5:40 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Formation
- Formed in 2002 in South Korea, a hip-hop trio of rapper and producer Tablo, rapper and lyricist Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz.
- Tablo and Mithra Jin began performing together in the underground hip-hop scene with the Movement crew; DJ Tukutz joined in March 2002.
- Signed with Woollim Entertainment and released their debut album Map of the Human Soul in 2003.
Members
- Tablo: rapper, record producer, songwriter.
- Mithra Jin: rapper and lyricist.
- DJ Tukutz: DJ and beatmaker.
Career
- Swan Songs (2005) became a mainstream hit; its title track "Fly" reached number one on domestic charts.
- Remapping the Human Soul (2007) was censored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism over its lyrics and themes, yet sold well in Korea and Japan.
- Moved to YG Entertainment in 2012 and became the first South Korean act to play at Coachella (2016).
- Left YG in 2018, founded their own agency Ours Co., and released Epik High Is Here in 2021–2022.
- Their 20th-anniversary concerts sold out in December 2023, and their first mixtape Pump came out in 2024.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Commercial success in South Korea
- Number one on the monthly RIAK album chart for two consecutive months
- Sold over 120,000 copies, ranked as the 3rd best-selling album of 2007
Reappraisal
- Rolling Stone named Love Love Love the 70th greatest song in the history of Korean popular music
- EBS named the album one of the 100 best Korean popular music albums since 2004, in 2024
Records
- Album of the Year at the 2007 Mnet Asian Music Awards
- Best Album at the 2007 Seoul Music Awards
- Best Hip Hop Album at the 2008 Korean Music Awards
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Several tracks sample older songs, including The End Times (Opening) with King Giddra's Shinjitsu no bakudan
- White Night samples Nothing Can Stop Me by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
- Mr. Doctor, Nocturne, 중독 and Broken Toys also use samples from Soledad Bravo, Donna Summer, Dee Dee Sharp and John Cameron
- The title Remapping follows the debut album Map of the Human Soul, signalling new work built on three and a half years of activity
- Tablo produced Part 2 (The Heart), which the album credits as influenced by Philip Glass, Billy Corgan and Timbaland
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org