Tablo reflects on 20 years of Epik High, turning past pain into laughter

The members of Epik High looked back on their journey as they celebrate their 20th anniversary since debut. In a released video, Tablo, Two Cut, and Mithra Jin cited their growing mutual understanding as the driving force that allowed the team to remain together for 20 years.

"The friend who borrowed 30,000 won at our first meeting"... Epik High's 20-year narrative

The members revealed their tight-knit bond through stories of the team's formation and early days. According to Mithra Jin, he and Tablo had initially signed contracts while preparing to debut as solo artists, but the current lineup was finalized after discussions concluded the group needed a DJ, leading to Two Cut joining the team.

An anecdote illustrating the relationship between Two Cut and Tablo was also shared. Tablo mentioned an experience where Two Cut borrowed money from him upon their first meeting. At the time, Tablo lent 30,000 won out of his total assets of 30,150 won, and Two Cut said he used the money to buy textbooks. Two Cut promised to pay it back on Monday, but Tablo recalled that, at the time, he had essentially lent his entire fortune.

Additionally, Two Cut shared an anecdote from his past broadcasting activities. During the period when Epik High's song 'Fly' gained massive popularity and their treatment on shows improved, Two Cut mentioned experiencing neglect, such as being told to place sushi on top for the sake of the video's composition, despite his role being to handle the DJ equipment.

"The moment I felt I had lost my qualification as a human being"... Tablo's confession

Tablo calmly confessed the extreme trials he faced in the past and the emotions he felt during that process. He admitted there was a moment when he felt he had lost his qualification as a human being while facing social Gonggyeok. He said that even in situations where people would curse loudly or point fingers at him while he walked down the street, he endured each day through a sense of responsibility to protect his family.

Recalling the situation, Tablo explained that at the same time those events occurred, his son HARU was born, creating new responsibilities for him as a father. He shared that he lived through each day with the thought, "I must protect my family first; I must be able to eat," and spent his time striving to be a good father and husband.

"Sublimating pain into laughter"... The power of comfort from colleagues

Tablo cited the comfort of his colleagues as one of the reasons he was able to pass through those difficult times. He said it was a great source of strength when the members came to visit and provide laughter during his hardest moments. In particular, he added that the funny remarks Yoo Jae Suk made when visiting his father's funeral provided great comfort at the time.

Tablo mentioned that sublimating such pain into laughter is true healing. He shared an anecdote where Two Cut had set a documentary clip of Tablo crying during his hard times as his phone wallpaper, demonstrating how the group processes past pain through laughter.