[SINGAPORE] Legendary Hip-Hop Group Epik High Stuns at Pasir Panjang Power Station

On 23 September, Epik High fans (known as High Skool) gathered at Pasir Panjang Power Station for the group’s third concert on Singapore’s shores.

The legendary trio comprising of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, have been captivating audiences and fans with their thought provoking verses and witty lyrics since the release of their first album, Map of the Human Soul, in 2003. The group achieved mainstream fame and became one of the most popular hip-hop groups with the release of their third and fourth studio albums, Swan Songs (2005) and Remapping the Human Soul (2007) and have been topping music charts all over the world since.

Escaping Reality for a Night

Opening the night’s set with the first track of their newest EP, Strawberry, the group appeared on stage to loud cheers, and effortlessly transitioned into On My Way, which featured well-known artist, Jackson Wang. Epik High then excited the crowd with Fly, one of their best-selling singles from Swan Songs.

The group’s members were then interestingly introduced by Tablo, supported by DJ Tukutz’s very apt background instrumental selection of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and others. Tablo also promised that they will make the crowd forget about their problems for one night and to leave it at the door before taking the time to interact with the fans.

Witty Exchanges While Spotting Fans From All Over The World

Well-known for his eloquent and witty banter while on stage, Tablo let the crowd know that for the “first time in Epik High’s history, they were performing at a venue where they were told to spray as much water as they needed” – and proceeded to drench the enthusiastic crowd with water. The group worked like a well-oiled machine onstage, making sure to interact with fans while giving their all to perform crowd favourites like Map The Soul, Burj Khalifa, and Love Love Love.

The group also spotted fans from other parts of Asia, including a seventeen-year-old Korean fan who flew from Korea to attend the concert in Singapore, and some Taiwanese fans who flew in after the Taipei stop was cancelled. Tablo made sure to make time to address their dedication and support, thanking them for making their way here for the concert.

Additionally, the setlist included a mix of their older favourites and more recent hits, like Eternal Sunshine, No Thanxxx, and Rosario, during which Tablo dabs Mithra Jin with a towel and throws it into the crowd to massive uproar.

Closing the set with Rain Song and One, Epik High then ended their set with a teasing, bittersweet note about having to leave (while DJ Tukutz teasingly plays Adele’s Someone Like You in the background) and heads off stage, with Tablo teasing the crowd about whether it was truly the end of the concert.

An Encore with Never-Ending “Blessings”

With anticipation, the crowd chanted “encore” feverishly, and screamed in joy when the opening notes of the first encore song, Born Hater, played.

The group stopped in the middle of the song while Tablo engaged with the audience because he spotted a couple of male fans who were surprisingly calm the whole night but completely let loose during Born Hater. After comically speaking about what he observed of the fans up to that point with laughter echoing from the audience, he proceeds to “bless” the group – with help from surrounding fans – with water, making it an unforgettable night. The trio then followed up with Don’t Hate Me, another banger from their seventh-studio album, 99 (2012).

Before heading off the stage to prepare two more songs for their encore, Tablo continued to tease about whether that was truly the end of the concert — before appearing to finish the night with Kill This Love and New Beautiful. Filled with many engaging interactions with the fans, and high bursts of energy, Epik High definitely delivered a truly epi(k) performance for the night, leaving fans wanting more. At the end of the night, Tablo sends the crowd off with a heartfelt note, “stay safe until we meet again”, and with that, we can’t wait for the next time they grace us with their amazing songs!

Special thanks to CK Star Entertainment for the media invite! 

Written by: Phebs
Photos by: CK Star Entertainment

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