Remapping the Human Soul

Remapping the Human Soul
Studio album by
Epik High
ReleasedJanuary 23, 2007
Recorded2005–2006
Genre
Length1:36:00
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Epik High chronology
Black Swan Songs
(2006) 		Remapping the Human Soul
(2007) 		Pieces, Part One
(2008)
Singles from Remapping the Human Soul
  1. "Fan"
    Released: January 23, 2007
  2. "Love Love Love"
    Released: January 23, 2007

Remapping the Human Soul is the fourth studio album by South Korean hip hop trio Epik High. It was released through Woollim Entertainment and CJ Music on January 23, 2007, and contains 27 tracks on two CDs.[1] The singles "Fan" and "Love Love Love" were promoted as part of the album.

The album was a commercial success in South Korea, peaking at number one on the monthly RIAK album chart for two consecutive months. It was the 3rd best-selling album of 2007 with over 120,000 copies sold.[2] It went on to win awards such as Album of the Year at the 2007 Mnet Asian Music Awards,[3] Best Album at the 2007 Seoul Music Awards,[4] and Best Hip Hop Album at the 2008 Korean Music Awards.[5]

Background

Following the popularity of the single "Fly" from their 2005 album, Swan Songs, Epik High spent a year and a half writing over 200 new songs. The group ultimately recorded 47 of those songs and selected 27 to include on Remapping the Human Soul.[6] Due to the album's controversial subject matter covering topics including sex, religion, and war, the album had its sales age-restricted, and some of its songs were banned from being played on South Korean radio stations.[7][6]

Composition

Part 2 (The Heart), which was produced by Tablo, is influenced by Philip Glass, Billy Corgan, Timbaland.[8] He also has emphasised his interest in rock, jazz, trance, garage, as well as hip hop. Various tracks contain samples of other songs, including "The End Times (Opening)" with "真実の爆弾(Shinjitsu no bakudan)" by King Giddra, "White Night" with "Nothing Can Stop Me" by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., "Mr. Doctor" with "Hasta Siempre" by Soledad Bravo, "Nocturne (Tablo's Word)" with "Once Upon a Time" by Donna Summer, "중독" with "Flashback" by Dee Dee Sharp, and "Broken Toys" with "Half Forgotten Daydreams" by John Cameron.

Accolades

Rolling Stone named "Love Love Love" the 70th greatest song in the history of Korean popular music, writing that "Epik High takes the listener through all the stages of love, from blissful infatuation to a painful breakup. Capturing the chemistry of MCs Tablo and Mithra Jin, while DJ Tukutz backspins a record like it’s 1975, it’s an eternal bop."[9] In 2024, EBS named Remapping the Human Soul one of the 100 best Korean popular music albums since 2004.[10]

Awards and nominations
Organization Year Category Work Result Ref.
Cyworld Digital Music Awards 2007 Song of the Month – February "Fan" Won [11]
Golden Disc Awards 2007 Digital Song Bonsang Nominated [12]
Album Bonsang Remapping the
Human Soul 		Won [13]
Album Daesang Nominated
Mnet KM Music Festival 2007 Song of the Year (Daesang) "Fan" Nominated
Best Hip-Hop Performance Won [14]
Album of the Year (Daesang) Remapping the
Human Soul 		Won [3]
Seoul Music Awards 2008 Best Album Award Won [4]
Korean Music Awards Best Hip Hop Album Won [5]
Music program awards
Song Program Date
"Fan" M Countdown February 15, 2007
March 1, 2007
March 15, 2007
Inkigayo March 4, 2007
March 11, 2007

Track listing

Track listing and credits adapted from Naver Music, Google Play, and the Korea Music Copyright Association.[15]

CD 1
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The End Times (Opening)"—DJ Tukutz1:45
2."白夜" (White Night)Tablo, Mithra JinDJ Tukutz5:16
3."알고보니" (As it Turns Out) (feat. Jinbo)Tablo, Mithra Jin, JinboDJ Tukutz4:10
4."실어증" (Aphasia) (feat. Paloalto)Tablo, Mithra Jin, PaloaltoPe2ny4:41
5."Mr. Doctor" (feat. Yankie)Tablo, Mithra Jin, YankieYankie3:58
6."Runaway (Mithra's Word)"Mithra JinMithra Jin4:05
7."Exile (Halftime)"—Pe2ny3:09
8."Still Life" (feat. Jinbo, The Quiett, Kebee, TBNY, MC Meta)Tablo, Mithra Jin, Yankie, Topbob, Naachal, The Quiett, Kebee, JinboDJ Tukutz5:39
9."피해망상 (Paranoia) Pt. 1" (feat. Junggigo)Tablo, Mithra Jin, JunggigoDJ Tukutz, Junggigo4:34
10."희생양" (Scapegoat) (feat. Sweet Sorrow)Tablo, Mithra JinTablo4:33
11."Nocturne (Tablo's Word)"TabloDJ Tukutz4:48
12."혼" (Soul)Tablo, Mithra Jin—4:26
13."In Peace (Closing)"—DJ Tukutz1:25
CD 2
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Slave Song (Overture)"TabloTablo1:38
2."Flow" (feat. Emi Hinouchi)Tablo, Mithra JinTablo3:33
3."Love/Crime (Fan Prelude)"—Tablo0:23
4."Fan"Tablo, Mithra JinTablo3:44
5."거미줄" (Spider Web) (feat. Itta)Tablo, Mithra JinTablo4:41
6."선곡표" (Track List) (feat. DJ Zio)Tablo, Mithra JinDJ Zio3:34
7."중독" (Poison) (feat. Wanted)Tablo, Mithra JinPe2ny4:20
8."Underground Railroad (Intermission)"—Pe2ny3:22
9."FAQ"Tablo, Mithra JinTablo2:36
10."Love Love Love" (feat. Lee Yoong Jin)Tablo, Mithra JinTablo3:51
11."Girl Rock" (feat. Jiae)Tablo, Mithra JinTablo3:22
12."Broken Toys" (feat. Infinite Flow)Tablo, Mithra Jin, Bizniz, NuckTablo4:05
13."행복합니다" (I Am Happy) (feat. Kim Jong-wan of Nell)Tablo, Mithra JinKim Jong-wan3:35
14."Public Execution (Finale)"—Tablo0:51

Charts and sales

References

  1. ^ "에픽하이, 정규 4집 앨범 발매 기념 쇼케이스 개최" [Epik High holds a showcase to commemorate the release of 4th full-length album]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. January 23, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ Herman, Tamar (January 24, 2017). "Epik High's Tablo Announces New Music After Celebrating 'Remapping the Human Soul' Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "'MKMF' 파행 속출, 공정성 시비부터 수상자 확대 의혹까지". No Cut News (in Korean). November 18, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Winners". Seoul Music Awards. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "'대중성과의 화해?', 이적 원더걸스 상 준 '한국대중음악상'". Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). March 6, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (February 19, 2007). "Epik High Soars to New Heights". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  7. ^ Lee, Madeleine (May 22, 2015). "The Noisey Guide to Korean Rap Pioneers Epik High". Noisey. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "Interview with Tablo (of Epik High)". HipHopPlaya (in Korean). February 28, 2007. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music". Rolling Stone. July 20, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "2000년대 한국 대중음악 명반 100 (2004–2023)" [Top 100 Korean pop music albums of the 2000s (2004–2023)]. EBS (in Korean). April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ^ "디지털 뮤직 어워드 'Song of The Month' 수상한 에픽하이" [Epik High wins the Digital Music Awards 'Song of the Month']. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. March 22, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Digital Song Bonsang Nominees". Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "History". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "2007 Mnet Km Music Festival Winners | 2007 MKMF". Mwave. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  15. ^ Remapping the Human Soul credits:
  16. ^ 2007.01월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2007.01 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on March 4, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  17. ^ 2007.02월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2007.02 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  18. ^ 2007년 가요음반판매량 [2007 Album Sales Figures] (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  19. ^ 에픽하이, 1년 3개월만에 새 앨범 발매 [Epik High releases new album after 1 year and 3 months]. Osen (in Korean). April 15, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2022 – via Naver.