Homepage, Music - Written by source edit 1 on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 14:32 - 22 Comments

Epik High @ Irving Plaza Concert Recap

Tags: Epik High, Map The Soul, The Source

In case you were wondering about that massive line wrapped around Irving Plaza on Saturday, NYC was the second to last stop for the Epik High ‘Map The Soul’ World Tour. The two emcees (Tablo, Mithra Jin) and their DJ (Tukutz) covered bases in Japan, Korea, San Francisco and Los Angeles to promote their new book/album project Map The Soul. So you know they couldn’t leave out the mecca of Hip-Hop.

The sold out show featured a gang of diverse talent, mostly from the West Coast (and mostly in English). Covering host duties was Dumbfoundead, an emcee who’s making a name for himself on the underground battle circuit. Gotta give him credit for keeping the crowd entertained. The heat in that venue was like running a marathon in a fat suit. He opened the show with “She Don’t Care”, a song for the ‘brokediggaz’ who don’t mind going half on that restaurant bill.

Next on the mic was the Bay’s DJ-MC-producer-in-one (and we find out later in his set, pianist) Kero One. Backed by guitarist Vince and singer Dolores Chavez, they put together a jazz-centric show, producing that feel-good vibe. It was a shame, not too many people seemed too familiar with dude, but he still managed to do his thing with the summer-friendly “When the Sunshine Comes”.

When the Far East Movement came on, the show got a little more serious. Incorporating bright lights, elaborate spaceman costumes and high energy electro beats, they managed to convert a dope show into a wild party. They performed singles like the Stereotypes (producers behind Danity Kane’s “Damaged”) produced “Girls on the Dance Floor,” giving New Yorkers a taste of what the kids on the ‘fresh coast’ are bumping.

When it was time for the headliners to grace the stage, they set things off the right way by letting DJ Tukutz and Beatbox DG do what they do. Great way to get the crowd hype while highlighting two essential, yet oft-overlooked, components of Hip-Hop culture. When it seemed like the screams couldn’t get any more deafening, Tablo and Mithra Jin finally stepped out with collaborator MYK to join their DJ on stage. They delivered selections from their six album catalog, but mostly covered new material from Map The Soul.

Epik High is a dope group because of their ability to flip radio-friendly hits (”Fan” and “Fly”) just as skillfully as their boom bap titles (”Top Gun” and “8 by 8″), making no fan feel excluded from the experience. Encore included, their set went on for over an hour. Fans definitely received their money’s worth and if you could see how the group collapsed onto the floor backstage, you know they gave it their all.

Words and Photos by Rek

22 Comments

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kiwi
May 27, 2009 21:43

hot!

epiknico
May 28, 2009 1:16

I was there for that concert!!! It easily could have been over 110 degrees in there, but it was SO worth it. It was such a memorable experience and something I’ll never forget. n_n Everyone should get into Epik High! Maybe by this time next year they could be having sold out shows in Madison Square Garden~~~

Robert V.
May 28, 2009 2:05

I can attest that this was probably the hottest show I’ve ever attended — literally and metaphorically. There were at least two dozen people who had to stumble out of the concert, passing me on the way, because they were dehydrated or fainting from the oppressive heat and humidity. But the show itself was superb!

Jessica
May 28, 2009 11:29

their music videos pretty hot!

Paulie
May 28, 2009 11:31

The concepts in the music video is mind boggling and deep. I am a new fan of this group.. keep doing your thing!

DK@NY
May 28, 2009 11:33

Just to clarify, the concert was on Friday night and it was the bomb!

alasam
May 28, 2009 13:06

I was at the show and it was AMAZING! Seriously Epik High proves that great music transcends all barriers including language and race. But no joke it was so hot that I actually stopped sweating completely and when they came out for the encore a tiny part of me was like “there’s more! oh no!”…it was a really small part though. If you don’t know about these guys, you need to get on it…I stopped listening to hip-hop a while ago because it was becoming too vapid for my taste. Epik High reignited my passion…i’ma stop fangirling now, but honestly their dope and you should check out their homepage mapthesoul.com

Epik
May 28, 2009 15:03

it was as if chuck norris was rapping. keep your flow up EH.

kaitan
May 28, 2009 15:26

IMHO, these guys are seriously the most talented group in Korea right now. Glad to see The Source showing them some love!

Cindy
May 28, 2009 15:44

I went to the concert, and it was freakin AWESOME!! Definitely worth my money, but I’ve never sweated like that in my life!

epik high fan
May 28, 2009 17:02

I LOVE THIS GROUP THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO mention their music I really hope more people here in America start to listen to this group because they are very talented!

jane
May 28, 2009 18:37

yes, i completely agree w/you! show was off the hook~ i liked how every act had their own sound/style [of hiphop]. much respect

kdawg2k
May 28, 2009 19:02

Thanks for writing about this concert!
I was there and Epik High f*ckin rocked the house!!!
I’m proud of the long way they’ve come to be Korea’s #1 hip hop group.

Map the Soul!
peace

janie
May 28, 2009 20:18

YES! DEF an EPIK TOUR! and i def didn’t miss out! well except for the NY and Seattle stop. wish i could’ve gone to all 4!

can’t wait for EPIK to come back for another tour.

thanks for covering what went down in NY!