Tablo of Epik High cheered on BTS’s future with sharp, taboo-breaking humor that turns past pain into punchlines.
In Epik High’s YouTube content “Are You Eating? ft. BTS RM, SUGA,” released on the 26th, the members revisited Epik High’s history through their long-running connection with BTS, which dates back to the group’s trainee days.
Tablo said he first met SUGA back in 2010, during the period when “Tajinyo” (a group demanding “the truth from Tablo” and accusing him of faking his Stanford degree) was cyberbullying him.
“I remember Yoongi (SUGA), a high schooler in his uniform, visiting our studio,” Tablo said. “At the time, I felt like my life was over. I learned the hard way that this job can collapse in a second, so I told him, ‘Make a lot of money.’ I wanted him to understand how unstable this line of work is. Maybe thanks to that advice, he really did make a lot,” he joked.
The video surpassed 1.3 million views in about 12 hours. With Mithra Jin cooking and Tablo, SUGA, and RM talking around a dining table, the format blends honest memories with unfiltered variety-show energy.
Tablo then mentioned that BTS would be heading to Stanford University in the U.S. on their world tour and strongly recommended, “When you go, make sure to visit the ‘Crying Tree.’”
The “Crying Tree” is where Tablo gave a tearful interview during a documentary shoot 15 years ago, at the height of the Tajinyo controversy. Epik High revisited the spot last year to film again. Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz brought the exact outfit from that old interview and had Tablo wear it, expressing their friendship by making a “scar” sting a little more―drawing laughs.
About the “Crying Tree,” Epik High said, “It’s the most famous place at Stanford these days. Go take a group photo and soak up some good vibes while you’re there.” When BTS asked, “Why should we do that?”, Epik High replied, “If you take a photo there, bad luck disappears. All seven have to take it. That way, there’ll be nothing to cry about. Even just passing by is fine,” offering a heartfelt, playful tip for BTS.
“Are You Eating? ft. BTS RM, SUGA,” released on the 26th, has become a major talking point, topping 1.3 million views in about 12 hours.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)