Epik High (Hangul: 에픽하이) is a South Korean alternative hip-hop group from Seoul, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz. The group is known for combining different styles of hip hop, along with different musical genres and collaborations on each album. The group has been on hiatus since 2009 whilst members served individual mandatory military service. On July 25, 2012, YG Entertainment announced that they would sign Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz (Tablo already being signed as he had a solo album under YG) and the group would return with their seventh studio album 99 on October 23, 2012.[1]

Early 2009, Epik High parted ways with their old label Woollim Entertainment, and founded Map The Soul, an independent record label that consisted of Epik High, MYK, Planet Shiver and Dok2.

Epik High's seventh work, a book-album entitled 魂: Map the Soul, was released on March 27, 2009. Completely independent from any major label, the book-album was distributed exclusively on Epik High's website. They recorded the album with the help of other artists such as MYK, Kero One and Beatbox DG. Tablo has specifically stated that 魂: Map the Soul is not Epik High's official 6th album but instead a special project. On May 19, 2009, Epik High released both worldwide and Korean versions of the music video for "Map the Soul". To commemorate their first release under their independent label and to interact with fans, Epik High toured in Japan and performed at Melon Ax in Seoul, Korea with Kero One & MYK. Shortly after, Epik High toured various cities in the US (New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle) along with Dumbfoundead, Kero One, MYK and Far East Movement in May 2009.

On July 22, 2009, Epik High and the electronic group they scouted, Planet Shiver, joined forces and released an album with re-recorded, remixed and remastered versions of Epik High’s past hit songs titled Remixing The Human Soul.

On August 14, 2009, Epik High member Tablo revealed on his blog that they are working on a new album called "(e)". Then on September 16, 2009, Epik High's 6th album, "(e)", was released. This album contains 30 tracks in 2CDs and a 74 page mini-book, which has interviews of each member as well as pictures. The Korean tour began on September 19, right after the album release. The first single for "(e)" was "따라해(Wannabe)" which features Mellow, and is an electronic-pop song that criticizes the current trends of K-pop. A joint music video was released for the next upcoming singles ("Trot" and "High Technology") shortly afterward. On