View source for Tablo

{{Short description|South Korean-Canadian rapper (born 1980)}}
{{About|the musician|the DVR|Tablo (DVR)}}
{{distinguish|Tableau (disambiguation){{!}}Tableau}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Tablo
| image              = 140904 타블로 02 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Tablo in 2014
| alt                = Tablo looks right, facing forward and biting his lower lip
| birth_name         = Daniel Armand Lee
| alias              = {{hlist|Lee Seon-woong|Tablo}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1980|7|22}}
| birth_place        = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| citizenship        = [[Canada]] ({{circa|1992}}–present)<ref name=citizenship />
| occupation         = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|record producer}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Kang Hye-jung]]|2009}}
| children           = 1
| education          = [[Stanford University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre              = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| years_active       = 1997–present
| label              = {{hlist|[[Woollim Entertainment|Woollim]]|[[YG Entertainment|YG]]| [[HIGHGRND|Highgrnd]]|[[William Morris Endeavor|William Morris]]||Ours||Ryce}}
| current_member_of  = [[Epik High]]
| past_member_of     = [[Anyband]]
}}
{{Infobox Korean name|child=yes
|headercolor=transparent
| hangul             = 이선웅
| rr                 = I Seonung
| mr                 = I Sŏnung

| hangulstage        = 타블로
| rrstage            = Tabeullo
| mrstage            = T'abŭllo
}}
}}

'''Daniel Armand Lee''' ({{Korean|이선웅}}; born July 22, 1980), better known by his stage name '''Tablo''' ({{Korean|타블로|labels=no}}), is a South Korean-Canadian rapper, songwriter and record producer based in South Korea. Tablo is best known as the leader and producer of South Korean hip-hop group [[Epik High]], and the founder of independent music label Highgrnd, which housed bands [[Hyukoh]] and [[The Black Skirts]].

Tablo became employed as a lyricist while still in high school. Under the supervision of [[Tobias Wolff]], Tablo graduated from [[Stanford University]] with honors in English literature and creative writing. He then moved to South Korea,<ref>http://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.php?bid=5348341 Naver Book Review</ref> where, in 2001, he formed Epik High alongside [[DJ Tukutz]] and [[Mithra Jin]]. The group has since released 10 full-length albums and 1 EP, with Tablo having produced and co-written all the songs. His debut solo album, ''Fever's End'', was released in 2011.

Outside of Epik High, Tablo is a record producer and songwriter for other artists and involved in collaborative projects such as Borderline, Eternal Morning, and [[Anyband]]. His music incorporates numerous styles, ranging from [[trance music|trance]], [[trip hop]], to [[rock music|rock]].<ref name="interview4"/> Tablo is also the author of the best-selling book [[Pieces of You (book)|Pieces of You]], published in both English and Korean, and Blonote. He made his film debut acting in ''[[Nonstop (South Korean TV series)|Nonstop]]'' (2005). In 2016, Tablo left his radio show, [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC FM4U]]'s ''Tablo's Dreaming Radio'', after eleven years to focus on [[YG Entertainment|YG]]'s music sub-label Highgrnd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imbc.com/broad/radio/fm4u/dream/ |title=Tablo's Dreaming Radio |language=ko |publisher=[[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/news_rumors_full/tablo_is_replacing_haha |title=Tablo is replacing HaHa |date=2008-02-14 |access-date=2008-05-26 |publisher=[[Allkpop]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531012935/http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/news_rumors_full/tablo_is_replacing_haha |archive-date=2008-05-31 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}

==Life and career==
===1980–2003: Early life and career beginnings===
Tablo moved to [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]] in 1980 shortly after his birth. Due to his father's work, he spent around 3 years living in Jakarta<ref name="VIDEO: Indonesia yang Bikin Tablo Selalu Ingin Kembali">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/hiburan/20170814203728-238-234752/video-indonesia-yang-bikin-tablo-selalu-ingin-kembali/|access-date=2017-08-17|title=interview |work=hiburan |publisher=cnnindonesia.com|language=id |last1=Wahyuni |first1=Tri }}</ref> before his family relocated again several times to [[Switzerland]] and [[Hong Kong]] {{Citation needed|date=November 2019}} for his father's career until Tablo was six, when they returned to South Korea briefly.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=106&oid=001&aid=0000936611|access-date=2008-05-25|title=Tablo biography & interview |publisher=YonhapNews.co.kr|language=ko}}</ref> His family moved again to [[Canada]] when he was eight, and he gained [[Canadian citizenship]] at age 12.<ref name=citizenship>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Joshua |date=2011-07-01 |title=The Persecution of Daniel Lee |url=https://stanfordmag.org/contents/the-persecution-of-daniel-lee |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=[[Stanford Magazine]] |language=en}}</ref> Tablo attended [[St. George's School (Vancouver)|St. George's School]]<ref name="homepage">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyworld.com/tablo |title=Tablo's homepage |access-date=2008-05-25 |language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218053526/http://www.cyworld.com/tablo |archive-date=2013-02-18 }}</ref> in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]. He then transferred to [[Seoul International School]].<ref name="bio"/> As a coterminal student at [[Stanford University]],<ref name="article">{{cite news|url=http://www.stanforddaily.com/article/2002/5/24/straightOuttaSeoul|date=May 24, 2002|title=Straight Outta...Seoul?|newspaper=[[The Stanford Daily]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519230148/http://www.stanforddaily.com/article/2002/5/24/straightOuttaSeoul|archive-date = May 19, 2008 |last=Lah|first=Jung}}</ref><ref name="StanfordDaily2010" /><ref name="StanfordPersecution">{{cite news|url=http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=40913|title=The Persecution of Daniel Lee|magazine=Stanford Magazine|publisher=[[Stanford University]]|last=Davis|first=Joshua|date=July–August 2011}}</ref> Tablo simultaneously attained a [[Bachelor's Degree]] in [[English literature]] and a [[Master's Degree]] in [[creative writing]] in four years.<ref name="StanfordDaily2010" /><ref name="StanfordPersecution" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=106&oid=038&aid=0000394615|access-date=2008-05-25|title=interview on degrees|date=2007-08-15|language=ko}}</ref>

Tablo started playing [[piano]] at the age of six but later switched to [[violin]], which he played for 10 years.<ref name="interview4">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopplaya.com/magazine/article/view.html?category=&category2=&page=1&sort=&num=2383&keyfield=&key=epik+high|title=Tablo interview on music |date=2007-02-28|access-date=2008-05-25|language=ko}}</ref> His music teacher, who had been a pupil of [[Isaac Stern]], used to lecture him saying: "Music is communism, but you're playing democracy". Tablo wrote the lyrics to legendary singer [[Kim Gun-mo]]'s song "Rainy Christmas" when he was sixteen years old, as Kim took an interest in Tablo after reading a poem of his.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Woojin |date=2021-02-23 |title=Epik High's Tablo: Compelled to Make Hip Hop |url=https://medium.com/the-international-wave/compelled-to-make-hip-hop-a-conversation-with-epik-highs-tablo-b87eb4d8f703 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=The International Wave |language=en}}</ref>

During his early life, Tablo suffered from bouts of [[Depression (mood)|depression]]. Whenever he faced hardship, hip hop music served as an outlet. However, Tablo's father disapproved of his career choice, so as a teenager, he frequently ran away from home. Ostensibly, Tablo asked a friend to live out his dream, but when that friend died of cancer, it became an impetus for him to re-enter the music industry.<ref name=early>{{cite web |url=http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/1016/Tablo_on_YSMM_-_old_clip_-_English_Subbed?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fvideo%2Fitem |title=Tablo on YSMM |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=March 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092933/http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/1016/Tablo_on_YSMM_-_old_clip_-_English_Subbed?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fvideo%2Fitem |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=1. God-Blo |date=2022-02-24 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Qg17JrDKmlNAW1Ki6AV3w |language=en |access-date=2022-03-21}}</ref> Tablo later admitted his family forced him to enroll in Stanford, and even after the release of his second album, was still persuading him to return to the United States to attend Law School.<ref name=early/> While he was at Stanford, Tablo associated with an underground hip hop group, 4n Objectz.<ref>{{Cite web |last=김보영 |date=2014-08-22 |title=타블로와 강혜정, 이하루…이렇게 끼 넘치는 가족 또 있을까 |trans-title=Tablo, Kang Hye-jeong, Lee Ha-ru...Is there another family that's so full of energy |url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2014081217274234258&outlink=1&ref=https://search.naver.com |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=머니투데이 |language=ko}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

===2003–10: Success with Epik High and ''Pieces of You''===
Tablo met future bandmates [[Mithra Jin]] and [[DJ Tukutz]] while active in the underground hip-hop scene. The three came together to form [[Epik High]], with Tablo as their leader. Under the tutelage of Movement crew members, especially the trio CB Mass, they attempted to record their first studio album alongside hip-hop duo and close friends TBNY (composed of Yankie and TopBob); however, CB Mass member Curbin allegedly embezzled Epik High and TBNY's funds for the album, effectively causing the disbandment of CB Mass (and the creation of [[Dynamic Duo (South Korean duo)|Dynamic Duo]] without Curbin). Tablo and Epik High were finally signed by Woollim Entertainment, which at the time focused on underground hip hop and modern rock, and the group officially debuted in 2003.<ref name="interview">{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=106&oid=038&aid=0000379584|title=interview|publisher=Hankooki.com|language=ko|access-date=2008-05-25}}</ref> The group's first album, ''[[Map of the Human Soul]]'', was released on October 21 of that year; however, due to hip hop's lack of popularity in South Korea at the time, the album was a commercial failure. It wasn't until the release of their second album, ''[[High Society (Epik High album)|High Society]]'', that the group started to gain popularity. Epik High's third album, ''[[Swan Songs (Epik High album)|Swan Songs]]'', was originally intended to be their last album; however, upon release, the album reached the top of numerous charts, and swept the year-end hip-hop awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mapthesoul.com/store/view.html?num=3&category=albums&category2=epikhigh |title=Epik High: Albums |publisher=Map the Soul, Inc. |date=October 5, 2005 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805122040/http://mapthesoul.com/store/view.html?num=3&category=albums&category2=epikhigh |archive-date=August 5, 2009 }}</ref> One of the lead singles from the album, "Fly", was featured on the soundtrack of the video game ''[[FIFA 07]]''. Due to the numerous offers to remake "Fly", as well as "Paris", the second single from the album, a CD sampler was released in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arirang.co.kr/Tv/Pops_News.asp?PAGE_ACT=View&PROG_CODE=TVCR0102&view_pSeq=3286 |title=Epik High to expand into Japan with sample CD |publisher=[[Arirang TV]] |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=March 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513200140/http://www.arirang.co.kr/Tv/Pops_News.asp?PAGE_ACT=View&PROG_CODE=TVCR0102&view_pSeq=3286 |archive-date=May 13, 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Tablo at MaptheSoul Concert SanFrancisco 2009.jpg|thumb|Tablo at Map the Soul Concert, San Francisco (2009)]]

In 2007, the group released their fourth studio album, ''[[Remapping the Human Soul]]'', and managed to push Epik High to the number one spot for best upcoming artist after selling almost 90,000 copies in the first month of release. The album ended up becoming South Korea's third best-selling album of 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spn.edaily.co.kr/entertain/newsRead.asp?sub_cd=EA22&newsid=01197206586278048&DirCode=0010202&curtype=read |language=ko |title=2007 total sales |publisher={{ill|Edaily|ko|이데일리}} |date=January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203125754/http://spn.edaily.co.kr/entertain/newsRead.asp?sub_cd=EA22&newsid=01197206586278048&DirCode=0010202&curtype=read |archive-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref> However, many songs from the album were banned from several TV channels, and the album buying age was restricted to 19+ due to some songs dealing with issues the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in South Korea deemed inappropriate for younger listeners.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200702/kt2007021918150011690.html |title=Epik High Soars to New Heights |newspaper=[[The Korea Times]] |access-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> The group later went on to release their next album, ''[[Pieces, Part One]]'', which was also a commercial success.

In late 2008, Tablo published a book entitled ''[[Pieces of You (book)|Pieces of You]]''. Although the stories were originally written in English, the book was first published in Korean. The Korean translation sold 50,000 copies in its first week of release and topped the bestseller's list in Korea.<ref>[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2897507 Hip-hop star leaps into short fiction to express his art]. Retrieved on 2009-04-13</ref> The original English version was released in February 2009 and also met with moderate success. The book garnered a positive reception from critics, with Tablo's writing praised for a first-time author.<ref>http://www.libro.co.kr/Product/BookDetail.libro?goods_id=0100008184662#review Libro Book Review</ref> After the group's contract with Woolim Entertainment expired in 2008, Tablo, alongside his group members, founded their own independent label, Map the Soul, and went on to release an album [[Map the Soul|of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kome-world.com/us/articles-443-epik-high-hon-map-the-soul.html|title=Epik High - Hon: Map the Soul|work=KoME U.S.A.|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> Through their independent label, the group went on to release two more albums; ''[[E (Epik High album)|[e]]]'' in 2009,<ref>ease Date: September 16, 2009, from http://nuel92.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/album-epik-high-e-hip-hip-released-september-16-2009/</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} and ''[[Epilogue (Epik High album)|Epilogue]]'' in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woolliment.com/main.asp |title=Woollim Entertainment |access-date=2008-04-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504000819/http://www.woolliment.com/main.asp |archive-date=2008-05-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesasia.com/us/epik-high-special-album-epilogue/1022280236-0-0-0-en/info.html|title=YESASIA: Epik High Special Album - Epilogue CD - Epik High, Mnet Media - Korean Music - Free Shipping - North America Site|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> In November 2013, Tablo revealed in his interview with [[HiphopLE]] that "Map the Soul" was shut down due to one of its executive member embezzling the label's funds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphople.com/musicsalon/1523840|script-title=ko:인터뷰|author=Melo|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>

===2010–11: Musical hiatus and Stanford controversy===
In 2010, it was announced that Epik High would go on hiatus after DJ Tukutz enlisted in his mandatory military service, whilst Tablo and Mithra would be working on solo careers until DJ Tukutz's return. However, in mid-2010, a group of Internet users raised doubts about the academic background of Tablo, who majored in English and Creative Writing at [[Stanford University]].<ref name="StanfordDaily2010" /><ref name="StanfordPersecution" /> Led by two [[fan sites]], most notably "We Demand the Truth from Tablo" ({{Korean|타블로에게 진실을 요구합니다}}), some [[netizens]] claimed that Tablo could not have graduated from [[Stanford University]] with both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in English and Creative Writing, respectively, in just three and a half years.<ref>[http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100928000825  Netizens file injunction against Tablo program ] 09-29, 2010 ''The Korea Herald''</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100827000833|title=Prosecution looks into Tablo allegations |date=2010-08-27 |newspaper=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref><ref name="StanfordDaily2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/09/27/korean-pop-star-battles-attacks-on-stanford-record/|title=Korean pop star battles attacks on Stanford record|date=September 27, 2010|newspaper=[[The Stanford Daily]]|last=Abbott|first=Kate}}</ref>

It became front-page news in South Korea in June 2010 when one of the fansite's managers, who went by the username "whatbecomes", claimed that Tablo's academic record was "not making any sense" and showed what he believed to be inconsistencies in Tablo's transcripts. Even though Tablo posted his official transcript and other legal documents online, many netizens refused to believe him, and called for other documents such as his immigration statement and diploma to be released.<ref>[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/_06/0611-2.jpg Transcript 2]<Joongangdaily></ref><ref>[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/_06/0611-1.jpg Transcript 1]<Joonganddaily></ref> Tablo visited Stanford University in late August to disprove these allegations by having the university [[registrar (education)|registrar]] re-print his documents on camera, and many of Tablo's acquaintances and former professors from Stanford attested to the validity of his academic background on camera.<ref name="StanfordDaily2010" /><ref name="StanfordPersecution" /> The documentary was shown in two parts: ''Tablo Goes to Stanford'' and ''Tablo and South Korea Online'', which aired on [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] October 1 and 8. However, despite the documentary and Stanford's administration clearly siding with Tablo,<ref name="StanfordDaily2010" /><ref name="StanfordPersecution" /> membership at "We Demand the Truth from Tablo" increased to as many as 190,000 within a few days, as numerous netizens refused to believe Tablo or the documentary. Tablo and members of his family received death threats and he became a virtual recluse.<ref name = "Davis" /> Tablo ultimately left Woollim Entertainment during the Tajinyo incident, not wanting to spread harm to the agency or to [[Infinite (group)|Infinite]], who had only recently debuted when the controversy broke out.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/10/tablo-explains-born-hater-was-not-meant-to-criticize-former-label-woollim-entertainment|title = Tablo explains 'Born Hater' was not meant to criticize former label, Woollim Entertainment|date = October 30, 2014|access-date = October 1, 2015|website=[[Allkpop]]}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=November 2024}}

On October 9, however, police confirmed that Tablo had indeed graduated from Stanford, having requested information beyond what Tablo had already provided, directly from Stanford University.<ref name="StanfordPersecution" /> South Korean police filed an arrest warrant domestically and with Interpol for the arrest of "whatbecomes", who was revealed to be a 57-year-old Korean-American named Eungsuk Kim living in the United States.<ref name="StanfordPersecution" /><ref name="Davis">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/04/ff_koreanrapper/|title=The Stalking of Korean Hip Hop Star Daniel Lee|last=Davis|first=Joshua|date=April 24, 2012|magazine=Wired|access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref> In addition, twenty-two netizens received summons indicating they had been sued by Tablo for [[Defamation#Online defamation|criminal defamation]]. The fansite was shut down soon after by its host site, [[Naver]], following the results of the investigation, which also revealed that ''whatbecomes'' had fraudulently used a friend's ID number to create the website, violating Naver's terms of service. However, many members of the fansite joined another community called "We Demand the Truth from Tablo 2" ({{Korean|타블로에게 진실을 요구합니다2|labels=no}}), which has a membership of over 33,000 netizens despite proof provided by both the university and the police that Tablo did indeed graduate from Stanford University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cafe.naver.com/tajinyo3|script-title=ko:[타진요] 타블로에게 진실을 요구합니다(두번째) |access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}

===2011–present: Return, solo career and Epik High comeback ===
On September 27, 2011, [[YG Entertainment]] announced that Tablo would be signing a 4-year contract with them and that his first solo album would be released on November 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hancinema.net/tablo-signs-with-yg-for-november-comeback-33630.html|title=Tablo Signs With YG For November Comeback|work=[[HanCinema]]|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> Although Tablo signed as a solo singer under [[YG Entertainment]], he indicated that it did not mean that [[Epik High]] disbanded, nor that they would necessarily sign with YG as a group.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?epik_highs_tablo_joins_yg_family_17430.aspx | title = Epik High's Tablo Joins YG Family | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts | date = 2011-09-28}}</ref> On October 14, 2011, Tablo released the song "Airbag" from his new upcoming album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/2011/10/tablo-reveals-airbag-ft-naul|title=Tablo reveals "Airbag" ft/ Naul|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} On October 21, 2011, YG announced that the new album, titled ''Fever's End'' ({{Korean|열꽃|labels=no}}), had been split into two parts. The first part was released along with the recent announcement, and the second part was released on the planned release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/2011/10/tablo-releases-part-1-of-fevers-end-album|title=Tablo releases Part 1 of "Fever's End" album|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}

On September 27, 2012, YG officially announced through yg-life.com that [[Epik High]] would have their comeback in October 2012, after a three-year hiatus as a group.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allkpop.com/2012/07/epik-high-to-return-this-september | title = Epik High to return this September | publisher=[[Allkpop]] | date = 2012-07-25}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} Their first single, "춥다" ("It's Cold"), featured SBS's ''[[K-pop Star]]'' finalist [[Lee Hi]] and was released on October 9, while their comeback album, titled ''[[99 (Epik High album)|99]]'', was released on the 19th. On December 30, 2012, during the ''SBS Gayo Daejun'', Tablo joined fellow Epik High bandmate Mithra Jin, Dynamic Duo and Simon D for ''Cypher 2012'', a remix of popular hip hop tracks of the year, to much acclaim.

In October 2013, Tablo joined KBS variety show ''[[The Return of Superman (TV series)|The Return of Superman]]'' with his daughter Haru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/48287|title=Tablo to Babysit Haru on 'Superman is Back'|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>

On April 21, 2014, Tablo returned as radio DJ.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tablo to return as radio DJ|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2014/04/386_155440.html|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|date=2014-04-15}}</ref> His show's name is ''Tablo's Dreaming Radio''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=이민경 |date=2014-04-15 |title=타블로, 4년 10개월 만에 '타블로의 꿈꾸는 라디오' DJ 복귀 |trans-title=Tablo returns as DJ of 'Tableau's Dream Radio' after 4 years and 10 months |url=https://www.breaknews.com/sub_read.html?uid=312337&section=sc4 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=브레이크뉴스}}</ref> He was the DJ for this same program until 2016.

In March 2014, Tablo carried out a collaboration with China's top female singer [[Bibi Zhou]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Korea-China collaboration: TABLO works with top artist Bibi Zhou|url=http://www.yg-life.com/archives/30231?lang=en|work=YG LIFE|date=2014-04-10}}</ref>

On October 18, 2014, Epik High released their music video for "[[Born Hater]]", after the video was delayed by YG due to the [[Pangyo Techno Valley#Pangyo Techno Valley Festival Incident|Pangyo Techno Valley Festival Tragedy]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kuang|first1=Robert|title=YG Entertainment Delays Epik High's 'Born Hater' Music Video Release Due To Pangyo Techno Valley Festival Tragedy|url=http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/125237/20141017/epik-high-born-hater-pangyo-techno-valley-festival.htm|publisher=KpopStarz|access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} The track is from their eighth album, ''[[Shoebox (album)|Shoebox]]'', and features a myriad of hip hop artists including [[Beenzino]], [[Verbal Jint]], [[Song Min-ho|Mino]] of [[Winner (band)|Winner]], along with [[B.I (rapper)|B.I]] and [[Bobby (rapper)|Bobby]] of [[IKON (South Korean band)|iKon]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=James|first1=Lily|title=YG Entertainment Launches Promotions For New K-Pop Group iKON Following The Success Of Reality TV Survival Band WINNER|work=KpopStarz |date=6 October 2014 |url=http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/121007/20141006/ikon-yg-entertainment.htm|access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}

[[File:EpikHigh 061215 100 (18769657962) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|2015 North American Tour, New York City]]

On August 31, 2015, Tablo released a teaser clip for a collaboration track with American rapper and co-founder of [[Pro Era]], [[Joey Badass]]. Their collaborated song, "Hood," was released September 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lifson|first1=Samantha Marie|title=Tablo And Joey Bada$$ Announce Upcoming Collaboration 'Hood'|work=KpopStarz |date=31 August 2015 |url=http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/236504/20150831/tablo-joey-bada-collaboration.htm}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}

On January 26, 2017, he collaborated with Gallant and Eric Nam on the single release of "Cave Me In", and music video which was shot in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bilian|date=2017-01-27|title=Hype's Now Playing: Gallant x Tablo x Eric Nam – Cave Me In|url=https://hype.my/2017/131047/hypes-now-playing-gallant-x-tablo-x-eric-nam-cave-me-in/|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Hype Malaysia|language=en-US}}</ref> "Cave Me In" premiered worldwide on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 Radio Show and was trending globally on YouTube and Facebook for over 72 hours upon releasing.

In 2021, he was featured in B.I's song "STAY".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/5jG7KV3sJo3Hv8nelT8i7I?si=6e1a92fa74be43e0 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=open.spotify.com}}</ref>

In September 2022, he collaborated with Jackson Wang for a new track "Imagine" on the hip-pop competition series, Rap Of China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bandwagon|date=2022-09-03|title=Jackson Wang and EPIK HIGH's Tablo team up in 'Imagine' for 'Rap f China' - watch|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/jackson-wang-got7-epik-high-tablo-team-up-in-imagine-rap-of-china-iqiyi-music-video-collaboration-September-2022|access-date=2023-02-22|website=Bandwagon Asia|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Tablo married Korean actress [[Kang Hye-jung]] on October 26, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/2009/10/tablo_and_kang_hye_jung_releases_wedding_photos |title=Tablo and Kang Hye Jung release wedding photos |publisher=[[Allkpop]] |date=October 26, 2009 |access-date=March 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102041716/http://www.allkpop.com/2009/10/tablo_and_kang_hye_jung_releases_wedding_photos |archive-date=January 2, 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} Their daughter, Haru, was born on May 2, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allkpop.com/2010/05/tablo-and-kang-hye-jung-get-a-baby-daughter |title=Tablo and Kang Hye Jung become parents of a baby daughter |publisher=[[Allkpop]] |date=May 2, 2010 |access-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}}  Tablo has an older sister, Lee Sun-joo, who graduated from [[Cornell University]] and an older brother, Lee Sun-Min, who graduated from [[Brown University]] and [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/blobyblo/status/1119803928328249344?lang=en|title=Twitter|website=mobile.twitter.com|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/05/719_56064.html|title=Tablo's Brother Under Fire|last=Cho|first=Jae-hyon|date=2009-11-24|work=[[The Korea Times]]|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref>

==Musical style==
Tablo has been a long-time fan of hip hop music, citing an almost lifelong affair with the culture itself. While listening to hip hop at an early age through artists such as [[Run-D.M.C.]] and acquiring Cold Crush tapes, he concurrently gained recognition as a rhymer. His major and enduring love affair with making hip hop music was sparked later in life, however; after hearing [[Drunken Tiger]] rapping, the group Epik High was formed in 2000 at an early time in the culture's local evolution. Tablo has since claimed to be the first [[Master of Ceremonies|emcee]] to have used the "rhyming rifle" technique. With the hip hop scene in Korea and Korean emcees being known for their fickle tendencies, Tablo has through the years kept alive his legacy and career through numerous shows, appearances on influential overseas (American most notably) hip hop artists work, such as [[EPMD]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Writing==
In 2008, Tablo published a collection of short stories he had written, titled ''[[Pieces of You (book)|Pieces of You]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=윤민용 |date=2008-10-22 |title=타블로 소설 출간도 되기전 ‘선풍’ |trans-title="The Favour" before the publication of the Tablo novel |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/200810221800195 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=경향신문 |language=ko}}</ref> The English translation was published in 2009. In 2016, his second book "BloNote" was published in Korea with a pink book cover. <ref>{{Cite web |last=최지예 |first= |date=2016-09-20 |title=타블로, 8년만의 신작 '블로노트' 출간&hellip;권지용&middot;장범준 참여 |trans-title=Tablo's New 'BloNote' in Eight Years...Participation in Kwon Ji-yong and Jang Beom-jun |url=https://www.mydaily.co.kr/page/view/2016092016422301132 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=마이데일리 |language=ko}}</ref>The English version, translated by Tablo himself and with a black cover, was published on December 21, 2016.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

== Podcast ==
On June 8, 2019, Tablo posted on his personal Instagram posing the question: ''"What if Tablo had an English-language podcast?"''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BzR1zOUnNQY/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BzR1zOUnNQY |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|script-title=ko:에픽하이 타블로 {{!}} Tablo of Epik High on Instagram: "The King of Not Saying That I Will"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The podcast premiered with the release of three episodes on August 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/EPIKHIGH/posts/the-tablo-podcast-has-finally-launched-with-its-first-3-episodes-available-right/2857480174326052/|title=Tablo releases the first 3 episodes of 'The Tablo Podcast'|website=Epik High Facebook|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dive-studios-is-making-podcasts-for-k-pop-fans-2019-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202173559/https://www.businessinsider.com/dive-studios-is-making-podcasts-for-k-pop-fans-2019-11|archive-date=2019-12-02|publisher=Business Insider|title=Dive Studios is trying to turn K-Pop fans into podcast listeners by grabbing their attention on social media}}</ref> The Tablo Podcast is produced by Dive Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://divestudios.io/show/thetablopodcast/|title=The Tablo Podcast – DIVE Studios|work=DIVE Studios |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> The last episode of The Tablo Podcast aired on September 4, 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=September 4, 2020|title=Tablo brings this era of the podcast to a close|url=https://twitter.com/thetablopodcast/status/1301561176812212224|access-date=|website=}}</ref> though two follow-up episodes were released in 2021 to promote the release of ''Epik High Is Here''.

==Discography==
{{main|Tablo discography}}
{{see also|Epik High discography}}

==Filmography==
===Films===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|- style="text-align:center;" 
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2007
| ''Fantastic Parasuicides''
| Min-ho
| Main role
|-
| ''[[August Rush]]''
| Clarinet player
| Cameo appearance; uncredited
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|- style="text-align:center;" 
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|2004
| ''[[Epik High|Epik High's Love and Delusion]]''
| Himself
| Series regular
|-
|2005
| ''[[Nonstop (South Korean TV series)|Nonstop]]''
| Tablo
| Main role; season 5
|-
|2007
| ''[[High Kick!]]''
| Teacher
| Cameo appearance <small>(Episode 150)</small>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2008
| ''[[Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum]]''
| Himself
| Cameo appearance <small>(Episodes 7 & 8)</small> 
|-
| ''[[Music Bank (TV program)|Music Bank]]''
| Co-host
| Alongside Kim Sung-eun and Min Seo-hyun 
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2009
| ''[[Mnet (TV channel)|Mnet Director's Cut]]''
| Himself
| Television movie
|-
| ''Come To Play''
| Himself
| Ep 262 - Movement Special
|-
|rowspan="1"| 2010
| ''Happy Birthday''
| Himself
| Series regular
|-
|rowspan="1"|2013
| ''[[The Return of Superman (TV series)|The Return of Superman]]''
| Himself
| Series Regular
|-
|2014
| ''[[Show Me the Money (Mnet TV series)|Show Me the Money 3]]''
| Himself
| Producer/Judge
|-
|2015
| ''[[Show Me the Money (Mnet TV series)|Show Me the Money 4]]''
| Himself
| Producer/Judge
|-
|2024
| ''The Rap of China 2024''
| Himself
| Producer/Judge
|-
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Music video
! Length
! Album
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2011
| Bad ({{Korean|hangul=나쁘다|labels=no}})
| 4:07
| ''Fever's End: Part 1 ({{Korean|hangul=열꽃|labels=no}})''
|-
| Tomorrow (Feat. [[Taeyang]])
| 4:14
| ''Fever's End: Part 2 ({{Korean|hangul=열꽃|labels=no}})''
|-
|rowspan="1"| 2015
|  꽃 (FLOWER )
| 4:43
| ''Flower (Xia)''
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2023
| Megaverse
| 4:09
| ''樂-Star (Stray Kids)''
|}

==Awards==
{{Incomplete list|date=January 2015}}
{|| width="75%" class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="10%"| Year
! width="30%"| Award-Giving Body
! width="25%"| Category
! width="25%"| Work
! width="10%"| Result
|-
|align="center"| 2011
| [[Mnet Asian Music Awards]] 
| [[Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Rap Performance|Best Rap Performance]]<ref name="2011_nom">[http://mwave.interest.me/mnettv/videodetail.m?searchVideoDetailVO.clip_id=142142 "2011Mnet Asian Music Awards part 1"]. ''MAMA''. Retrieved 2015-01-20.</ref>
| align="center"| "Bad"
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Tablo}}
* [http://www.ygfamily.com/artist/Main.asp?LANGDIV=K&ATYPE=2&ARTIDX=50 Epik High's Official Site] {{in lang|ko}}

{{Epik High}}
{{YG Entertainment}}
{{Show Me The Money}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tablo}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian rappers]]
[[Category:Canadian male actors of Korean descent]]
[[Category:Canadian male film actors]]
[[Category:Canadian male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century male rappers]]
[[Category:Canadian male television actors]]
[[Category:Canadian musicians of Korean descent]]
[[Category:Electronic dance music DJs]]
[[Category:Epik High]]
[[Category:Korean-language singers of Canada]]
[[Category:K-pop singers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Seoul]]
[[Category:Male actors from Vancouver]]
[[Category:Musicians from Vancouver]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
[[Category:Rappers from Seoul]]
[[Category:Canadian hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian electronic musicians]]
[[Category:South Korean emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:Canadian hip-hop singers]]
[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:St. George's School (Vancouver) alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Vancouver]]
[[Category:YG Entertainment artists]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in South Korea]]