Epik High Makes a Heartening Comeback With ‘Gray So Gray’

Composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High explore the various facets of love in their latest release “Gray So Gray.” The single leads the trio’s star-studded 12-track LP Epik High Is Here (Part 2).

Performed by Epik High alongside singer-songwriter Younha, “Gray So Gray is an alternative-R&B single thriving on a bed of hip-hop beats. Soaring with mellow piano notes and clear percussion sounds, the track relies on the earthy composition of complementing sounds, evoking a sense of longing and remorse in the minds of listeners. While the omnipresent percussion arrangement steers the melody ahead, Epik High heightens the potency of the melody through the gradual introduction of electric guitar sounds and a rich, almost-cinematic string arrangement that blends effortlessly piano notes during the track’s outro.

There’s a famous quote by the Dutch inspirational speaker Alexander Den Heijer: “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower,” and to a certain extent, “Gray So Gray” seems to stem from a similar epiphany. 

Co-written by the hip-hop trio alongside Mr Sync, the single examines the irreversible consequences of self-loathe and inability to change for the better in a relationship: “Like you said, I’m too fragile/ Even if I hold a flower like you, I will inevitably shatter into pieces.” While the protagonist of the track is aware of how self-loathe has manifested into something uglier, affecting those around them, they reflect over the series of events that eventually turned them into a cold, distant individual: “It’s just that the world made me swallow countless thorns/ And as I tried to push them out of my body I became a cactus.

As the track progresses, the protagonist unveils deeper layers of insecurities and conflicts, adding nuances to the human psyche and the inability to understand the true essence of love: “I wanted so badly to be good/ It’s because I’ve been hurt too many times/ It’s because I’ve been lied to too many times/ I don’t want to be like this either/ I want to smile/ I try but I can’t/ Because I don’t understand love.”

Shot in a homestyle video, “Gray So Gray” follows the journey of a young, bubbly woman living through a picturesque life brimming with happiness and joy. However, towards the end, we find the protagonist lying on the couch, looking dejected and glum. 

Boasting a star-studded list of featuring artists such as Wonstein, pH-1, LeeHi, Kim Feel and more, Epik High Is here (Part 2) contains the past releases “Face ID” ft GIRIBOY, JUSTTHIS and Sik-K and “Rain Song” ft Colde.