Review: Tablo Gives 'Eyes, Nose, Lips' An English Update In Collaboration Cover With Taeyang [VIDEO]

YG Entertainment has released another version of Taeyang's "Eyes, Nose, Lips," and this time it is done by Epik High frontman Tablo.

The second installment in an ongoing series 'Cover Project by YG Family,' Tablo's reinterpretation of the Big Bang member's latest solo hit single stays true to the original in theme, while taking creative liberty elsewhere to make the rapper's style shine through.

The first 'Eyes, Nose, Lips' cover was released a week an a half ago by folksy brother-sister duo, Akdong Musician. While the teenage stars opted to stick with the original structure and lyrics, they did give it the sort of acoustic rearrangement fans are used to hearing from them, complete with Lee Soo Hyun's incredibly poetic vocals.

For Tablo's rendition, however, he decided to change the lyrics, reinterpreting them in English. The song was also remixed by DJ Tukutz and features Taeyang for the powerful choral finale.

For those not familiar with Tablo's body of work, either solo or together with his Epik High comrades Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, "Eyes, Nose, Lips" offers the perfect introduction.

For starters, it is not uncommon for Tablo to use English-language lyrics. The 33-year-old may have been born and raised in South Korea, but he spent a significant chunk of time living and studying in both Canada and the United States. Coupled with a life-long passion for hip-hop and inspiration drawn from many American rappers, Tablo often uses English verses to express his ideas more completely. This, of course, is in contrast to many other Korean rappers with English in their songs, where it is sparingly used either in fad or to emphasize phrases and words that sound or flow better when not delivered in Korean.

Additionally, Tablo uses a "rhyming rifle" technique, and considers himself to be one of the, if not the, first rapper to do so. The technique involves two different verses in between the lines that rhyme. Therefore, his style is characterized by a layering of rhymes that individually punch and flow to create dynamic songs that demand attention.

Tablo's reworking of "Eyes, Nose, Lips" is slow and melodic, a stark contrast to the Taeyang original with high energy, belted R&B verses. Taeyang does come in at the end, however, to reinsert the soulful sound that made the original such a huge hit.

YG Entertainment has long been characterized by an emphasis on collaboration among its artists and the 'Cover Project by YG Family' is just the latest showcase of the label-mates showing support for one another's music.  With some of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry counted among their ranks - Big Bang, 2NE1, and Psy to name a few - the music produced under the label is like a constantly evolving organism; free-spirited and true to the artists' personalities and intentions.

Having one song, in this case "Eyes, Nose, Lips," reinterpreted by their artists falling under vastly different genres, YG Entertainment is proving, once again, it is a force to be reckoned with.

Check out Tablo's "Eyes, Nose, Lips" update below as well as the Taeyang original and Akdong Musician cover.

Tags
Tablo
Epik High
Taeyang
AKMU
akdong musician
YG Entertainment
DJ Tukutz
Mithra Jin
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