Mithra Jin

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.
Mithra Jin
Mithra Jin on tour with Epik High in 2015
Born
Choi Jin

(1983-01-06) 6 January 1983 (age 42)
Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea
Spouse
Kwon Da-hyun
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1
Musical career
Also known asSleeping M
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums
Years active2003–present
Labels
Member ofEpik High
Korean name
Hangul
최진
Hanja
崔鎭
Revised RomanizationChoe Jin
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Chin
Stage name
Hangul
미쓰라 진
Revised RomanizationMisseura Jin
McCune–ReischauerMissŭra Chin

Choi Jin (Korean: 최진; born 6 January 1983), more commonly known by the stage name Mithra Jin (미쓰라 진), is a South Korean rapper and lyricist, best known as a member of the hip hop group Epik High.

Early life

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Mithra Jin was became interested in hip hop music while in high school.[1] His parents were against him pursuing a career in the music industry and he moved to Seoul by himself after graduating from high school.

Career

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Early career

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Mithra Jin was part of the hip hop crew K-Ryders [ko] from 2001 to 2002. One of the members introduced him to Tablo and they began performing together alongside Movement, the most prominent hip hop crew of that time and included the likes of Drunken Tiger and CB Mass. They met DJ Tukutz, a turntablist-DJ who occasionally played with CB Mass, and eventually formed Epik High. As hip hop was still a mostly underground genre, the trio each worked various part-time jobs to raise the necessary funds to produce an album but were defrauded.[2]

Debut with Epik High

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In 2003, Epik High debuted with the newly-founded Woollim Entertainment. In 2010 he was among the featured artists in "Ambassador Slang", one of the tracks from the debut solo album of Rakaa.[3] He co-composed "She's Back", one of the promoted singles from the debut release of Woollim labelmates Infinite.[4]

While Epik High was officially on hiatus due to his and DJ Tukutz's enlistments, Tablo signed with YG Entertainment, sparking rumors of disbandment; it was clarified that Tablo had actually done so with the support of both members. Plans for Epik High's upcoming comeback had begun before Mithra Jin's discharge and they began recording days after he was officially discharged in May 2012.[5]

On 25 July 2012, YG Entertainment officially announced that Epik High be making a comeback after a three-year hiatus and that Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz would be joining Tablo in signing exclusive contracts with the label.[6] Their comeback album 99 was released on 23 October 2012.[5]

In 2018, Epik High left YG Entertainment after their contract ended.[7] The trio founded their own independent agency, Ours Co, and manage the group and their own individual activities under the new agency.

Personal life

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On 3 August 2010, Mithra Jin enlisted for mandatory military service in Chuncheon. After serving in various roles, his final posting was at the Defense Media Agency (DEMA). He was discharged by the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, Seoul on 14 May 2012.[8]

On 22 December 2014, Mithra Jin publicly revealed his relationship with actress Kwon Da-hyun when they attended the VIP screening of How to Steal a Dog, which starred his bandmate Tablo's wife Kang Hye-jung.[9] They married in a private wedding ceremony on 2 October 2015.[10][11][12] They have a son (born June 2021).[13]

References

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  1. ^ [인터뷰] 에픽하이 (Epik High). HiphopLE [ko] (in Korean). 4 November 2014.
  2. ^ "'악재'와 헤픈엔딩… 에픽하이, YG에선 날아볼까". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). 23 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Ambassador Slang (feat. Tasha, Tiger JK, Roscoe Umali, BIGRYZN, MOSHPIT, Dumbfoundead, Tassho Pearce, Tablo, Mithra Jin, Jay Jaballas, King Kapisi)". Apple Music.
  4. ^ "She's Back" (in Korean). Melon.
  5. ^ a b "에픽하이 "웃으며 노래할 수 있는 음악 담았죠"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 23 October 2012.
  6. ^ "[엔터비즈]싸이에 이어 에픽하이까지 품은 YG, 가수 라인업 약점 떨쳐냈다!". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 25 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Hip-hop trio Epik High leaves YG Entertainment". The Korea Times. 5 January 2021.
  8. ^ Oh, MiJung (14 May 2012). "Epik High's Mithra Jin Released from Army". Mnet. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  9. ^ "미쓰라진 권다현 열애 중…'2살 나이차이' 배우 권다현은 누구?". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 23 December 2014.
  10. ^ "에픽하이 미쓰라진, 10월 탤런트 권다현과 결혼". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 10 August 2015.
  11. ^ "에픽하이 모두 '품절남'…미쓰라진, 권다현과 웨딩마치". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 2 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Epik High rapper to wed actress". The Korea Times. 18 September 2015.
  13. ^ "에픽하이 미쓰라-배우 권다현, 결혼 6년 만에 득남" (in Korean). KBS. 9 June 2021.
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