Fly (Epik High song)
Fly is a song by South Korean hip hop group Epik High, released on October 4, 2005 as one of the promoted tracks from their third studio album Swan Songs. It features singer Amin J., one of the vocalists of the R&B indie group.
Composition
The song incorporates elements of R&B and electronica and utilizes a vocalist to sing the refrain in between Tablo and Mithra Jin's raps. The introduction includes scratching by turntablist DJ Tukutz, who performed live with the other members during their music program promotions. The lyrics were a departure from Epik High's trademark social commentary and instead offers encouragement to "those who are having a hard time in life that even those without wings can fly".The music video features all three members acting in a realistic parody of a police hostage situation and was filmed in Gwangju. However, it was subsequently banned from being broadcast on terrestrial television networks due to "scenes that encourage juvenile delinquency".
Reception
The album was released with the expectation that it would be Epik High's final album due to the lack of commercial success of their first two albums. "Fly" unexpectedly became a hit due to its departure from the R&B or bubblegum pop that was more prevalent in mainstream Korean music at that time. Its success in the charts led Epik High to reconsider disbandment and spawned a reissue album and a Japanese remake. While it garnered them broader public recognition, the song also drew some backlash from the underground hip hop community for incorporating elements of pop music and collaborating with a singer rather than another rapper. The Epik High members acknowledged the criticism but reiterated their position on not being defined by any specific genre.Accolades
"Fly" is the first song by a hip hop artist to win first place on a music program, having won on the very first episode of MBC's revamped Show! Music Core and went on to win a "Triple Crown".| Song | Program | Date |
| "Fly" | Show! Music Core | October 29, 2005 |
| "Fly" | Show! Music Core | November 5, 2005 |
| "Fly" | Show! Music Core | November 12, 2005 |
| "Fly" | M Countdown | November 10, 2005 |
| "Fly" | Inkigayo | November 27, 2005 |
| Year | Organization | Category | Work | Result | |
| 2005 | Golden Disc Awards | Hip-Hop Award | "Fly" | Won | |
| 2005 | Melon Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Fly" | Won | |
| 2005 | Mnet KM Music Video Festival | Best Hip-Hop Performance | "Fly" | Won | |
| 2006 | Korean Music Awards | Best Hip Hop Song | "Fly" | Nomitated |