Yoon Mi-rae

Yoon Mi-rae

Yoon Mi-rae performing at the Lolipop Concert, in May 2010
Background information
Birth name Natasha Shanta Reid
Also known as Tasha Reid, Baby Tasha, T
Born (1981-05-31) May 31, 1981
Fort Hood, Texas, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active 1997–present
Associated acts
This is a Korean name; the family name is Yoon.
Yoon Mi Rae
Hangul 윤미래
Hanja 尹未來
Revised Romanization Yun Mi-rae
McCune–Reischauer Yun Mi-rae

Natasha Shanta Reid (born May 31, 1981), better known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae, is an American-born South Korean rapper and singer.[1] She is currently a member of Korean hip hop trio MFBTY.[2] She is considered to be one of the best female rappers in Korea.[3][4][5][6]

Biography

Early life and education

Yoon was born on May 31, 1981 in Fort Hood, Texas to a South Korean mother and an African-American father. Her father had been a radio DJ while serving with the U.S. military in Korea, and Yoon credits his record collection with awakening her love of music. After she moved to Korea as a child, she often faced discrimination because of her mixed heritage. Yoon dropped out of school at age 15 and later took a high school equivalence exam.[7][8][9]

Discovery and Uptown

Yoon was discovered in 1995 when she accompanied a friend to an audition for a new Korean hip hop group. She did not audition herself, but a World Records representative heard her singing outside of the audition room and signed her to join a new group called Uptown. The group debuted in 1997 when Yoon was just 16.[10]

In 1999, she also formed hip hop and R&B duo Tashannie with singer Annie. They released one album, called Parallel Prophecies.[11]

Uptown broke up in 2000 after several group members were arrested on drug charges. Yoon's then-boyfriend, rapper Tiger JK, was also arrested and spent a month and a half in jail. Yoon herself went into hiding during that period.[12][13]

Solo career and MFBTY

Yoon debuted as a solo artist in 2001, under the moniker T. She released her first album, As Time Goes By, the same year and her second and third albums, named respectively Gemini and To My Love, the following year.[7][10]

In 2006, she joined Jungle Entertainment, a label founded by her now husband Tiger JK.[14] The following year, she released the album T3 - Yoon Mi Rae, on which she shared the difficulties she faced as a mixed race artist in Korea. That year, she performed in Seoul with American singer Amerie, who is also of Korean and African-American heritage.[10][15]

In 2012, Yoon became the face of computer brand Hewlett-Packard in Korea, having signed a one-year contact to appear in their print media and radio advertisements.[16] She was also a judge on the third and fourth seasons of television talent competition Superstar K.[17]

Yoon, Tiger JK, and rapper Bizzy, formed the hip hop trio MFBTY (My Fans Better Than Yours) in 2013. The group's first single, "Sweet Dream," ranked #1 on three Korean music charts shortly after its release. They had debuted the song at a concert in Cannes, France.[18][19] MFBTY signed to Tiger JK's newly created Feel Ghood Music label later that year.[20]

In September 2013, Yoon earned the #1 spot on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100 list with her song "Touch Love" from the South Korean drama Master's Sun.[21]

In December 2014, Yoon released the single "Angel," which quickly became #1 on four Korean music charts.[22] Also that month she revealed that the American film The Interview used her song "Pay Day" without permission, and that she was taking legal action.[23]

Personal life

Yoon speaks both Korean and English fluently.[24]

In June 2007, she married Tiger JK in a private ceremony in a Buddhist Temple. The wedding occurred a month before the death of Tiger JK's grandmother who had wanted to see them wed before her passing. Yoon gave birth to their son Jordan in March 2008.[7][25]

Yoon and her husband are advocates against child abuse. In 2011, they appeared in a photoshoot with their son in Vogue Korea for the "Stop Child Abuse & Love Children" campaign. They also filmed a public service announcement for the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and they performed at the 2011 Child Abuse Awareness Concert. In 2012, South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare commended the couple for their efforts in promoting child abuse prevention.[26][27]

Yoon has also promoted awareness of multiculturalism within Korean families. In 2008, she volunteered for seven months at a multicultural youth camp.[28]

Discography

Studio albums

Album information Track list[nb 1]
As Time Goes By
  • Released: September 10, 2001
  • Language: Korean
Gemini
  • Released: May 4, 2002
  • Language: Korean
To My Love
  • Released: December 5, 2002
  • Language: Korean
T Best
  • Released: April 25, 2003
  • Language: Korean
T3 - Yoon Mi Rae
  • Released: February 24, 2007
  • Language: Korean

Single albums

As lead artist

Album information Track list
Rhapsody Part 2 (랩소디 Part 2)
  • Released: May 28, 2008
  • Language: Korean
Please Don't Go (떠나지마...)
  • Released: January 19, 2009
  • Language: Korean

As featured artist

Album information Track list
Wonderful (더 카마엘)
  • Released: August 31, 2007
  • Language: Korean
Get It In (The Creators Project)
  • Released: October 27, 2011
  • Language: Korean
Because of You (SM Station)
  • Released: February 26, 2016
  • Language: Korean

Soundtrack appearances

Album information Track list
Master's Sun OST Part 4
  • Released: August 28, 2013
  • Language: Korean
It's Okay, That's Love OST Part 6
  • Released: August 27, 2014
  • Language: Korean
Who Are You: School 2015 OST Part 3
  • Released: August 27, 2014
  • Language: Korean
Descendants of the Sun OST Part 1
  • Released: February 18, 2016
  • Language: Korean
The Legend of the Blue Sea OST Part 2
  • Released: November 24, 2016
  • Language: Korean

Television appearances

Awards

MelOn Music Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2013 Yoon Mi-rae Best Original Soundtrack Won

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2007 "Have You Forgotten?"[32] Best R&B Performance Won
2013 "Touch Love"[33] Best Original Soundtrack Won
2014 "I Love You"[34] Nominated

Notes

  1. ↑ The tracks in bold are the promotional singles in each album.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Dave (27 December 2014). "This Korean Singer Is Suing Sony For Using Her Music In 'The Interview'". Business Insider. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Hong, Tae (18 May 2015). "MFBTY sets out to reinvent K-pop with 'Wondaland'". The Korea Times. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "20 Male Korean Hip-Hop Artists Vote for the Top 5 Female Korean Rappers". Koreaboo. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Yoon Mirae Makes the List of Top 12 Female Rappers in the World". Soompi. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Women in Hip Hop: 2013's Rising Female Rappers". Fuse. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "MTV Iggy: Yoon Mi-rae is a diamond". The Korea Herald. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "T(Yoon Mi-rae) (티(윤미래))". KBS World Radio. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Music Is Colorblind: An Interview with MFBTY". PopMatters. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Yoon Mi-rae Returns to Her Roots". The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition). 24 February 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 "Yoon Mi-Rae is K-Hip-Hop's Diamond in the Rough". MTV Iggy. 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Tashannie KPOP Star Profile". Mnet Mwave. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Hip-Hop Group Arrested on Drug Charges". The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition). 30 April 2000. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Forrest, Brett (November 2000). "Silence Makes the Beats Grow Stonger". SPIN. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "History". Jungle Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Amerie and Yoon Mi-rae to Perform". The Korea Times. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  16. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (7 February 2012). "Yoon Mirae models for HP Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Singer Yoon Mi-rae To Rejoin As Super Star K Judge". Hancinema. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  18. ↑ Oak, Jessica; Benjamin, Jeff (2013-02-05). "MFBTY (Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae and Bizzy) Spread Korean Hip-Hop in France". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  19. ↑ "MFBTY's "Sweet Dream" ranks #1 on music charts". All Kpop. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tiger JK-Yoon Mi Rae Create New Hip-Hop Label, 'FEEL GHOOD MUSIC'". KpopStarz. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  21. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff; Oak, Jessica (5 September 2013). "Yoon Mi Rae Earns First K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1 With 'Touch Love'". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "[news] YoonMiRae's "Angel" Hits #1 In Less Than 12 Hours". DT MFBTY INTERNATIONAL. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  23. ↑ "Yoon Mi Rae to Take Legal Action against Sony Pictures for Using Her Song in "The Interview" without Permission". Soompi. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "Profile: T- Yoonmirae". Mnet. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  25. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (3 July 2008). "Tiger JK, T Wed With Baby". The Korea Times. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae to receive commendation from Ministry of Health and Welfare for work in child abuse prevention". Allkpop. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae Family Photo". Soompi. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  28. ↑ Kim, Hee-sung (13 November 2009). "Libraries, handbooks events: opening way for multicultural society". Korea.net. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Superstar K3 reveals their official poster". Allkpop. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  30. ↑ "Photos give a sneak peek into 'Running Man – Hip-hop special'!". Allkpop. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  31. ↑ "Khuntoria babysits Tiger JK-Tasha's son on We Got Married". Allkpop. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  32. ↑ "2007 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  33. ↑ "2013 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". Mnet. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  34. ↑ "[Full Ver.] 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards Part1". mwave. MAMA. Retrieved 28 January 2015.

External links

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