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 May 31, 1981[1]
Fort Hood, Texas, United States
Genres R&B, hip hop, K-pop
Occupation(s) Singer, rapper
Years active 1997-present
Associated acts The Movement, Uptown, Tashannie, Drunken Tiger, Leessang, Yoo Jae-suk, Sunzoo, MFBTY
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), known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae, is an American-born South Korean rapper and singer.[2] She is part of the Korean hip hop crew The Movement and current member of MFBTY.

She is married to Tiger JK, and has one son with him. She was selected the 12th best new female emcees dominating mics worldwide by MTV IGGY in 2011.[3][4]

Biography

Early life

Reid was born in Fort Hood, Texas to a Korean mother and an African American father. She often faced discrimination because of her mixed heritage. Her father, Thomas J. Reid, was a DJ when she was young, so she naturally became acquainted with music. Because her father was also in the military, Reid lived in multiple locations, including Fort Lewis, Washington, Washington DC and Germany.

Career

In 1995, she accompanied a friend to a World Records audition for a group which would later become Uptown. She did not audition herself, but a World staff member heard Tasha singing the lyrics to songs outside of the audition room, and casted her immediately.[5] Uptown debuted in South Korea in early 1997, when Reid was just 16.[6][7] Tasha was one of the first mixed race artists in Korean music, causing much criticism in a homogeneous society. Tasha later revealed her struggles in her 2007 single, "Black Happiness", which spoke of how industry executives told her to deny her African American heritage.

In 1999, she also formed Tashannie, a hip-hop and R&B project for which she was the primary vocalist, alongside Annie Lee, who was also a member of Uptown. Uptown broke up in 2000 after a scandal proved two members to be involved in drugs. A year later, Tasha debuted as a solo artist, under the moniker T.

In 2002, she released her 1.5 album, Gemini. It was the first Korean hip-hop album to debut in the Japanese market. Tasha later left World Music to join Jungle Entertainment, a label founded by now husband Tiger JK.

In February 2012, Yoon became the face of Hewlett-Packard by signing a one-year contact to appear in their print media and radio advertisements.[8]

She was one of four judges for the third season of Superstar K, and as of October 2012, was also judge for the fourth season.[9]

On January 2013, Yoon, together with husband Tiger JK and Bizzy as members of MFBTY (My Fans Better Than Yours), were selected as representatives of Kpop for Korea at the International Music Tradeshow on Midem, in Cannes, France. They performed in their own showcase 'K-Pop Night Out at MIDEM 2013'.[10]

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.[11]

In December 2014, her group Mfbty was rebranded under her name. Their first single under that name "Angel" hit no. 1 on the Gaon charts. [12] Also in that month she revealed that the American film The Interview used her song "Pay Day" without permission, and that she will be taking legal action.[13]

Personal life

Reid speaks Korean and English fluently.[14]

She is an advocate against child abuse as seen by her participation in Vogue Korea's Stop & Love Campaign in 2011 and performing at the 2011 Child Abuse Awareness Concert. Together with Tiger JK, she received a commendation from South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare for her efforts in promoting child abuse prevention.[15][16][17]

She also promotes awareness with multicultural families as seen with her seven month volunteer commitment in a multicultural youth camp in 2008. This is probably a result of her own history as a child of mixed ethnic origin where she experienced prejudice in Korean society against her racial background.[18][19]

In June 2007, she married Tiger JK (member of Drunken Tiger) in a private ceremony. The wedding occurred a month before the death of Tiger JK's grandmother who had wanted to see them wed before her passing. Yoon became pregnant with son Jordan, the same month Tiger JK's grandmother died in July 2007. Jordan was born later in March 2008.[20][21][22]

Discography

Albums

Album information Tracklist
As Time Goes By
  • Released: September 10, 2001
  • Language: Korean
  1. 바보
  2. 시간이 흐른 뒤
  3. I Miss You So
  4. 슬픔에 기대어
  5. 행복한 나를
  6. 그대없는 사랑
  7. La Musique
  8. As Time Goes By (English Version)
  9. She (...Could Never Be Me) Composed by John Watley III.
  10. 삶의 향기 (Soul Flower)
  11. ( Old School Love) Composed by John Watley III.
  12. 친구가 아닌 연인
  13. La Musique (English Version)
  14. 시간이 흐른 뒤 (Remix Version)
  15. 하루하루
Gemini
  • Released: May 4, 2002
  • Language: Korean
  1. G火자
  2. Meditation
  3. Me We
  4. Memories (Smiling Tears)
  5. Wonder Woman
  6. 끝없는 바다 저편에
  7. Concrete Jungle
  8. Combination Platter
  9. Double Trouble
  10. 남자 남자 남자
  11. Memories (Smiling Tears, Eng. Vers)
  12. Mt (혁명)
To My Love
  • Released: December 5, 2002
  • Language: Korean
  1. Unforgettable
  2. To My Love
  3. Tuesday
  4. 선물
  5. To My Love (English Ver.)
  6. 끝없는 바다 저편에
  7. One Day
  8. Because I Love You feat. Bobby Kim
  9. 집으로 와
  10. 나는
  11. 인연
  12. Why Me ?
  13. Gotta Get Love
  14. 찬바람아!
  15. Because I Love You (English Ver.)
  16. 너 (Sad But True)
T Best
  • Released: April 25, 2003
  • Language: Korean
  1. To My Love
  2. 바보
  3. 시간이 흐른 뒤 (AS TIME GOES BY)
  4. 선물
  5. 끝없는 바다 저편에
  6. 남자 남자 남자
  7. Tuesday
  8. Concrete Jungle
  9. 행복한 나를
  10. 집으로 와
  11. I Miss You So
  12. 지화자
  13. Wonder Woman
  14. Because I Love You
  15. 찬 바람아
  16. 하루 하루
T3 - Yoon Mi Rae
  • Released: February 24, 2007
  • Language: Korean
  1. Black Diamond
  2. What's Up, Mr. Good Stuff
  3. 잊었니
  4. Honeymoon
  5. Gimme, Gimme 이기주의자
  6. Pay Day
  7. 시간은 눈물과 흐르고
  8. 나니까
  9. 검은 행복
  10. Who
  11. Good Bye Sadness, Hello Happiness
떠나지마... (EP)
  • Released: January 19, 2009
  • Language: Korean
  1. 떠나지마...
  2. 떠나지마... (Inst.)
Get It In (The Creators Project) (EP)
  • Released: October 27, 2011
  • Language: Korean
  1. Get It In (Feat. Tiger JK, 정인) (Korean Ver.)
  2. Get It In (Feat. Smokey Robotic) (English Ver.)
  3. Get It In (Inst.)

Singles

Appearance

Awards

MelOn Music Awards

Year Recipient Award Result
2013 Yoon Mi-rae Best Original Soundtrack style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Recipient Award Result
2007 "Have You Forgotten?"[28] Best R&B Performance style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2013 "Touch Love"[29] Best Original Soundtrack style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2014 "I Love You"[30] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  2. ↑ smith, Dave (27 December 2014). "This Korean Singer Is Suing Sony For Using Her Music In ‘The Interview’". Business Insider. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Han, Ock Ju (4 October 2011). 윤미래, 세계최고의 래퍼 12위 '영광' [Yoon Mi Rae, the world's greatest rapper 12th place 'honor'] (in Korean). etoday.
  4. ↑ Bryan, Beverly (19 September 2011). "The 12 Best New Female Emcees Dominating Mics Everywhere". MTV. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  5. ↑ http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/creators/drunken-tiger
  6. ↑ T(1981년 5월 31일 ~ )는 한국계 미국인 힙합 및 R&B 가수이다. 한국 이름은 윤미래(尹未來)(Natasha Shanta Reid Yoon)이고, 1997년에 Uptown을 통해 데뷔했으며, from http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_(가수). Retrieved: 21.05.2012
  7. ↑ "KBS Artist Entry". KBS. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  8. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (2012-02-07). "Yoon Mirae models for HP Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  9. ↑ "Singer Yoon Mi-rae To Rejoin As Super Star K Judge". Hancinema. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff; Oak, Jessica (2013-09-05). "Yoon Mi Rae Earns First K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1 With 'Touch Love'". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  12. ↑ http://drunkentigerintl.com/2014/12/08/news-yoonmiraes-angel-hits-1-in-less-than-12-hours/
  13. ↑ "Yoon Mi Rae to Take Legal Action against Sony Pictures for Using Her Song in “The Interview” without Permission". Soompi. 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2014-12-27.
  14. ↑ "Mnet Artist Profile". Mnet. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  15. ↑ "Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae to receive commendation from Ministry of Health and Welfare for work in child abuse prevention". Allkpop. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  16. ↑ "Tiger JK & Yoon Mirae speak out against child abuse for Vogue Korea's "STOP&LOVE" campaign". Allkpop. Sports Chosun. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  17. ↑ "Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae Family Photo". Soompi. 2011-03-23. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  18. ↑ "Yoon Mi-rae Returns to Her Roots". The Chosun Ilbo. 2007-02-24. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  19. ↑ Kim, Hee-sung (2009-11-13). "Libraries, handbooks events: opening way for multicultural society". korea.net. Korean Culture and Information Service. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  20. ↑ "Yoon Mi Rae wears a wedding dress for the first time". Allkpop. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  21. ↑ "Tiger JK and Jordan's Father and Son Moment". Allkpop. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  22. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (2008-07-03). "Tiger JK, T Wed With Baby". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  23. ↑ "Future Liger rocking Music Core with Let’s Dance", Allkpop, 18 July 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "iger JK’s MV for “Doo Doo Doo Wop Ba Ba Lu” to be released with Yoon Mi Rae making a cameo appearance". Allkpop. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  25. ↑ "Superstar K3 reveals their official poster". Allkpop. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  26. ↑ "Photos give a sneak peek into ‘Running Man – Hip-hop special’!". Allkpop. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  27. ↑ "Khuntoria babysits Tiger JK-Tasha's son on We Got Married". Allkpop. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  28. ↑ "2007 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  29. ↑ "2013 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". Mnet. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  30. ↑ "[Full Ver.] 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards Part1". mwave. MAMA. Retrieved 28 January 2015.

External links