For those who may be confused between what the relationship between HIGHGRND and YG Entertainment is, Epik High's frontman Tablo gave the full details in a recent interview with Sports Illgan.
In the interview, translated by IcarusWalks on Friday, Mar. 4, Tablo says that both companies are legally separate from each other.
HIGHGRND is an independent start-up founded by Tablo with the authority and blessings of YG Entertainment's CEO Yang Hyun Suk. Therefore, the indie label is not affiliated with YG Entertainment though Tablo himself is signed under the powerhouse agency.
"President Yang gave me this authority," Tablo said in the interview. "He must be thinking that by letting me lead the label independently perhaps I will come up with totally different products from YG. He has no knowledge of all our decisions. He is also unaware of our ongoing plan. Legally, we are two different companies."
However, Tablo does bring up the fact that is was Yang's idea to create the label.
"He said, 'If you do an independent label, it is likely that you should be able to enjoy and perform well,' and suggested establishing HIGHGRND," Tablo explained to Sports Illgan. "I was also distressed for a while before having the idea of doing it. I felt that all the challenges are very difficult, but I have to enjoy while doing it. Then I started it."
Thus, the creation of indie-label HIGHGRND.
