Tablo adds another language to his hip-hop arsenal on the poignant bilingual track “1000 YEARS 千年”, which features lyrics in Chinese and English. Taiwanese singer and rapper J.Sheon delivers the soaring hook—and worked to ensure the Epik High member’s Chinese-language rapping was up to scratch. Emotionally devastating, the duo’s collaboration conveys the impact of heartbreak with a directness that transcends cultural barriers. Below, Tablo and J.Sheon tell Apple Music about their experience working together. Can you share some behind-the-scenes details about this collaboration? Tablo: “First of all, this is my very first song using Chinese to rap. It was a very scary yet very important challenge for me. I wanted to do a song with an artist that I’ve always wanted to work with. J.Sheon was the first one on the list because I really, really like his voice. I think he has a very good understanding of R&B and hip-hop. But the funny part is that I made the melody extremely difficult to sing.” J.Sheon: “I’m sorry to break in. I’m just curious. Did you do the top line for the hook?” Tablo: “Me and another songwriter worked together. And I knew that it was going to be extremely hard for almost 99 per cent of singers to sing. Some of my people were like, ‘Shouldn’t we lower it a little? Because it’s really high.’” J.Sheon: “It’s really high. Like, ‘Epik High’.” Tablo: “I was like, ‘No, no. I know J.Sheon can do it.’ And if people hear it and want to sing it on their social media or at a KTV, I want them to have a hard time, just like you.” J.Sheon: “You’ve successfully achieved that goal, I think.” Can you share a little about the production of this song? Tablo: “The most difficult part was, of course, rapping in Chinese. Luckily J.Sheon gave me a lot of help writing the rap lyrics. And also he recorded how I should perform it. In my long career, because I’ve always written my own stuff, I’ve never had anybody teach me how to perform. Only J.Sheon could do that because most singers don’t really understand rap. But I knew he raps and understands hip-hop and rhyme, so he was able to help me do it right.” J.Sheon: “Some words, when we’re speaking compared to when we’re rapping, are a little different in English, as you know. The same concept basically applies to Chinese as well. So I thought maybe I could show you some of the consonants so it would be easier for you when it came to rapping in Chinese. I hope it helped.” Tablo: “Big help!” For Tablo, do you have plans for future Chinese-language projects? Tablo: “Yes, I’m actually working on an EP where I do a lot more Chinese rap. But that’s why I’m going to have to really beg J.Sheon to help me.” J.Sheon: “You don’t need to beg me, you know. I’m more than willing to help. And because I love creating stuff, if I come up with a great concept in Chinese, I can share it with you.” Tablo: “Thank you, thank you. And one day when you want to collab with another Korean artist—or do a song using Korean—I can definitely help with that too.” J.Sheon: “That’s probably the sweetest news ever!” For J.Sheon, can we expect more interaction with Korean artists in the future? J.Sheon: “I gotta be honest. I haven’t thought about the possibility of more collabs with Korean hip-hop and R&B singers. But I don’t like to limit myself. Also, I’m a huge fan. This was a collaboration that wasn’t pre-planned or anything. It just happened naturally and organically. I think the one thing that brought us together was our mutual appreciation of music.”