Birth name Natasha Shanta Reid Name Yoon Mi-rae Children Jordan Seo Years active 1997–present Parents Thomas J. Reid | Occupation(s) Singerrapper Genres R&Bhip hopK-pop Role Rapper | |
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Also known as Tasha Reid, Baby Tasha, T Associated acts The MovementUptownTashannieDrunken TigerLeessangYoo Jae-sukSunzooMFBTY Similar Tiger JK, Bizzy, Ailee Profiles | ||
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. She is currently a member of Korean hip hop trio MFBTY. She is considered to be one of the best female rappers in Korea.
Contents
- MV Yoonmirae KawiBawiBo
- STAR ZOOM IN T Yoon Mi Raet Black Happiness 150925 EP31
- Early life and education
- Discovery and Uptown
- Solo career and MFBTY
- Personal life
- Television appearances
- References
[MV] Yoonmirae(윤미래) _ KawiBawiBo(가위바위보)
[STAR ZOOM IN] T Yoon Mi Rae(t윤미래) - Black Happiness(검은 행복) 150925 EP.31
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 cites his record collection as an influence to pursue her music career. 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.
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.
In 1999, she also formed hip hop and R&B duo Tashannie with singer Annie. They released one album, called Parallel Prophecies.
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.
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.
In 2006, she joined Jungle Entertainment, a label founded by her now-husband Tiger JK. 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.
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. She was also a judge on the third and fourth seasons of television talent competition Superstar K.
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. MFBTY signed to Tiger JK's newly created Feel Ghood Music label later that year.
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.
In December 2014, Yoon released the single "Angel," which quickly became #1 on four Korean music charts. 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.
Personal life
Yoon speaks both Korean and English fluently.
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.
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.
Yoon has also promoted awareness of multiculturalism within Korean families. In 2008, she volunteered for seven months at a multicultural youth camp.