Natasha Shanta Reid (born May 31, 1981), better known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae (), often stylized as Yoonmirae, is an American-born based South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer, who is also a member of Korean hip hop trio MFBTY.
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 D.J. while serving with the U.S. military in South Korea in the district of Uijeongbu. Yoon's father cites his record collection as an influence to pursue her music career. After she moved to South Korea as a child, she often faced discrimination because of her mixed heritage. Yoon dropped out of school at age fifteen and later took a high school equivalence examination.
Discovery, Uptown and Tashannie 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 16.
In 1999, she also formed hip hop and R&B duo "Tashannie" with rapper Lee Soo-a, who used the stage name "Annie". They released one album, called Parallel Prophecies. Yoon's name, Natasha, was hard for South Koreans to pronounce, so she used the name "Tasha," in order to better appeal to the intended audience. 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" which she shortened even more from "Tasha". She released her first album, As Time Goes By that same year. Her second album, Gemini and her third album, To My Love, were released the following year in 2002. 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 musician in Korea. That year, she performed in Seoul, South Korea with American singer Amerie, who is also of African and Korean heritage. In 2012, Yoon became the face of the computer brand Hewlett-Packard in Korea, having signed a one-year contract to appear in their print media and radio advertisements. She was also a judge on the third and fourth seasons of the 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 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 death. Yoon gave birth to their son Jordan Seo 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, performing 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.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORAs Times Goes ByReleased: September 10, 2001 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette7 KOR: 256,890Cumulative Sales of As Time Goes By:
GeminiReleased: May 3, 2002 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette15KOR: 90,019To My LoveReleased: December 5, 2002 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette7KOR: 71,046t 3 YoonmiraeReleased: February 23, 2007 Label: Jungle Entertainment Format: CD, digital download —Gemini 2Released: July 5, 2018 Label: Feel Ghood Music Format: CD, digital download 26KOR: 1,877"—" denotes album did not chart.
Collaborative albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR 살자 (The Cure)Released: September 13, 2013 Label: Feel Ghood Music Format: CD, digital download 11KOR: 6,811"—" denotes album did not chart.
Compilation albums Title Album details T Best AlbumReleased: April 25, 2003 Label: Avex Trax Format: CD, digital download"—" denotes album did not chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales AlbumKORCircle (formerly Gaon) Digital Chart positions (singles):
"Get It In": "This Love": "Because of You": "Jam Come On Baby": "Don't Forget Me":
Circle Digital Chart positions (collaborations):
"The Cure": "Angel": "How Are You?":
Circle Digital Chart positions (featured artist singles):
"Positive Vibes": "Freaky Deaky Superstar": "Turned Off the TV": "Without You Now": "Forever": "Home": "Linda": "Red Lipstick": As lead artist "As Time Goes By" () 2001— As Time Goes By "Boundless Ocean" (끝없는 바다 저편에...) 2002— Gemini "To My Love" (Korean ver.)— To My Love "Incomplete" (잊었니...) 2007— t 3 Yoonmirae "Please Don't Leave" () 2009— rowspan="3" "Get It In" 2011 5 KOR: 1,794,085 "This Love" () 2015 1 KOR: 650,120Cumulative sales of "This Love":
"Because of You" 2016 19 KOR: 184,125 SM Station Season 1 "Jam Come On Baby" (잠깐만 Baby) 36 KOR: 43,306 rowspan="2" "No Gravity" 2018 — "Kawi Bawi Bo" () — Gemini 2 "You and Me" — "Don't Forget Me" () 2019 45 Collaborations "Wonderful" 2007 — "The Cure" () 2013 3 KOR: 484,671 The Cure "Angel" 2014 2 KOR: 707,891Cumulative sales of "Angel":
WondaLand "#Capture The City" 2015 — rowspan="5" "You and I" () — "How Are You?" () 2016 16 KOR: 176,786 "Ghood Family" 2017 — "Draw Your Love" 2019 — As featured artist "Positive Vibes" 2010 77 Lonely Hearts "Freaky Deaky Superstar" () (Korean ver.) 2011 20 KOR: 348,208 "Turned Off The TV" (TV를 껐네) 1 KOR: 3,081,880 Asura Balbalta "Without You Now" () 2014 9 KOR: 350,017 rowspan="3" "Beautiful" 2015 — "Forever" () 71 KOR: 26,230 "Home" 2016 20 KOR: 156,625 A New Empire "Ghood Life" 2017 — RGB pt.(0,255,0) "Clover" 2018 — "Silent Movie" () 2019 — Start of the End "Linda" 2020 4 Durijyuwa X Linda X Let's Dance "Red Lipstick" () 2021 30 4 Only "Self Love" 2022 Self Love
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales AlbumKORCircle (formerly Gaon) Digital Chart positions (soundtrack appearances): "Touch Love": "I Love You": "I'll Listen to What You Have to Say": "Always": "You Are My World": "Flower": "Say": "It's My Life": "Law": "Touch Love" 2013 1 KOR: 1,299,537 Master's Sun OST Part 4 "I Love You" () 2014 1 KOR: 1,236,319Cumulative sales of "I Love You":
It's Okay, That's Love OST Part 6 "I'll Listen To What You Have To Say" () 2015 7 KOR: 402,464Cumulative sales of "I'll Listen To What You Have To Say":
Who Are You: School 2015 OST Part 3 "Always" 2016 2 KOR: 1,454,125 Descendants of the Sun OST Part 1 "You Are My World" () 10 KOR: 259,876Cumulative sales of "You Are My World":
The Legend of the Blue Sea OST Part 2 "Goodbye" 2017 — Queen of Mystery OST Part 4 "The Sky of My Youth" (젊은 날의 Sky) — Hit the Top OST Part 3 "You, You, You" () 2018— The Ghost Detective OST Part 5 "My Dream" 2019 — Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung OST Part 2 "Flower" 22 Crash Landing on You OST Part 2 "Say" 2020 63 Itaewon Class OST Part 8 "Lost" — Stranger Season 2 OST Part 5 "It's My Life" 2021 94 Hospital Playlist Season 2 OST Part 10 "Law" 2022 14 Street Man Fighter OST Part 3
Television appearances 2018: The Fan – Fan (Episode 1) 2016: Fantastic Duo – Contestant (Episode 17-20) 2011: Superstar K3 – Judge 2010: Running Man, Classics- Episode 59
Awards and nominations +List of awards and nominations received by Yoon Mi-raeAward ceremonyYearCategory Nominee(s) / Work(s)ResultKorean Music Awards2008Best R&B & Soul AlbumYoonmirae Best R&B & Soul Song"What's Up! Mr. Good Stuff" MAMA Awards2007Best R&B Performance"Have You Forgotten?" "2007 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1" . MAMA. Retrieved December 14, 2014.2013Best OST"Touch Love" 2014"I Love You" Melon Music Awards2013Best OST"Touch Love" Mnet 20's Choice Awards201020 Most Influential StarsYoon Mi-rae SBS Gayo Daejeon2002R&B Category Award Style Icon Awards2012People's Choice Award
Listicles + Publisher Year Listicle Placement Mnet 2013 Legend 100 Artists 77th
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