1995 – 2005: Early career and successes with Drunken Tiger

In 1995, Tiger JK's first solo album, Enter The Tiger, was released in Korea by Oasis Records, a connection Tiger JK had made because his father was friends with the company's CEO. The album got little airplay due to its perceived explicit content.^[3][9]

Tiger JK returned to the United States and teamed up with DJ Shine to form the group Drunken Tiger in 1998. The group debuted in Korea and, despite the explicit content of their lyrics and the group's rejection of mainstream music trends, they achieved popularity with their first album, Year of the Tiger, which included the hit songs, "I Want You" and "Do You Know Hip-hop."^[3][6][9]

Over the next several years, Drunken Tiger brought on new members and released multiple albums, winning numerous awards.^[11][12] Founding member DJ Shine left the group in 2005.^[13]

2006-2013: Creation of Jungle Entertainment and collaborations

In 2006, Tiger JK left Oasis Records and established his own hip-hop label, Jungle Entertainment. The label represented Drunken Tiger, and prominent Korean rappers Yoon Mi-rae and Leessang were among the artists to join the label over the next few years.^[1][14]

Tiger JK continued to release music with Drunken Tiger over the next few years, while also collaborating with other artists. In 2012, he featured on "Let This Die," a single by Brian Joo of the R&B duo Fly to the Sky.^[15] That same year, he featured on "Wicked," a song by new K-pop girl group Fiestar.^[16]

2013-present: Founding MFBTY and Feel Ghood Music

In 2013, Tiger JK teamed up with Yoon Mi-rae and Bizzy to form the group MFBTY, an acronym for "My Fans are Better Than Yours." Soon after, he left Jungle Entertainment and founded a new label, Feel Ghood Music, which now releases MFBTY's music.^[17] He has had multiple collaborations with popular boy group leader RM of BTS with the latter featuring on his final album Drunken Tiger X: Rebirth of Tiger JK^[18] on the song Timeless. He also featured in Seventeen's Hoshi's Tiger released in 2022. In 2023, he featured on "TOPLINE", a single released by K-pop group Stray Kids, also appearing in the official M/V.

Drug conviction

Tiger JK was arrested for using methamphetamine in Korea in 2000, at the same time that members of the Korean hip hop group Uptown were also arrested on drug charges. Tiger JK said that, though he had used drugs in the past, he had not used them in Korea, and he said that he was ultimately found guilty due to false testimony from the members of Uptown. He spent a month and a half in jail and was given two years probation.^[19]

Illness

Tiger JK was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, a spinal cord condition that affects motor functions, in 2006. He was hospitalized and took a two-year hiatus from performing. As of 2014, he continued to take medication to treat the condition.^[3][20]

Marriage and family

In June 2007, Tiger JK married rapper and singer Yoon Mi-rae in a private ceremony in a Buddhist Temple. The wedding occurred a month before the death of his grandmother who had wanted to see them wed before her passing. Yoon gave birth to their son, Jordan, in March 2008.^[9][21]

Solo albums

• Enter the Tiger (1995)
• Drunken Tiger X: Rebirth of Tiger JK (2018)^[25]

Solo mini albums

• 이런건가요 (I Know) (2015)

Solo singles

• "반가워요 (Forever)" (2015)

Soundtrack songs

• "First Love" (feat. Punch) (2014) - From the soundtrack to the TV drama, Pinocchio.
• "Reset" (feat. 진실 of Mad Soul Child) (2015) - From the soundtrack to the TV drama, Who Are You: School 2015.

Film

Television