# Yoon Mi-rae

Natasha Shanta Reid (born May 31, 1981), better known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae (Korean: 윤미래), 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 (now Fort Cavazos) in 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 passing. 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 |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| As Times Goes By | Released: September 10, 2001 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette Track listing 바보 Title 시간이 흐른 뒤 (As Time Goes By) I Miss You So 슬픔에 기대어 행복한 나를 그대없는 사랑 La Musique As Time Goes By (English version) She (...Could Never Be Me) 삶의 향기 (Soul Flower) Old School Love 친구가 아닌 연인 La Musique (English version) 시간이 흐른 뒤 (As Time Goes By) (Remix) 하루하루 | 7 | KOR: 256,890 |
| Gemini | Released: May 3, 2002 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette Track listing G火자 Meditation Me We Memories... (Smiling Tears) Wonder Woman 끝없는 바다 저편에 Concrete Jungle Combination Platter Double Trouble 남자 남자 남자 Memories... (Smiling Tears) (English version) MT (혁명) | 15 | KOR: 90,019 |
| To My Love | Released: December 5, 2002 Label: World Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette Track listing Unforgettable To My Love (Korean Ver.) Tuesday 선물 To My Love (English version) 끝없는 바다 저편에 (with Bobby Kim) One Day Because I Love You (with Bobby Kim) 집으로 와 나는 인연 Why Me? Gotta Get Love 찬바람아! Because I Love You (English version) 너 (Sad But True) | 7 | KOR: 71,046 |
| t 3 Yoonmirae | Released: February 23, 2007 Label: Jungle Entertainment Format: CD, digital download Track listing Black Diamond What's Up, Mr. Good Stuff 잊었니 Honeymoon Gimme, Gimme!!! (이기주의자) Pay Day 시간은 눈물과 흐르고 나니까 Black Happiness (검은 행복) Who Good Bye Sadness, Hello Happiness | — | — |
| Gemini 2 | Released: July 5, 2018 Label: Feel Ghood Music Format: CD, digital download Track listing Rap Queen 개같애 (Feat. Tiger JK) Cookie You & Me (Feat. Junoflo) 가위바위보 샴페인 (Champagne) (Feat. Junoflo) Peach No Gravity (Piano Ver.) 오늘처럼 (Feat. Double K, WHO$) You & Me (Eng Ver.) (Feat. Junoflo) Peach (Eng Ver.) 잠깐만 Baby (Remix) | 26 | KOR: 1,877 |
| "—" denotes album did not chart. ||||

### Collaborative albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| 살자 (The Cure) (with Drunken Tiger & Bizzy) | Released: September 13, 2013 Label: Feel Ghood Music Format: CD, digital download Track listing Beautiful Life 첫눈이 오면 설레였던 꼬마아이 (Time Travel) 살자 (The Cure) Sweet Dream BizzyTigerYoonmirae 뭉쳐 (All In Together) Go Get It In (Feat. Jung In) 살자 (The Cure) (Reggae Ver.) | 11 | KOR: 6,811 |
| "—" denotes album did not chart. ||||

### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details |
| T Best Album | Released: April 25, 2003 Label: Avex Trax Format: CD, digital download Track listing To My Love 바보 시간이 흐른 뒤 (As Time Goes By) 선물 끝없는 바다 저편에 남자 남자 남자 Tuesday Concrete Jungle 행복한 나를 집으로 와 I Miss You So 지화자 Wonder Woman Because I Love You 찬 바람아 하루 하루 |
| "—" denotes album did not chart. ||

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "As Time Goes By" (시간이 흐른 뒤) | 2001 | — | | As Time Goes By |
| "Boundless Ocean" (끝없는 바다 저편에...) | 2002 | — | | Gemini |
| "To My Love" (Korean ver.) | 2002 | — | | To My Love |
| "Incomplete" (잊었니...) | 2007 | — | | t 3 Yoonmirae |
| "Please Don't Leave" (떠나지마) | 2009 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Get It In" (feat. Tiger JK, Jung-in) | 2011 | 5 | KOR: 1,794,085 | Non-album singles |
| "This Love" (사랑이 맞을거야) | 2015 | 1 | KOR: 650,120 | Non-album singles |
| "Because of You" | 2016 | 19 | KOR: 184,125 | SM Station Season 1 |
| "Jam Come On Baby" (잠깐만 Baby) | 2016 | 36 | KOR: 43,306 | Non-album singles |
| "No Gravity" | 2018 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Kawi Bawi Bo" (가위바위보) | 2018 | — | | Gemini 2 |
| "You and Me" (feat. Junoflo) | 2018 | — | | Gemini 2 |
| "Don't Forget Me" (잊어가지마) | 2019 | 45 | | Non-album single |
| Collaborations |||||
| "Wonderful" (with Johan Kim) | 2007 | — | | Non-album single |
| "The Cure" (살자) (with Tiger JK and Bizzy) | 2013 | 3 | KOR: 484,671 | The Cure |
| "Angel" (with Tiger JK and Bizzy) | 2014 | 2 | KOR: 707,891 | WondaLand |
| "#Capture The City" (with Boys Noize) | 2015 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "You and I" (너와 나) (with Jeon In-kwon, Zion.T, Tiger JK, Galaxy Express and others) | 2015 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "How Are You?" (잘 지내고 있니) (with Punch) | 2016 | 16 | KOR: 176,786 | Non-album singles |
| "Ghood Family" (with Tiger JK, feat. Bizzy, Black Nine, BB, MRSHLL) | 2017 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Draw Your Love" (with Tiger JK and Bizzy) | 2019 | — | | Non-album singles |
| As featured artist |||||
| "Positive Vibes" (Paloalto feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2010 | 77 | | Lonely Hearts |
| "Freaky Deaky Superstar" (두두루 와바루) (Korean ver.) (Drunken Tiger feat. Yoon-Mi-rae and Bizzy) | 2011 | 20 | KOR: 348,208 | Non-album single |
| "Turned Off The TV" (TV를 껐네) (Leessang feat. Yoon Mi-rae and 10cm) | 2011 | 1 | KOR: 3,081,880 | Asura Balbalta |
| "Without You Now" (이젠 너 없이도) (Euna Kim feat. Yoon Mi-rae, Tiger JK, Bizzy) | 2014 | 9 | KOR: 350,017 | Non-album singles |
| "Beautiful" (Yoonhan feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2015 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Forever" (반가워요) (Tiger JK feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2015 | 71 | KOR: 26,230 | Non-album singles |
| "Home" (Ailee feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2016 | 20 | KOR: 156,625 | A New Empire |
| "Ghood Life" (MyunDo feat. Yoon Mi-rae and Bizzy) | 2017 | — | | RGB pt.(0,255,0) |
| "Clover" (Jin Longguo feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2018 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Silent Movie" (무성영화) (Yubin feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2019 | — | | Start of the End |
| "Linda" (Linda G (Lee Hyori) feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2020 | 4 | | Durijyuwa X Linda X Let's Dance |
| "Red Lipstick" (빨간립스틱) (Lee Hi feat. Yoon Mi-rae) | 2021 | 30 | | 4 Only |
| "Self Love" ( F.Hero feat. Tiger JK, Yoon Mi-rae, Billkin) | 2022 | | | Self Love |

### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| "Touch Love" | 2013 | 1 | KOR: 1,299,537 | Master's Sun OST Part 4 |
| "I Love You" (너를 사랑해) | 2014 | 1 | KOR: 1,236,319 | It's Okay, That's Love OST Part 6 |
| "I'll Listen To What You Have To Say" (너의 얘길 들어줄게) | 2015 | 7 | KOR: 402,464 | 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" (그대라는 세상) | 2016 | 10 | KOR: 259,876 | The Legend of the Blue Sea OST Part 2 |
| "Goodbye" (with Ann) | 2017 | — | | Queen of Mystery OST Part 4 |
| "The Sky of My Youth" (젊은 날의 Sky) | 2017 | — | | Hit the Top OST Part 3 |
| "You, You, You" (그대 그대 그대) | 2018 | — | | The Ghost Detective OST Part 5 |
| "My Dream" | 2019 | — | | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung OST Part 2 |
| "Flower" | 2019 | 22 | | Crash Landing on You OST Part 2 |
| "Say" | 2020 | 63 | | Itaewon Class OST Part 8 |
| "Lost" | 2020 | — | | Stranger Season 2 OST Part 5 |
| "It's My Life" | 2021 | 94 | | Hospital Playlist Season 2 OST Part 10 |
| "Law" (with Bibi) | 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

## Awards

List of awards and nominations received by Yoon Mi-rae :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s) / Work(s) | Result |
| Korean Music Awards | 2008 | Best R&B & Soul Album | Yoonmirae | Won |
| Korean Music Awards | 2008 | Best R&B & Soul Song | "What's Up! Mr. Good Stuff" | Won |
| MAMA Awards | 2007 | Best R&B Performance | "Have You Forgotten?" | Won |
| MAMA Awards | 2013 | Best OST | "Touch Love" | Won |
| MAMA Awards | 2014 | Best OST | "I Love You" | Nominated |
| Melon Music Awards | 2013 | Best OST | "Touch Love" | Won |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2010 | 20 Most Influential Stars | Yoon Mi-rae | Won |
| SBS Gayo Daejeon | 2002 | R&B Category Award | Yoon Mi-rae | Won |
| Style Icon Awards | 2012 | People's Choice Award | Yoon Mi-rae | Won |

### Listicles

| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Mnet | 2013 | Legend 100 Artists | 77th | |