Suga (rapper)

Min Yoon-gi (Korean: 민윤기; born March 9, 1993), better known by his stage names Suga (stylized in all caps) and Agust D,[A] is a South Korean rapper, songwriter and record producer. Managed by Big Hit Music, he debuted as a member of the South Korean pop idol group BTS in 2013. In 2016, he released his first solo mixtape, Agust D. In 2018, he re-released the mixtape for digital purchase and streaming. The reissue reached number three on Billboard's World Albums Chart. In 2020, he released his second solo mixtape, D-2. Commercially, the mixtape peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard 200, number seven on the UK Albums Chart, and number two on Australia's ARIA Album Chart. The Korea Music Copyright Association attributes over 100 songs to Suga as a songwriter and producer, including Suran's "Wine" which peaked at number two on the Gaon Music Chart and won best Soul/R&B track of the year at the 2017 Melon Music Awards.

Early life and education

Min Yoon-gi was born on March 9, 1993 in Daegu, South Korea.[2] The younger of two sons, he attended Taejeon Elementary School, Gwaneum Middle School, and Apgujeong High School.[3]

In March 2019, after graduating from the Global Cyber University with a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment, he enrolled at Hanyang Cyber University for the Master of Business Administration program in Advertising and Media.[4]

Career

1993–2010: Beginnings

He became interested in rap after hearing "Ragga Muffin" by Stony Skunk, stating that it was different from anything he had ever heard before. After hearing Epik High, he decided to become a rapper.[5]

By age 13, he began to write music lyrics and learned about MIDI. He worked a part-time job at a record studio by age 17. From then on, he began composing and arranging music, rapping, and performing.[2] Before being signed, he was active under the name Gloss as an underground rapper.[6] As part of the hip hop crew D-Town in 2010, he produced "518-062", a song commemorating the Gwangju Uprising.[7]

2013–present: BTS

Main article: BTS

Originally joining the company as a music producer,[8] Suga trained under Big Hit Entertainment for three years alongside members J-Hope and RM. He made his debut as a member of BTS on Mnet's M Countdown with the track "No More Dream" from their debut single album 2 Cool 4 Skool.[9] He has produced and written lyrics for a variety of tracks on all of BTS' albums.

For BTS' third Korean-language extended play (EP) The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1, Suga released a solo intro entitled "Intro: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life".[10] The rap track's lyrics itself discussed the fears of reaching adulthood at the end of one's adolescent years.[11] It released on April 17, 2015, and featured an animated music video.[12] Pt. 1's follow up EP, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2, featured another intro performed by Suga, called "Intro: Never Mind", specifically recounting Suga's teenage years.[11] The song released on November 15, 2015,[13] and additionally served as the intro for BTS' 2016 compilation album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever.[14] Suga did not perform another introductory track for BTS until 2020, where he released "Interlude: Shadow" as part of the album roll out for Map of the Soul: 7.[14][15] The interlude is a rap song that references "Intro: O!RUL8,2?" from the 2013 EP of the same name, and discusses BTS' fame, comparing its reality to the celebrity O!RUL8,2? dreamed about.[16] The song released on January 10, along with a music video also referencing the struggles of fame.[17] Tamar Herman of Billboard described it as a "evocative, yet brash track" and noted how the song's sound changes midway through to show "this dichotomy between the relationship of how fame and audiences watching him affects his idea of self".[15]

In addition to performing intros for BTS, Suga released two solo tracks under the group's name. The first, a song entitled "First Love", appeared on BTS' 2016 studio album Wings, is an autobiographical rap track reminiscent of a monologue.[18] On the 2018 compilation album Love Yourself: Answer, Suga released the song "Trivia: Seesaw", which discussed the up-and-down nature of falling in love.[19] That same year, Suga was awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit as a member of BTS by the President of South Korea along with other members of the group.[20]

In July 2021, he was appointed Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture by President Moon Jae-in, along with the other members of BTS, to help "lead the global agenda for future generations, such as sustainable growth" and "expand South Korea's diplomatic efforts and global standing" in the international community.[21]

2016–present: Solo work

Suga released a free self-titled mixtape via SoundCloud on August 15, 2016.[22] He decided against releasing the project as a commercial studio album, describing it as the "feeling of being trapped in some sort of framework."[2] On the record, he discussed matters such as his struggles with depression and social phobia.[23] Fuse TV rated it one of the top 20 mixtapes of 2016.[24] The following year, in 2017, Suga composed the song "Wine" for singer Suran, whom he had previously worked with for a single on his mixtape.[25] At Suga's studio, Suran heard a rough draft of "Wine" and asked Suga for the song.[26] The record peaked at #2 on the Gaon Digital Chart and won best Soul/R&B track of the year at the Melon Music Awards on December 2, 2017.[27] Suga also received the "Hot Trend Award" for his work on the track.[28] Suga later re-released his mixtape for digital purchase and streaming in February 2018.[29] The reissue reached #3 on Billboard's World Albums Chart, #5 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and #74 on the Top Album Sales chart. It also caused Suga's solo alias, Agust D, to reach #46 on the Emerging Artists chart for the week of March 3.[30]

In January 2019, Suga provided a rap feature on Lee So-ra's single "Song Request". The track was co-written by Suga and Tablo of Epik High, who also produced the track.[31] The single debuted at number three on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart and at number two on Billboard's World Digital Songs chart, with 3,000 downloads during the song's two-day charting period.[32][33] Suga later produced a track for Epik High's Sleepless in extended play, titled "Eternal Sunshine", in February.[34][35] He co-wrote and produced the digital single, "We Don't Talk Together", for singer Heize, which she released on July 7.[36] In December, American singer-songwriter Halsey released the song "Suga's Interlude", from her third studio album Manic, which both featured and was produced by Suga.[37]

On May 6, 2020, IU released the digital single "Eight" featuring and produced by Suga.[38] The song debuted at number one on both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard World Digital Songs chart.[39][40] Suga released his second mixtape, D-2 (the continuation to Agust D), together with the music video for its lead single "Daechwita" on May 22,[41] which peaked at #76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[42] The mixtape debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and became the highest-charting album by a Korean soloist in the US.[43] It is also the first Korean solo release to reach the top 10 in the United Kingdom, opening at number 7 on the UK albums chart.[44]

In 2021, Suga recomposed Samsung's signature ringtone, "Over The Horizon". The track was unveiled on August 11, 2021, as part of Samsung's "Unpacked 2021" event.[45] On October 8, 2021, it was announced that Suga participated in producing the title song "You" for Japanese singer, ØMI, which was released on October 15.[46] In December 2021, Suga featured on Juice Wrld's album Fighting Demons with the single "Girl of My Dreams".[47] The song debuted at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Suga his second entry on the chart, as a solo artist.[48]

Name

Suga, with blue hair and in a pink suit, holds his right hand up and looks left

Suga at the 2016 Gaon Chart Awards on February 17, 2016.

The stage name Suga (슈가) is derived from the first syllables of the term shooting guard (슈팅 가드), the position he played in basketball as a student.[49] He adopted the alias Agust D in 2016 for his mixtape, which is derived from the initials DT, short for his birthplace, Daegu Town, and "Suga" spelled backwards.[2]

Artistry

Suga writes, composes, arranges, mixes, and masters his own material.[2] Over 100 registered songs are credited to him by the Korea Music Copyright Association.[50] He plays piano and produces mainly hip hop and R&B music.[2][51] His lyrics involve themes that are "full of dreams and hope," conceived with the intent of his music becoming "many people's strength."[52] He cites Stony Skunk and Epik High as his inspirations to pursue hip hop music. Particularly, he credits the former's reggae-hip hop hybrid album Ragga Muffin (2005) and its title track for igniting his interest in the genre.[53]

Jeff Benjamin of Fuse said that Suga's mixtape "showcases the star's ear for hot productions, hardcore rap style, and how he can make his vulnerabilities a strength."[54] Other critics stated that Suga's "storytelling execution in the music he creates tears down the barrier of censoring and sugarcoating".[55]

In January 2018, Suga was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association.[56]

Reception

In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea, Suga was ranked the 13th most preferred idol of the year for 2017.[57] In the 2018 and 2019 surveys, he ranked 7th and 9th, respectively.[58]

Personal life

In 2018, he purchased a US$3 million luxury apartment located in South Korea and as of 2019, he lives in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[59][60]

Health

In December 2013, Suga was diagnosed with appendicitis, and underwent surgery at Severance Hospital in Sinchon on the 9th. He was discharged on the 17th, but was hospitalized again on the 26th due to inflammation in the surgical site. Consequently, he was unable to attend any year-end music festivals.[61]

In December 2016, Suga suffered an ear injury after tripping over a door threshold. Following doctor recommendations, he took a one-week break from performing and participating in choreography (including at year-end festivals) to ensure the wound healed properly.[62]

In November 2020, Suga underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum (reverse Bankart tear) in his left shoulder, and announced that he would be taking a break from subsequent promotional activities in order to fully recover.[63][64]

Other ventures

Philanthropy

In 2014, Suga made a promise to buy his fans meat should he find success as a musical artist. Four years later, on his 25th birthday, he donated beef to 39 orphanages in the name of "ARMY", BTS' fanbase.[65] For his 26th birthday, in 2019, he donated KR₩100 million (US$88,000) and 329 BT21 Shooky dolls to the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation.[66] On February 27, 2020, Suga donated ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help prevention and relief efforts in his hometown of Daegu, one of the cities hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea at the time.[67][68] On March 9, 2021, he donated ₩100 million to Daegu's Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, to support child cancer patients who cannot access treatment due to financial difficulties.[69][70]

Activism

Suga has spoken openly about mental health and equality for the LGBTQ+ community.[71]

Discography

Suga, in a black suit, holds his hands behind his back, looking left

Suga at a press conference in Seoul following the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on May 29, 2017.

For Suga's works with BTS, see BTS singles discography and BTS albums discography.