May, 2023

By Julie Gonzalez, Social Media Editor

Agust D is one of the most loved rappers of the Kpop industry. While most rappers put out music that just talk about substances or intimate love, Agust D makes sure to include real life issues such as mental health or personal problems he himself has faced, making fans realize that they are not alone in their battle.

Who is Agust D?

Agust D is a South Korean rapper, though he is better known as his stage name “Suga” or real one, Min Yoongi, who is part of the world taking group BTS. He was born in Daegu, South Korea on March 9, 1993, and is the youngest sibling in a family that includes one older brother.

At a young age, he was always intrigued by the music. It made him feel at ease. He wasn’t really the best at school though which surprises many of his fans as he is known as one of the geniuses in the team, but he never let that stop him. He would sell some mixtapes he would produce on the street to make some extra money for his family and himself. Sadly his parents were not very fond about the idea of him following this path and they expressed it by destroying the mini studio he had set up in his room.

However, Young did not let this stop him. He kept pursuing his dream and went on to be an underground rapper where he would then get the stage name “Gloss.” During his Gloss era, he was then scouted by a small company, BigHit Entertainment.

This company was small, as it was just starting. In South Korea, the entertainment industry is built off of a nicknamed “BIG 3” who recruit Korean pop idols, actors, and singers. These companies consisted of YG entertainment, JYP entertainment, and SM entertainment. They had the biggest soloist and K-Pop groups already trending in South Korea, meaning this wouldn’t be an easy entree for Yoongi.

Debut of Agust D

On June 12, 2013, it was officially announced that Bangtan Sonyeondan (aka BTS_ would join the industry. For years they struggled to be able to get well known within their own home country, but they eventually were able to make it. Yoongi is the producer of the group alongside Kim Namjoon who is the leader, but later Min Yoongi would have a second stage name, “Agust D.”

On August 15, 2016, he made his appearance to the world as a solo artist. He slowly started to introduce his music to fans through Sound Cloud. This was a way for Yoongi to bring out his alter ego. Agust D represents his raw side, a side that would be looked down upon by Korean netizens (citizens with heavy internet presences). AgustD raps and sings about personal struggles he has has to endured while also talks about the corruption of both the Korean and American music industry.

The first song that got released for the world to see was “Agust D.” The meaning behind this song was a diss to all the Korean rappers that would constantly talk down to K-Pop idol groups, saying that they aren’t true rappers, they are just pretty boys who use makeup. August D responded saying, “You wasted rappers should be grateful that I’m an idol,” emphasizing that these so called rappers don’t have much of a competition between them because he is in a different part of the industry, but if he were to have debuted as a rapper they would have been put to shame against him.

He also brags not just about his rap abilities but about the groups success not just within the Korean industry, but also worldwide. Agust D became well loved by fans and he proceeded to release a second album titled “D-2.”

His title track “Daechwita”, he raps that he has decided to be humble as he has already experienced hardship in the past years and wants to give back to those who believed in him. Even with all the success built off the backs of him and his members hard work, he believes in giving back. One of the latest donations done by him dates back to March 9, 2023 when one of the most devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria. Agust D had donated around ₩1,000,000 (roughly US$76,000) to aid those who were affected by it. He expressed that he hoped that it could help them out and get them out of the current situation they are having to face, plus to grant children any extra needs they might have needed even before the earthquake.

What is Agust D Up To?

Currently, as of May 16,2023, Agust D is on a solo tour. He is fulfilling his activities as a solo artist before enlisting to the military for mandatory attendance alongside with his fellow members Kim Seokjin and Jung Hoseok (two of the other eldest members of BTS).

This tour is in celebration of his 3rd release of his album “D-Day,” where he gets more personal on things that he has had to face as Min Yoongi. He also was able to release a documentary that builds up to his tour in Disney + where you can see various famous artist and music composers being featured such as Halsey and Steve Aoki. You also get snippets of  the music he has been working on for this release, one which personally stood out to me was “Amalgyda.”

In the song he talks about moments he has had to face during his childhood. He shares about how his mother had nearly died of a heart surgery, having to undergo during his birthday. He expresses about how much guilt he felt that his mother had a near death experience while giving birth to him. Agust D uses this life scarring experience as a way to make himself stronger, in the song he refers himself as a lotus flower, which is known to be resilient. He sees himself as this flower because of all the struggles he has had to face and still be managed to have a successful life after all and is still striving to do more.

Min Yoongi is Agust D, he is the embodiment of what we all want to let out, anger, frustration, stress, and sadness. He projects this through his alter ego, by creating a safe space for those who can not find an escape from their own mind, creating a space place for them to find refuge despite the language barrier. Despite it all, many find it reassuring to know that such a huge artist is or has gone through the same thing us non famous people have had to go through, making Agust D stand apart.

“Life is tough, and things don’t always work out well, but we should be brave and go on with our lives.”- Min Yoongi