Before BTS’ Suga Loved Hip-Hop, He Only Listened to Classical Music

Suga is one of BTS’ award-winning rappers and songwriters, often sharing solo music under the stage name Agust D. With BTS sometimes branching out to release music of other genres, it makes sense that Suga got his start with classical music. 

Here’s what we know about BTS’ rapper behind songs like “Outro: Tear” and “Trivia: Seesaw.” 

Suga from BTS is the rapper behind songs like ‘Interlude: Shadow’ and ‘Trivia: Seesaw’ 

Some ARMYs know this rapper as Lil Meow Meow. Suga is one of the seven members of the award-winning boy band, BTS. Suga is also a songwriter and producer for this K-pop group, co-writing songs like “Telepathy” off BTS’ Be (Deluxe Edition). 

“Most of the music that I grew up listening to talked about dreams, hope, and introspection in the midst of despair,” Suga said during an interview with BuzzFeed News. “I got influenced by that kind of music and became who I am today. So in turn, I also want to give that kind of influence.”

Outside of his work with BTS, Suga releases solo music under the stage name Agust D. That includes his song “Daechwita” off of his 2020 release D-2. (Jungkook and Jin even appeared in the “Daechwita” music video.) Before he was even in BTS, this musician was writing and performing music.

Suga got his start in the underground rap scene

According to Bangtan Online, while he was still attending school, Suga took “classical music composition classes to improve his songwriting skills.” The “Interlude: Shadow” performer’s relationship with classical music didn’t begin there. According to The Fact Site, before Suga was introduced to hip-hop, Suga only listened to classical music.

Before being a BTS member, Suga released music under the stage name “Gloss.” He reportedly chose this name because it was similar to the meaning of his real name, “Yoongi,” which roughly translates to “shine” or “gloss.” In 2010, the artist was also part of the hip-hop crew “D-Town.”

BTS’ Suga shares his support for most kinds of music

Although BTS is known for pop songs like “Butter,” “Dynamite,” and “Permission to Dance,” this K-pop group often explores other genres. That’s thanks to original songs like “BTS Cypher, Pt. 4,” “Singularity,” and “Filter.” 

“Frankly, I can’t understand people who want to put down a certain type of music, whatever that might be,” Suga said during a 2018 interview with The Guardian. “Classical music was pop music in its own age. It’s a matter of taste and understanding – there’s no good or bad, there’s no highbrow or lowbrow.”

Of course, Suga’s favorite music to listen to is somewhere between pop, rap, and hip-hop. In his “Suga’s Favorite Tracks” Spotify playlist, the artist included hit songs from Post Malone, DJ Khaled, Machine Gun Kelly, and LOVEONFRIDAY. 

Music by Agust D is available on most major streaming platforms.