BTS’ Suga and Psy Became ‘Best Friends 16 Years Apart’ While Working on ‘That That’
K-pop legend Psy is back with new music for the first time since 2017’s 4×2=8. The “Gangnam Style” singer will drop his new album on Friday, April 29. He recently announced the lead single, “That That” was produced by BTS’ Suga. The collaboration brings together two K-pop icons from different generations. Psy 9th also includes several other collaborations with noted South Korean artists.
Suga says, ‘we became besties in a way’
On Monday, April 25, Psy announced the first single off his new album, Psy 9th. In a Twitter post, the singer shared an illustration of his image dressed in cowboy attire with sunglasses. The text reads “THAT THAT” with “prod. By SUGA of BTS” written underneath. Suga is a rapper, songwriter, producer, and member of the K-pop group BTS.
Along with the single announcement, Psy shared another post with a video titled “Best Friends 16 Years Apart.” In the video, 44-year-old Psy and 29-year-old Suga discuss what it was like working together.
“When meeting younger artists, I don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable,” Psy said. “I don’t want to be someone who’s hard to approach. He just wasn’t my junior in the business, but also he truly feels like a friend.”
Their age difference didn’t seem to bother him. “It was hard to feel any age gap.” Psy continued, “If he thinks of me as a bestie, that’s great for me.”
“At first, because he’s many years my senior and someone who’s well-respected in the business I was quite nervous,” Suga said. “It felt like working with a childhood friend so it made the songwriting process that much more fun,” he further explained. “We became besties in a way.”
Psy’s album will feature more collaborations with some of South Korea’s biggest stars
BTS’ Suga is not the only big name listed on Psy’s album. For Psy 9th, the singer and P Nation founder has enlisted some of the biggest names in music from South Korea. On April 27, he shared the tracklist with an updated picture of “That That’s” artwork to include Suga.
Mamamoo’s Hwasa will join Psy for a cover of Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora’s 1984 song “When the Rain Begins to Fall.” Singer and songwriter Crush is listed as a feature on “Happier.”
Tablo from Epik High joins Psy on “Forever.” Singer and media personality Jessi is featured on “Ganji.” Psy 9th also features “Celeb,” written by rapper Zico. In a music video teaser, actor and singer Suzy is shown dancing with Psy.
Jessi and Crush are currently artists under Psy’s label, P Nation.
Psy manifested his next big hit would come in 2022
Earlier this month, Psy shared a video on his Instagram where he said his next big hit would come in 2022. The video was taken at a concert in Dec. 2013.
Psy told the audience, “I know a lot of you have high expectations for my next hit song. To be honest, I produced ‘Champion’ in 2002, and it took me exactly 10 years to produce a song that is more sensational than ‘Champion’ with the release of ‘Gangnam Style’ in 2012.”
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, perhaps the next time you’ll meet a song like ‘Gangnam Style’ will be in 2022.”
Enlisting Suga from BTS is a great start. Psy’s album, including the title track “That That,” drops at 6 PM KST / 5 AM ET on Friday, April 29.
