Min Yoon-gi, known professionally by his stage names Suga and Agust D, was born on March 9, 1993, in South Korea. He is a rapper, songwriter, and record producer who debuted under Big Hit Entertainment as a member of the immensely popular South Korean boy band BTS in 2013. SUGA's solo career took off with the release of his first mixtape, "Agust D," in 2016, which was re-released in 2018 on digital download and streaming platforms. The mixtape achieved significant success, reaching number three on Billboard's World Albums Chart. In 2020, he followed up with his second mixtape, "D-2," which 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.
On his 25th birthday, Suga fulfilled a promise he made in 2014 to his fans by donating beef to 39 orphanages in the name of "ARMY," BTS' fanbase. The following year, for his 26th birthday, he generously donated ₩100 million (US$85,810.58) along with 329 BT21 Shooky dolls to the Korea
Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
In 2023, Suga made a splash with the release of his debut solo album, "D-Day," which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. This achievement tied him with BTS bandmate Jimin as the highest-charting South Korean solo artists of all time. Beyond his own music, Suga is also a prolific songwriter and producer, credited on over 150 songs. One notable example is Suran's "Wine," which he contributed to and peaked at number two on the Gaon Music Chart. The song also won Best R&B at the 2017 Melon Music Awards.
A full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association, SUGA's talents and contributions have solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in the South Korean music industry. The stage name SUGA (슈가) finds its roots in Min Yoon-gi's basketball days as a student, where he played the position of shooting guard (슈팅 가드). In 2016, he adopted the alias Agust D for his mixtape, drawing from the initials DT for his birthplace, Daegu Town, and "SUGA," spelled backwards. Known for his versatility, Suga takes on multiple roles in his music production process, including writing, composing, arranging, mixing, and mastering his own material. With over 100 registered songs credited to him by the Korea Music Copyright Association, Suga's musical repertoire spans across various genres, with a focus on hip hop and R&B.
SUGA's lyrics often explore themes of dreams and hope, aimed at providing strength and inspiration to listeners. He attributes his passion for hip hop music to the reggae-hip hop hybrid album "Ragga Muffin" (2005) by Stony Skunk, citing it as a significant influence on his musical journey. Critics have praised SUGA's mixtape for its compelling production, hardcore rap style, and ability to transform vulnerabilities into strengths. Jeff Benjamin of Fuse commended Suga's ear for dynamic productions and his adept storytelling, while others lauded his fearless approach to music that eschews censorship and sugarcoating.
In January 2018, SUGA was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association, solidifying his status as a respected figure in the music industry. SUGA faced several health challenges throughout his career. In December 2013, he was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent surgery at Severance Hospital in Sinchon. Although discharged on December 17, he was readmitted on December 26 due to inflammation at the surgical site, forcing him to miss year-end music festivals.
In December 2016, SUGA suffered an ear injury after tripping over a door threshold. Following medical advice, he took a one-week hiatus from performing and participating in choreography, including year-end festivals, to ensure proper healing. In November 2020, SUGA underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum (reverse Bankart tear) in his left shoulder. He announced a break from promotional activities to focus on recovery. Resuming activities in January 2021, he performed with BTS at the 35th Golden Disc Awards.
In February 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, Suga contributed ₩100 million (US$84,726.68) to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to support prevention and relief efforts in his hometown of Daegu, one of the cities most affected by the pandemic at the time. He continued his philanthropic efforts by donating another ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) in March 2021 to Daegu's Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, aimed at assisting child cancer patients facing financial hardships.
Celebrating his 29th birthday on March 9, 2022, SUGA once again demonstrated his generosity by donating ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to aid victims of the extensive wildfires along the country's eastern coastal area. Continuing his commitment to humanitarian causes, on March 9, 2023, Suga donated ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) to the Korean Save the Children. This donation was earmarked for the purchase of blankets, mattresses, and school supplies for children in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
SUGA's consistent acts of kindness and philanthropy reflect his dedication to making a positive impact on society and helping those in need, embodying the spirit of compassion and generosity cherished by BTS and their fanbase worldwide. The Suga Agust D Tour, also referred to as the SUGA | AGUST D TOUR 'D-DAY' following the release of his album, marked the debut worldwide concert tour of South Korean rapper Suga, also known as Agust D, in support of his first studio album, D-Day. This tour commenced on April 26, 2023, in New York City and concluded on August 6, 2023, in Seoul, South Korea.
Big Hit Music unveiled the world tour on February 14, 2023, revealing a poster with dates for 20 shows across the United States, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea. Subsequently, on March 10, 2023, additional shows were announced for June 2–4 at the Pia Arena MM in Kanagawa, Japan. Further expansions to the tour included new shows in Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand, announced on April 5, 2023. During the artist's then-final worldwide concert tour date in Seoul on June 25, 2023, an announcement was made for three additional encore shows at KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea, bringing the total number of shows to 28.
SUGA made history with his ‘SUGA | AGUST D D-DAY Tour’, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour by a South Korean soloist. According to Touring Data, he earned a total revenue of $57.2 million with 28 sold out shows in the U.S. and Asia. The U.S. leg of his tour earned a total revenue of $32.5 million from 11 shows with over 148,993 tickets sold. In Asia, he earned $24.6 million from 17 shows with 171,240 tickets sold. SUGA made history by earning the highest-grossing concerts by a South Korean soloist with his two-day shows at the UBS Arena in New York on April 26-27. According to Touring Data, SUGA’s three-day shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA on May 10-11 and 14 earned $3.164 million each night. With this, SUGA becomes the first rapper to earn over $3 million in a single arena concert in U.S. history.
0 Comments