Agust D

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This article is about the mixtape. For the rapper of the same name, see Suga (rapper).

Agust D

Mixtape by 

Agust D

Released August 15, 2016

Recorded 2011–2016

Genre Hip hop

Length 28:13

Language Korean

Label Big Hit

Producer Agust D

Agust D chronology
 Agust D D-2
(2016) (2020)

Singles from Agust D

1. "Agust D"

Released: August 15, 2016

2. "give it to me"

Released: August 18, 2016

Agust D is the debut mixtape by South Korean rapper Agust D, better known as Suga
of boy-band BTS. It was released on August 15, 2016, by Big Hit
Entertainment on SoundCloud.

Contents

 1Background and development

 2Music and lyrics
 3Release and commercial performance
 4Track listing
 5Personnel
o 5.1Musicians
o 5.2Technical and production
 6Release history
 7References

Background and development[edit]

Prior to launching his career as the rapper Suga of South Korean boy band BTS, Agust
D began writing music lyrics and working with MIDI at age 13 and held a part-time
job composing and arranging music at a recording studio at age 17.[1] Active under the
name "Gloss" as an underground rapper,[2] Agust D originally entered Big Hit
Entertainment as a producer in 2010[3] and trained under Big Hit Entertainment for three
years alongside members J-Hope and RM before making his debut as a member
of BTS in 2013.[4] In the initial years of his career in BTS, both he and his fellow group
member RM faced criticism from the South Korean underground hip hop scene for
"selling out" and becoming K-pop idols.[5][6]
Between his commitments as a member of BTS, Agust D took advantage of time on the
plane and in hotel rooms after concerts to continuously produce and compose music.
[7]
 In an interview for Grazia Korea, Agust D expressed a desire to release the music he
wanted to do without having to consider popular appeal or music ranking. He intended
to release his music for free in the form of a mixtape to avoid such considerations,
commenting that an album "has a feeling of being trapped in some sort of framework"
due to the need for company involvement in promotion and advertising.
Developing Agust D musically on the base of hip hop, much of Agust D's inspiration for
the lyrics came from his own stories of dream, youth, and reality. [1]
In order to differentiate his work from that of his work as Suga, he developed the alter
ego "Agust D", which is derived from the initials DT, short for his
birthplace, Daegu Town, and "Suga" spelled backwards.[1] Steadily accumulating songs
in his career, Agust D utilized a number of songs composed as early as 2011 to as late
as a month before release to create his mixtape. [8] The release of Agust D followed RM's
self-titled mixtape RM (2015) and the success of BTS' first compilation album The Most
Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever (2016) and The Most Beautiful Moment in Life
On Stage: Epilogue Tour.[9][10]

Music and lyrics[edit]

The final cut of Agust D comprises ten tracks on SoundCloud and eight tracks on
streaming and download services.[11] Critics viewed Agust D as a major departure from
his previous catalog as a member of BTS with a hardcore rap style highlighting
his underground influences.[9][10] Billboard and Fuse complimented the album's
divergence from his contemporaries in K-pop with its vulnerability and Agust D's self-
production.[10][12]
In Agust D, Agust D exposed his inner thoughts on his beginnings to his rise to stardom.
"Intro ; Dt sugA", showcasing the style of classic turntablism hip hop, preceded the self-
introduction track "Agust D" which utilized fast and precise rap techniques over "deep
and intense bass" to underscore his confidence and self-identity. [5] "Give It to Me"
launched into "full-on disses" towards his detractors and the subsequent "Skit" explored
the duality of Agust D and Suga "as a human being and as a musician". [5] While
"724148" reflected on the meaning of "success" and Agust D's beginnings in his
hometown of Daegu, the track "140503 at Dawn", composed of minimal beats, reflected
on his underlying vulnerability in the early morning before transitioning into the track
"The Last" which utilized dramatic beats and rap techniques [5] to portray his soul
consumed by depression, obsession, and self-hatred following the pursuit of his dream
in Seoul.[10] In "Tony Montana", Agust D took on the character of Tony Montana from the
1983 film Scarface to ruminate on the nature of success, ambition, and envy. The lyrics
of "Interlude: Dream, Reality" consisted of only the word "dream", leading into the final
track "So Far Away" which reflected on the essence of the word "dream" [5] while urging
his listeners to continue dreaming. [10]