I don't like rap unless it's in Korean.
Wow, what a way to start an article... I can hear all of you rap fans screaming profanities right now--I'm sorry! That's just my preference! But my music taste is not exactly what I want to rant about right now. The very impatient wait for Min Yoongi's, or "Suga" as he is known as in the popular South Korean band BTS, mixtape is finally over!
AGUST D HAS BEEN DROPPED
August 15th should now forever be celebrated as the day Min Yoongi set the world on fire with his first mixtape ever released. The mixtape has been hinted at and rumored for a while now, and when fans were told it would be officially released in "early August," the tension and excitement could've been sliced and diced. Agust D was dropped around midnight with the release of the music video for the title song "Agust D" (which is also coincidentally the alias Yoongi is using) on YouTube and tweeted about by BTS' official Twitter page. The full mixtape features ten tracks all written and composed by Yoongi with some songs featuring other artists such as DJ Friz, Yankie, and SURAN on top of vocals done by fellow BTS members. Two more MV's will be released for the songs "So Far Away" and "Give It To Me," but no official dates have been announced yet. Fans all over the world (me included) are screaming since this mixtape represents years of blood, sweat, and tears for the 23 year old rapper--it's a proud moment.
I remember that I was on Tumblr going through the BTS tag when I first saw that the mixtape was rumored to be released soon. My hype level might've started at a 7, but it shot up to a 107 real fast after seeing the fans' dedication. I'm used to being a part of insane fandoms (*cough* Supernatural *cough*), but let me tell you that Kpop fans are SO MUCH WORSE.
When August finally hit, every BTS fan (or ARMYs as we're called) in the world was biting their nails in preparation for this mixtape's release. You can't imagine (unless you're familiar with Tumblr or are a user yourself) the CRAZINESS that went on when it was finally dropped! It takes a lot for something to trend on Tumblr, but Agust D was in first place for at least half of the day. Min Yoongi basically broke the internet and his fanbase.
I personally have had this mixtape on repeat ever since it dropped. First of all, Agust D" literally is "DT Suga" spelled backwards. For those of you who aren't familiar with this significance: Daegu (the "DT"), South Korea was where Yoongi grew up and Suga is his stage name as a BTS member. Clever, boy. Secondly, the music is absolutely fantastic. Agust D is literally Yoongi's soul on a silver platter. He talks about his struggles with insecurities, self-hatred, social-phobia, depression, the stress of idol life--everything real and everything him. It actually hurts how much I can relate to his lyrics (not the idol part obviously, but you get what I mean). I can't find any lies in the stories that he is telling with his music--it's all painful, beautiful honesty in its raw form. And the beats? Forget about it--I was slain, resurrected and slain again. I can pretend that I can rap all I want, but trying to rap in Korean while head banging and dancing in a chair at my kitchen table? What a sight (I think I pulled something).
The mega plus is that he released this mixtape for free for his fans to enjoy. That's like spending 3 years painting a masterpiece and putting it in a small, non-profit gallery for people to appreciate. I never have called a piece of music "art" until this day (and I enjoy some classical music on the side). From the 100% aesthetically pleasing music video to the self produced mixtape itself, this is real art. It takes a true amount of courage to show the "not so pretty" parts of yourself to the world (believe me, I know), and for that I have a greater amount of respect for Min Yoongi.
If you can appreciate grungy, underground style rap about real life struggles and mental health, then please check it out! You can listen to the full mixtape on YouTube here, but it is also available on Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud; as well as multiple downloadable options via the BTS Twitter page.
