BTS’s SUGA, who is known for his producing skills, was recently recognized by Frankie Biggz, a Grammy Award-winning record Producer.
Frankie Biggz was interviewed by Honorary Reporters, members of a program run under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea. Biggz is a producer whose career spans decades of hits and collaborations with iconic figures in Western music, including Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and Christina Aguilera, as well as remixes for 50 Cent and Eminem.
Throughout the interview, Frankie Biggz reflected on how Min Yoongi transformed the perception of K-pop beyond Korea, and what the future held for the Korean music industry thanks to artists like him. According to him, SUGA had a role in the Global Evolution of K-pop.
Q: You worked with such diverse artists as Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, and Eminem early in their careers. What common threads did you observe in their approach to music that foreshadowed their future success? How might these observations be applicable to Min Yoongi’s talent and vision?
I’ll put it this way: the one common thread I observed among these artists was their maniacal obsession with their careers. What united them was their constant drive for development; it was a relentless work ethic. So, for SUGA to be doing what he’s doing, he had to be obsessed with it. He was obsessed even before he became a member of BTS. This kind of work environment was something he understood. I think he leveraged all his experience and all the skills he acquired as a producer to adapt with ease.
Q: You gained valuable knowledge from Dr. Dre, Fred Hammond, and other legendary producers. What is the most important lesson you learned about the art of production? How can this lesson be applied to understanding Min Yoongi’s production expertise?
The lesson I learned from those guys is, first of all, don’t rush the process; let it develop. And secondly, don’t give up on songs. Even if you’re making a track, trying, starting to work on it, and then you realize it’s not working out, many artists tend to just move on to something else, thinking they’ll come back to it later. But then sometimes they never do. I was taught that you can’t do that, that you have to keep going until you get it right. And what I see in SUGA is that, in order to exist in the idol arena, having been a producer before that, he had to apply values like persistence and determination. It means you can’t give up; every project has to be completed. And I think that the culture of Korea is precisely like that: no unfinished work. Being a producer and cultivating that kind of mindset within yourself – no unfinished work – that’s what made him who he is today.
Frankie Biggz reacting to SUGA’s song “Snooze” on his official YouTube channel
Q: How would you describe the role of a producer in today’s musical landscape? Do you think the role of a producer has changed over time, and if so, how? In your opinion, how is Min Yoongi shaping the modern understanding of the producer’s role?
Music production, recording, and production have undergone several stages of evolution. And here comes someone like SUGA, who can apply the knowledge of all those stages today, alongside music, video, and his image. That’s been the goal of every producer since the beginning of time.
But I think that SUGA kind of combines the role of producer and artist, and that’s the difference, because now he can get any studio he wants. He can not only share all his studio experience, all his creative process, with the most popular group on the planet, but he can also do it using tools and sounds that we don’t even have yet. So, when it comes to breaking through, when it comes to who’s going to be the first to introduce a sound, who’s going to be the first to carve their way through all of that, he’s winning. Right now, when it comes to BTS and you’re talking about the space of production, recording, and songwriting, this guy is a pioneer. He’s a pioneer because he has access. And he has access and understands it because he spent the time to understand the whole idea of recording. That’s why he achieved what he has today. And that’s the difference.
Frankie Biggz reacting to Agust D’s MV Trilogy
Q: Do you see any commonalities in Eminem’s and Min Yoongi’s techniques?
I don’t know SUGA’s life, but that kind of demeanor, that kind of presence, and that toughness doesn’t come from a perfect life situation. This guy has deep, I’d say, genuine qualities. He’s resilient. He has character. The name SUGA itself – it’s cool. You know what I mean? He has that presence. He has that authenticity, like Eminem. It’s all about how you carry yourself. And SUGA carries himself with respect, but if someone offends one of his team members, you’re going to have to talk to him first. And that stance comes through in his music and performances.
Q: Min Yoongi has already collaborated with a number of American artists. What do you think makes him an attractive partner for Western musicians?
First of all, he’s an amazing artist, he looks great, the camera loves him, and he has millions of fans around the world; that’s a very attractive quality for any Western label. Secondly, it’s not just for show. He attracts Western artists because he is one of the most talented people on earth.
Most people who want to collaborate, major artists, will want to collaborate with artists who are doing roughly the same type of music as they are. Where do you see Juice WRLD doing the same thing as BTS? But I think that SUGA is just a chameleon in terms of production. I think he’s one of those guys who can do anything. Does it surprise me? No, it doesn’t surprise me at all. And why do I think that? Because I think that being a member of BTS and trying to exist outside of it has worked for all of them. But sometimes I just think that maybe people don’t appreciate them enough. So, I think that in a way, SUGA as a producer is a little bit underrated, and we need to change that.
SUGA produced music for different artists such as Heize, IU, PSY, OMI, Suran, and Jungkook
Q: What role do you think producers like Min Yoongi will play in shaping the future of K-pop?
He has a chance to change the game in terms of how producers are viewed, meaning he’s showing that I’m a producer and I’m also an artist. I can make beats, I can mix and master, and at the same time, I can go on stage and dominate at a concert, I can sell records, I can do all of that.
I think that he could be in a position that will allow him to facilitate opportunities for other producers, other Western producers, so they can come into the K-pop industry and, you know, show them what recording is all about. Because of who he is, and because of how well he does it, he can do it. He’s someone who can be trusted with that job. Someone who can be trusted with that job will always be in a position to change the game, so I hope that he does. How he’s going to do it, I don’t know. I hope that he just makes it easier for up-and-coming producers to showcase their music.
In the future, K-pop will likely have an increasing influence on global trends. As Frankie Biggz notes, Min Yoongi can become a conduit for Western professionals into the Korean industry, demonstrating that professionalism and respect for the process are universal values of the Korean music industry.
