[0:00]Before, we were way too competitive, I guess? I feel like, in the rush to achieve our goals, we didn't care so much about our physical and emotional health. But now we can relax a little, especially since we're all older.
[0:29]Suga, welcome back to the cover of Rolling Stone. Did completing the trilogy as Agust D, did it give you a sense of completion and that you were ready to move on both in life and as an artist in in in some kind of profound way? Yeah, and I went to the military right after that, so I did feel quite resolved after finishing the trilogy. I felt like Agust D was wrapped up. Yeah. It feels like your work as Agust D is like an exorcism of dark feelings that allows you to be Suga, allows you to be in BTS. Yeah, after that final album, I don't have any negative feelings left in my body. You said that you always had like a anger in you. Where does that come from? When I was younger, I guess I had a bit of an inferiority complex. As well as some frustration with society in general, of course. I think it was some combination of those things. One of the things that makes BTS so interesting and I think one of the secret reasons that you're so successful is that it's not the typical personalities or artists that you might expect in an idol group. And I think you just like RM like you're you're not the first person as far as the way that you think, the way that you are as an artist, it's not necessarily a natural fit for you to be an idol group. I was making music in Daegu before I came up to Seoul, and back then I didn't really understand idol groups. But then once I joined one, I learned that it's a lot of work, it gets super busy, and it's not easy at all.
[2:37]Now that I'm used to it, I think I'm actually a good fit for this job. Yeah. When you went into this album, and again, you're so involved in production and you think so sonically, what was your imagined version of this album and how did it compare to what has come out? Our biggest priority was to pursue a new kind of sound that you haven't heard from us before. And I do think it's just a well-made pop album, so we're very satisfied.
[3:25]It wasn't easy to write so many songs, and go through all the rewrites and edits, but it was also a lot of fun, so I think that's why we got good results. We discussed the battles to choose which tracks. Did you personally lose any battles for tracks? Well, I think balance is the most important thing. So I didn't push for a specific track or anything like that. I spent more time listening to different opinions and mediating between them. Regardless, it all turned out very well. Most of my favorite tracks made it in. Even the ones I didn't love at first, I've warmed to after repeat listens. Into the Sun is an amazing song, a really special. What do you remember about that one coming together? So, that track. I listened to it in the studio, then had to go work on the rap part. I ended up writing it on the terrace of the house we were staying at. Before this album, I never imagined working on a song outside. But this time around, I worked outdoors, I worked on the beach. Equipment has gotten very simplified, and you only really need a notebook and pen.
[5:00]So I remember working very quickly, sitting on that terrace. In 2022 when you all first said you were going to take a break, you said that you were running, you felt like you were running out of things to say. What did it take to get past that feeling? So I released my solo album after that. And it was really tough to work on. But now, how do I say this? Nowadays I've been focusing on stressing less about it. I'm always going to find things to say, and then run out of them again. When I look back on the notes app on my phone now, I find that a lot of old memos have taken on a new meaning. So I channeled some of those when working on this album as well.
[5:53]But yes, there's an eternal cycle of finding and running out of things to say. Diplo was so important to this record. and as a fellow producer, I'm curious what you observed and what made him the right guy to to really be a big force behind the sound of this album? Well, he's worked a lot with K-Pop artists already, so he had a good understanding of the work process and setting. And he's a very prolific producer as well.
[6:33]We were at a point where we needed someone who, beyond just writing great songs, could truly understand the flow and structure of an album. Diplo did a really great job with that. I know you're a very serious student of hip hop. If you had to quickly pick your top MCs of all time and and why who would be your pick? First of all, that word "emcee." I was just talking with my friends about how we don't use emcee as much anymore. But anyway... It's difficult to choose. I grew up listening to Eminem, so Eminem. Then Kendrick Lamar. What do you think of the state of American hip hop? There's been a lot of back and forth about, you know, whether whether it's a little stagnant or whether, you know, and it's it's interesting you have your own perspective. What what do you think about what's going on currently? I'm very sad about talented rookies who have passed away, like Juice WRLD. But music always cycles based on trends.
[7:45]Things may seem stagnant at the moment, but before you know it, hip-hop will rise in the charts again. I feel like it's in a transitional period.
[7:59]It's true that hip-hop is a bit stuck right now, but it will surely come back. I was saying to J-Hope that the first 10 years of BTS were about the climb. right? The climb to a kind of superstardom that was very unique. And then the question is, what is now that you're back together, what is the the next phase, what is BTS 2.0 about for you? What is the goal now? We should enjoy ourselves. Before, we were way too competitive, I guess? I feel like, in the rush to achieve our goals, we didn't care so much about our physical and emotional health. But now we can relax a little, especially since we're all older. So I think we can have more fun with it now. It's clear from what RM has said and what you've said in the past that continuing was a choice. You know, I mean, it was always pretty clear, you know, they probably would go on, but you always could make the decision like we have reached a certain level. We can go do other things. We've had our whole lives in this. Tell me about how that works in your mind about just, you know, hey, we we've consciously chosen to come back together and continue. I don't know. There's no way for me to know everyone's individual thoughts and desires, but we all went solo because we couldn't work in a group at the time. So before going into the military, I knew we were always gonna get back together. But I can see how it could be surprising from a foreign perspective. But for us, staying together just felt obvious. So, nobody really had opinions about that. I just thought, yeah, of course we're doing this. So this recommitment, it feels like you've been talking, the members have been talking about performing, uh, 40s, 50s, 60s. Can you see that? As long as we have the will, I believe we can keep going in our seventies and eighties. I'm not sure if we can perform in the same way we do now, but still, we could find a different method. So as long as we have the will, I don't think there will be any problem. What is the real secret of BTS's success in your mind? And both as both success career-wise, but success as a group who stays together and and really loves each other? They're just really funny. It's fun to be around them. And since we've gone through hell and high water together, they feel a bit like comrades, and I think of them as family.
[11:32]I'm sure that's part of our success, is that we share such a strong bond. Plus, everyone is so talented.
[11:43]I think that's why we're able to trust each other on this journey together. Is the scrutiny difficult? There's things that might be small for someone else, it's a big deal in in your context. Is is knowing that that's the way you have to operate tough or? I mean, it's just part of the job. My job is to live within the eyes of the public. Sometimes, I guess, it's not convenient. It's not convenient, but I don't care how others see me, and I never read others' opinions about me. So I don't think it's particularly tough. It's so early to ask, but you have a after having so many songs for this album. Does it give you a vague idea of what the next BTS album could or should be like? Wow, that's all too... You know, Jimin said something in rehearsal the other day. We haven't even started touring, but he said we should make another album as soon as we finish the tour. I have no idea. No clue. Time is moving so fast, and trends change so quickly. And I wonder if we should try releasing singles for a while. See, it was last September when we finished the album at the pre-recording stage. But it took all this time for it to be released. So when we made it, we had no idea about the trends in March and April, or what kind of genres would be popular. It was tricky to try and make good music. For a lot of those reasons, maybe we'll make a single, maybe a mini album, something along those lines. And how about the album after that? I'm just kidding. Thank you so much for being here. It's great to see you.
