BTS’s Suga isn’t just singing for himself — why he’s the soundtrack of an angry generation

Entering the BTS fandom feels like stepping into a sprawling mansion, layered with trapdoors, hidden rooms, and cryptic lore. You edge past walls lined with inside jokes and dense choreography debates, learning as you go.

But as a resonating ARMY sentiment is, you will feel at home soon, regardless of how much you know. And, one of the first things that a seasoned ARMY will tell you as they draw up a chair for you: Among BTS’s many layers, one truth becomes clear fast: Min Yoongi, Suga, or his alter-ego Agust D, is one of the most misunderstood members. But his rage: It’s never just about him. It speaks to anyone who’s angry, overwhelmed, or quietly breaking under the weight of the world.

It’s no secret that most of Suga’s songs are about his pain and trials, especially Amygdala, where he bares himself raw, talking about his mother’s surgery and his own accident. But that’s not all: He has something to say to others. When you listen to some of his songs, particularly the gut-wrenching Polar Night, he shows the fissions on society, where people turn against their own. If you’re not on the same side, we’re enemies,” he notes. “An extreme choice / Political correctness whenever it suits me / But keep my mouth shut when it’s too bothersome for me / Selectively hypocritical, an uncomfortable attitude.” And, this is a song that fans made an anthem during his scooter controversy in 2024, when misinformation was at its peak about the incident.

In Haegum, he is done with the ‘nonsense’ that accumulates, because of people’s choices and expression. As he says, your freedom of expression could lead to someone’s death. Is that freedom? This has been interpreted as strong hints towards the constant scrutiny of K-Pop idols and how many of them have had to battle brutal depression through the years, BTS members included. Suga speaks against this pervasive spread of misinformation, particularly in the song Huh, where he attacks unnecessary coverage and speculation.

And finally, with the powerful Snooze, Suga has advice for those who dream. There’s sadness, and angst, but he also he offers a shoulder for aspiring artists who are trying to make their mark in the industry with just a dream.

These echo what he said in 2018, when he had openly talked about his mental health issues and said, “Anxiety and loneliness seem to be with me for life. I put a lot of meaning on how I should work it out, but seems like I have to study it my entire life. With my lyrics, I wanted to say I am anxious, and so are you. Let’s find a way to learn together.”

In the end, Agust D doesn’t offer clean solutions. He offers recognition. His verses are a refuge for anyone who’s ever been dismissed as “too emotional,” “too angry,” or simply “too much.” In a world constantly demanding silence from those in pain, Agust D reminds us that rage can be honest and healing.