‘Suga is the Eminem of K-pop': Grammy-winning producer reveals why the West wants to work with the singer

Indian Express

16 hours ago

BTS member SUGA kicked off a solo world tour before heading to the military, spanning 102 days across 10 countries, including the United States. The rapper of the seven-member boy band saw his popularity hit a whole new high. But apart from being a performer, SUGA is known for producing his own music—something he's been obsessed with since childhood. He's done it for big names in the industry like Heize, IU, PSY, OMI, Suran, and even Jungkook. But according to Grammy-winning producer Frankie Biggz, SUGA isn't just another idol. His music is now being recognised overseas, and he's changing how people view producers in the K-pop space. Biggz even compared his authenticity to that of U.S. rapper Eminem.
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Biggz, who's worked with names like Kanye West, 50 Cent, and Eminem, was recently interviewed by Honorary Reporters, a program backed by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He praised the 'Daechwita' hitmaker for proving that music producers don't always need to stay behind the curtain. They can create beats, master albums, and take full control, on stage, on tour, and on charts worldwide, all at once. What really struck him was how SUGA does it all while being part of one of the most influential groups in the world. A group whose voice reaches even the UN, yet here's a guy still handling every inch of his creative process, start to finish. '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,' Biggz said.
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To Biggz, SUGA's already carved a niche that puts him at the top of every Western label's wish-list. 'He's an amazing artiste, 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 artistes because he is one of the most talented people on earth.' Artistes like him aren't just collaborators, they are someone who bridges the gap, the producer emphasised. '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,' Biggz said. Since SUGA understands both Korean and Western sounds, he's in a unique spot to connect the two, and the industry trusts him to do just that. 'But I think that SUGA is just a chameleon in terms of production,' he added.
Biggz also pointed out what separates legends like Kanye and Eminem: 'that maniacal obsession with their careers,' something he clearly sees in SUGA too. Drawing a direct comparison to Eminem, he said: 'He has that presence. He has that authenticity, like Eminem, SUGA carries himself with respect, but if someone offends one of his team members, you're going to have to talk to him first.'
'In the future, K-pop will likely have an increasing influence on global trends,' Biggz said, adding, '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.' The producer acknowledged that while he isn't sure what kind of life SUGA lived in his early days, one thing he's certain of is that this kind of resilience, understanding, presence, and toughness, those genuine qualities, don't come from a perfect life situation.