BLACKPINK

K-pop superstars BlackPink became a global phenomenon following their mainstream breakthrough in the late 2010s. With their brand of hip-hop and trap-influenced dance-pop, they scored a string of Korean and U.S. chart-topping singles, expanding their international audience with hits such as “Whistle,” “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du,” and “How You Like That.” In 2020, they earned the distinction of highest-charting female Korean act to date on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, they released their first Korean-language studio full-length, The Album, which was a massive global success. Their sophomore set, Born Pink, arrived two years later, and topped both the Korean charts and the Billboard 200. The Born Pink world tour broke the Spice Girls’ record as the highest-grossing tour by a female group. Formed by YG Entertainment, the quartet combines the international talents of Korean-born lead vocalist Jisoo Kim, New Zealand-raised main rapper/vocalist Jennie Kim, Australian-raised main vocalist Rose Park Chae Young, and Thai lead rapper Lalisa Manoban (aka Lisa, born Pranpriya Manoban). BlackPink debuted with their single album Square One, which featured their first two chart-toppers, “Boombayah” and “Whistle.” Produced and written with Teddy Park, Future Bounce, and Bekuh Boom, Square One introduced a “K-trap” style that would become the girls’ calling card. Both tracks climbed the charts in the United States and Korea, even breaking into the French singles chart. Months later, they released Square Two, which entered the U.S. Heatseekers chart at number 13 and the World Albums chart at number two. Square Two also became the first debut for a K-pop girl group on the Canadian charts. In the summer of 2017, the group issued the chart-topping single “As If It’s Your Last,” their third to top the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. Months later, they made their Japanese debut with the Blackpink EP (YGEX/Avex Entertainment), which compiled past hits in newly recorded Japanese versions. Topping the Japanese charts, BlackPink became just the third foreign artist debut to do so. Re:BlackPink arrived in early 2018, combining previously issued tracks from both Japanese and Korean releases. The Square Up EP appeared that summer, headed by the international smash single “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du.” In addition to entering the U.K. trending chart, the song became the highest showing on the Billboard Hot 100 by an all-female K-pop group (following Wonder Girls’ 2009 hit “Nobody”). The EP also made moves on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting all-female K-pop effort to date at number 40. Later that October, the group signed a global partnership deal with Interscope/Universal and appeared on the collaborative single “Kiss and Make Up” with English pop star Dua Lipa. The track hit the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Top 40. BlackPink closed out the year with the release of their Japanese debut, Blackpink in Your Area. In 2019, the quartet announced an international tour, which included notable stops at Coachella and Summer Sonic, and issued a second Korean-language EP, Kill This Love. The release topped the U.S. World Albums chart, boosted by yet another international hit single, “Kill This Love.” With their international popularity steadily rising, BlackPink released their seventh single to hit number one on a global chart, “How You Like That.” They also collaborated with a pair of American pop stars, first on Lady Gaga’s “Sour Candy” and then with Selena Gomez on their single “Ice Cream.” The latter track landed on their first official Korean-language full-length, The Album, which arrived in October 2020. In addition to the Gomez duet, the set featured an appearance by rapper Cardi B on “Bet You Wanna.” Upon release, The Album topped the Korean chart and entered the Top Three in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. BlackPink’s fourth live album, Blackpink 2021 'The Show' Live, featured performances captured during their pay-per-view virtual concert The Show, which took place in January of that year. Following the success of that live event, the quartet issued a Japanese version of The Album in August, then returned to the studio for their next album. BlackPink’s sophomore full-length effort, Born Pink, arrived in September 2022, bolstered by the international chart-toppers “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down.” It hit number one on the Korean albums chart and topped the Billboard 200. On the heels of the album’s release, they embarked on the Born Pink world tour, which ran from October 2022 to September 2023 and broke the Spice Girls’ record as the highest-grossing tour by a female group. In May 2023, they heralded the release of their mobile game Black Pink: The Game with the single “The Girls.” ~ Neil Z. Yeung