If you’re slightly familiar with K-pop, you’ve probably heard of BLACKPINK—even if you haven’t listened to their music. Since their debut in 2016, they’ve broken records, sold out arenas, and cemented their place as one of the most influential girl groups in music right now.
The Members
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- Jisoo (Kim Ji-soo): Lead vocalist and visual of the group. She is known for her 4D personality, and she also works as an actor.
- Jennie (Kim Jennie): Main rapper and lead vocalist. She’s famous for her charisma and cold, rich girl image.
- Rosé (Park Chae-young): Main vocalist and lead dancer. Originally from New Zealand, she’s known for being very passionate about music.
- Lisa (Lalisa Manobal): Main dancer, lead rapper, and the youngest member (maknae). Born in Thailand, she’s known for her dancing skills and for playing Mook in HBO’s satire series The White Lotus.
The Basics
BLACKPINK is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment. They debuted on August 8, 2016, with the single album Square One, featuring the double singles “BOOMBAYAH” and “WHISTLE.” Their dedicated fans are called Blinks, a blend of “black” and “pink.” With millions of fans across the globe, Blinks play a massive part in the group’s success.
The group’s name represents duality and signifies that the group has more than just their beauty. It’s supposed to contrast the soft, sweet femininity associated with the color pink with the strength, edge, and mystery tied to the color black.
BLACKPINK are not the first group to rock a girl crush concept: which is a theme that embodies a strong, confident, self-assured woman. But the group has managed to stand out by incorporating an unattainable, badass, rich girl image that sets them apart from other girl groups.
Their sound is bold and high-energy with Korean-American songwriter Teddy producing nearly their entire discography. Their music is a mix of EDM, hip-hop, and trap, with influences ranging from Middle Eastern rhythms to classical strings.
Cultural Impact and Achievements
BLACKPINK global success is unprecedented for a Korean-based girl group. While girl groups tend to chart higher than boy groups, their popularity is limited to Asia and their fandoms are smaller and less passionate than their male peers. They’re success caused industry executives to reevaluate how to market their girl groups with artists like ITZY, EVERGLOW, BABYMONSTER and MEOVV debuting with more mature concepts centered on empowerment.
They’ve become popular among luxury brands and their bold style has set the standard for idol fashion. They’ve also opened the door for idols to form partnerships with Western fashion houses, whether it’s in the form of being a global ambassador or walking the runway during Fashion Week.
Other achievements include:
- They were the first K-pop group to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, and they have multiple videos with over 1B streams.
- They’re the highest-charting female K-pop group on the Billboard Hot 100 and were the first K-pop girl group to top the Billboard 200 album chart.
- They’re global brand ambassadors for top luxury fashion houses:
- Jisoo for Dior
- Jennie for Chanel
- Rosé for Saint Laurent
- And Lisa for Celine and Bvlgari
- They’re the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella.
- They hold the Guinness World Records for being the most streamed female group on Spotify and for having the most viewed music channel on YouTube.
- They were featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2019 and were TIME Magazine’s Entertainer of the Year in 2022.
- BLACKPINK has been credited for expanding K-pop’s presence in Western media, and for opening the door for more diversity and visibility.
Life Beyond the Group
In 2023, all four members of BLACKPINK chose not to renew their individual contracts with YG Entertainment. This means they’re free to pursue solo activities outside of the agency while remaining with YG for group activities. Since then, the members have been focusing on their own solo ventures:
- Lisa founded her own management company LLOUD, and has been focused on promoting herself as an artist and an actress in the West.
- Jennie created an independent label ODD ATELIER for her solo projects.
- Jisoo launched her own entertainment agency BLISSOO, and has been balancing her acting career with her promotions as an idol.
- Rosé signed with independent agency THEBLACKLABEL, and has achieved meteoric success following the release of her single “APT” with Bruno Mars.
Future Group Activities
Fans won’t have to wait long to see all the members together again. In February 2025, it was announced that BLACKPINK will hold a world tour in July, which is also their first ever stadium tour. The Deadline World Tour kicks off on July 5 at the Goyang Stadium in South Korea, with stops in Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tokyo.
It’s also been reported that BLACKPINK will release a new album in June, though nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
Must Listen Songs
Here are some essential tracks to get you hooked:
- “BOOMBAYAH” – Their debut track. It’s a loud and bold sample of what fans could expect for future releases.
- “WHISTLE” – A minimalist hip-hop track with sultry vocals.
- “PLAYING WITH FIRE” – The tropical house track explores the passion and danger of falling in love.
- “DDU-DU DDU-DU” – Their signature song with their distinct experimental EDM production.
- “Kill This Love” – A song about wanting to escape a toxic relationship filled with marching band horns and drums.
- “How You Like That” – A bombastic anthem about overcoming adversity and resilience.
- “Pink Venom” – Fuses hip-hop and pop with Middle Eastern melodies.
- “Shut Down” – Classical violin meets trap as the girls call out their haters.
- “AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST” – The bubblegum-pop love song is the group’s most playful title track.
- “Tally” – A fan-favorite B-side about living a carefree life where you’re free to pursue your desires.
