Blackpink is a South Korean girl band formed by YG Entertainment. It was officially formed in 2016. The group’s name reflects their contrasting concepts of being fierce and strong (black) while also sweet and feminine (pink).
1. Jisoo
Kim Ji-soo known as Jisoo, is a South Korean singer and actress. She was born on January 3, 1995. Jisoo made her acting debut with a cameo role in the series The Producers. She played her first leading role in the series Snowdrop.
Jisoo won the Best Actress Award at the 2022 Seoul International Drama Awards for the series Snowdrop.Jisoo made her solo music debut with the single album Me on March 31, 2023. Its lead single “Flower” was a commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Global 200 and the Circle Digital Chart.
2. Jennie
Kim Jennie was born on January 16, 1996. Jennie is a South Korean singer, rapper, and actress. She was born and raised in South Korea. Jennie studied in New Zealand for five years before returning to South Korea in 2010.
She debuted as a member of the girl group Blackpink in August 2016. Jennie made her debut as a solo artist with the single “Solo” in November 2018. The single topped both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart. In 2023, she made her acting debut under the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane in American series The Idol.
3. Rose
Roseanne Park known as Rosé is a Korean-New Zealand singer and dancer based in South Korea. She was born on 11 February 1997 in New Zealand and raised in Australia. Rosé signed with YG Entertainment following a successful audition in 2012 . She trained for four years before debuting as a member of the girl group Blackpink in August 2016.
In March 2021, Rosé made her solo debut with her single album R. Its lead single “On the Ground” was a commercial success, peaking in the top five on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. The song earned Rosé two Guinness World Records. The album’s second single “Gone” peaked in the top ten in South Korea as well.
4. Lisa
Lalisa Manobal/Manoban (born Pranpriya Manobal), known mononymously as Lisa is a Thai rapper, singer and dancer. She was born on March 27, 1997.
Lisa made her solo debut with her single album Lalisa in September 2021 with songs, Lalisa and its viral second single “Money” .
Lisa earned seven Guinness World Records, a Gaon Chart Music Award, a Mnet Asian Music Award, and the first MTV Video Music Award and MTV Europe Music Award ever won by a K-pop soloist. She has been the most-followed K-pop artist on Instagram since 2019.
MUSICAL STYLE:
Their international appeal is ambidetrous. Blackpink’s music is a seamless blend of various genres, including pop, hip-hop, and EDM, which caters to a broad audience. Their fashion-forward sense and striking visuals also help them stand out.
Furthermore, the group’s ability to sing and rap in multiple languages, including Korean, English, and Japanese, allows them to connect with fans worldwide. Blackpink’s music videos are renowned for their high production values, featuring elaborate sets, stunning choreography, and fashionable outfits. All these elements, combined with the group’s charisma and stage presence, contribute to their global popularity.
DEBUT & EARLY SUCCESS:
Their debut single album, “Square One,” featuring tracks like “Boombayah” and “Whistle,” was an instant hit in South Korea. They soon gained recognition for their edgy, hip-hop-influenced style, and captivating music videos. In just a few years, Blackpink became a household name in the K-Pop industry.
One of Blackpink’s most significant achievements has been their success on the global stage. Their breakthrough came with the single “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du,” which not only made them a sensation in South Korea but also became the most-watched K-Pop music video on YouTube at the time.
FANDOM
Blackpink fans are known as “Blinks.” Blinks are a diverse group of individuals who come together to support and celebrate the group. They are known for their dedication, often breaking records for streaming music videos, buying albums, and trending topics related to the group on social media.
CAREER
FIRST SINGLE ALBUM
Blackpink was the first girl group to debut under YG Entertainment in seven years. They released their debut single album, Square One, on August 8, 2016. The album consisted of tracks “Boombayah” and “Whistle”. They charted at number one and two on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.
SECOND SINGLE ALBUM
Blackpink released their second single album, Square Two on November 1, 2016. The album consisted of tracks “Playing with Fire” and “Stay”.
“Playing with Fire” was Blackpink’s second single to reach number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. It was also the first K-pop girl group song to chart on the Canadian Hot 100.
ROOKIE AWARDS
Blackpink earned several rookie awards within 5 months of their debut. They won awards like Asia Artist Awards, Seoul Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, Melon Music Awards and others.
The group released their first standalone digital single, “As If It’s Your Last” on June 22, 2016.
FIRST WORLD TOUR
Blackpink began their first tour – Blackpink Arena Tour 2018, in Osaka, Japan to promote their Japanese EP. The tour initially consisted of a set for six shows across Osaka, Fukuoka and Chiba. Later, an additional show in Chiba was added due to immense demand. As a Christmas gift for Blinks, a final tour was added at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
The group held their first concert in Seoul, Blackpink 2018 Tour [In Your Area] Seoul x BC Card, at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena. It was the first show of the In Your Area World Tour. The tour was continued throughout 2019 and early 2020 in North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia. The tour became the highest-grossing tour by a Korean girl group.
FIRST JAPANESE ALBUM
Blackpink’s first Japanese studio album, Blackpink in Your Area, was made available digitally on November 23, 2019 and physically on December 5, 2019. The album included Japanese versions of all of their previous releases. The album debuted at number nine on the Oricon Albums Chart.
AMERICAN DEBUT
Blackpink made their American debut at the Universal Music Group’s 2019 Grammy Artist Showcase on February 9, 2019. Subsequently, they appeared on several American television shows, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Good Morning America.
Blackpink performed various songs on the show.
THIRD EXTENDED PLAY
Blackpink’s third extended play, Kill This Love, was released on April 5, 2019, alongside a single of the same name. The single peaked at various charts.
COACHELLA PERFORMANCE 2019
In 2019, Blackpink made history as the first K-Pop girl group to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Their performance at this iconic event introduced them to an even wider international audience.
FIRST STUDIO ALBUM
How You Like That
Blackpink released the single “How You Like That” on June 26, 2020. It peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks. “How You Like That” became Blackpink’s fifth song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The musical video also broke five Guinness World Records.
Blackpink released their first Korean studio album, “The Album”, on October 2, 2020. Blackpink became the first-ever million-selling K-pop girl group with The Album. It approximately sold 1.2 million copies in less than one month after it’s release.
Blackpink also released a Japanese version of The Album. It consisted of Japanese versions for four out of the eight tracks (“How You Like That”, “Pretty Savage”, “Lovesick Girls”, and “You Never Know”). It peaked at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart.
VIRTUAL CONCERT - 2022
Blackpink held a virtual in-game concert called Blackpink: The Virtual in PUBG Mobile from July 22 to 30, 2022. The concert included performances of the group’s hit songs as well as a special track titled “Ready for Love”. “Ready for Love” was released in full with an animated music video on July 29, 2022.
SECOND STUDIO ALBUM
Ahead of their second album, Blackpink released a pre-release single titled “Pink Venom”. Upon release, “Pink Venom” topped the Billboard Global 200 for two weeks, becoming the first number-one song by a girl group as well as the first Korean song to top the chart for multiple weeks.
They performed “Pink Venom” at MTV Video Music Awards 2022, which made them first female K-Pop group to perform.
Blackpink released their second studio album Born Pink alongside the single “Shut Down” on September 16, 2022. “Shut Down” became their second song to top the Billboard Global 200. The album was sold over 2 million copies. It also topped various charts.
BORN PINK WORLD TOUR
Blackpink embarked on the Born Pink World Tour after the release of the album “Born Pink”. The tour began in Seoul on October 15, 2022.
It was followed by the tours in North America and European through December 2022. The tour was continued in Mexico and Australia in January 2023. The Born Pink World Tour concluded on September 17 with two finale concerts in Seoul.
COACHELLA & ARTS FESTIVAL 2023
Blackpink performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15 and 22 respectively. They became the first Korean group to headline the festival.
Promotional single -The Girls
A promotional single titled “The Girls” was released on August 25, 2023 as part of the soundtrack for their mobile game, Blackpink: The Game.
COLLABORATIONS:
The group’s collaboration with Western artists further illustrates their international influence. English singer Dua Lipa released “Kiss and Make Up” with Blackpink, a new track on the re-released edition of her self-titled debut album.
Their song “Ice Cream” with American pop sensation Selena Gomez was a commercial success, making waves on charts worldwide. Additionally, their 2020 album “The Album” debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, making them the highest-charting K-Pop girl group in history.
Blackpink also worked with Lady Gaga on her sixth studio album, Chromatica. Their collaboration, “Sour Candy”, was released as a promotional single on May 28, 2020.
FASHION & STYLE ICONS
Beyond their music, Blackpink has also made waves in the fashion and beauty industries. They’ve been named global ambassadors for luxury brands like Chanel and have graced the covers of prestigious fashion magazines. The members also have individual endorsements and projects, showcasing their versatility and influence beyond just music.