Music
Guide
Getting Into… Blackpink
Get to grips with one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time as they gear up for the release of their second album, Born Pink
Since their debut in 2016, Blackpink have become one of the most successful girl groups in the world. Fans of K-pop will know them for their outlandish visuals, coveted fashion and insanely catchy hits. They’ve achieved firsts for Korean girl groups on charts around the world and their music videos are so well-loved that they’ve broken not one but two Guiness World Records.
To many, Blackpink need no introduction. But to those of us looking in from the outside, their celebrity can seem elusive. Just why are Blackpink so huge, and why should we be paying attention to their meteoric rise? Here’s everything you need to know about Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo.
The beginning: YG Entertainment
To understand how a huge K-pop group like Blackpink operates, it’s important to understand where they came from. These weren’t just four friends who got together and decided to form a band. YG Entertainment is one of the biggest players in Korean entertainment – a music production company, talent agency and record label all rolled into one that’s looking to create the stars of tomorrow. Responsible for a number of successful K-pop acts, it was YG Entertainment’s idea to create a new girl group.
The process began in 2010, when the agency held auditions for their new group, recruiting preteen and teenage girls to their rigorous training programme with the promise that if they worked hard, they might be considered for the line-up. Jennie then successfully auditioned for the programme in 2010, with Lisa and Jisoo being accepted in 2011 and Rosé in 2012.
The four girls, along with the others in their cohort, would perform monthly for record execs who would chart their progress. It wasn’t until 2016 that the final line-up was selected and Blackpink was allowed to debut with their first single.
Blackpink members
Jennie
South Korean singer and rapper Jennie is considered by some to be the main rapper of the group. Outside of her career with Blackpink, she debuted as a solo artist in 2018 with her single ‘Solo’, and she’s also set to make her acting debut in HBO series The Idol.
Lisa
The only member of the group not ethnically Korean, Lisa is a Thai dancer, rapper and vocalist. Her solo debut came in 2021 with ‘Lalisa’, with the music video then making her the first K-pop artist in history to win an MTV Music Video Award.
Rosé
Although Rosé is Korean by heritage, she was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia, before relocating to South Korea in order to pursue her dream of entering the music industry. One of the main vocalists in the group, her vocal abilities have been widely praised. She debuted as a solo artist in 2021 with single ‘On the Ground’ and ‘Gone’.
Jisoo
Although Blackpink doesn’t have a clear leader of any kind, South Korean singer Jisoo is considered the group’s main vocalist. Outside of the group, she’s had a number of acting roles, most recently in TV series Snowdrop.
Blackpink music
Square One, Square Two and Square Up
These three projects mark the first era of Blackpink’s music. Square One and Square Two, both single albums made up of two tracks each, were released within a few months of the group being formed. Trap and hip hop influenced, they each packed an explosive punch and straightaway stirred up much excitement about YG’s new girl group. Standouts include the playful ‘Whistle’ and an unexpectedly delicate acoustic guitar entry on Square Two, ‘Stay’.
Square Up, the group’s first Korean language EP, arrived in 2018. The group explored their hip hop influences further but were yet to diversify their sound much beyond that.
Kill This Love
Their next EP marked a shift for the group, bringing them increased international attention. Kill This Love saw them grow more adventurous, then bringing elements of electropop, EDM and acoustic into their established blend of K-pop and hip hop. The EP consisted of five tracks, including a remix of Square Up’s Ddu-Du Ddu-Du. Lead single ‘Kill This Love’ received praise for its creative military sound and Blackpink’s committed vocal delivery.
The Album
Blackpink’s first full-length album arrived in 2020 and signaled that they were beginning to dominate Western pop as well. Previous to the release of their album they had featured on tracks for artists such as Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga. Now they also had huge names guesting on their own songs – Selena Gomez on the sugary sweet ‘Ice Cream’ and Cardi B on poptastic ‘Bet You Wanna’. By now the group were confidently blending genres, switching easily between pop, EDM, R&B and hip hop.
World Tour In Your Area
Blackpink’s 2019-2020 world tour included a stop at Tokyo Dome, where a live album was recorded. The group performed Japanese versions of their biggest hits and the crowd reaction was immortalised.
Blackpink music videos
Known for their busy, high-concept visuals, Blackpink never take the easy route when it comes to making their music videos. Watch them dance in a giant bear trap in ‘Kill This Love’, perform in the middle of what looks to be giant industrial equipment on top of a frozen tundra in ‘How You Like That’, and sing their hearts out from a lake of tar in ‘Pink Venom’. Other notable viewing includes the four of them cycling through a pastel pink wonderland in ‘Ice Cream’ whilst Selena Gomez guards the ice cream van.
Blackpink documentaries
Blackpink: Light Up The Sky
This 2020 Netflix documentary explores the group’s story, stressing the individuality of each member and helping their audience to become better acquainted with their respective personalities. It also follows them as they create their debut studio album and juggle their long list of responsibilities.
Blackpink: The Movie
Half interview, half live show, this South Korean documentary film is a love letter to the group’s fans (known as ‘Blinks’). It offers heartfelt messages to them from the group members, as well as live performances from their world tours.
![BLACKPINK - 5th ANNIVERSARY [4+1] THE MOVIE MAIN TRAILER](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MHncNFal0ms/0.jpg)
Blackpink outfits
Like many K-pop groups, fashion is a huge part of Blackpink’s identity and plays an important role in their music videos. Each Blackpink member has also served as a representative for a global luxury brand – Jennie for Chanel, Lisa for Buglari, Rosé for Yves Saint Laurent and Jisoo for Dior.
Blackpink’s new album, Born Pink, is available from 16 September. Select Blackpink tickets are still available for their London shows here.
