• 2016-

  JisooVocals2016-

  Rosé Vocals2016-

  JennieVocals (rapper)2016-

  LisaVocals (rapper)2016-
• Blackpink are a world-famous South Korean girl group known for their hip-hop laced pop songs and slick dance moves. The foursome debuted in 2016 with a pair of hit singles, "Boombayah" and "Whistle," but reached global popularity with the pop-rap song "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" two years later. Their sophomore album, Born Pink, made history in both the US and UK as the first album by a Korean girl group to reach #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and the UK Albums chart.
• The girls share singing duties, but Jisoo and Rosé are most often cited as being the lead vocalists, while Jennie and Lisa are the main rappers.
• Blackpink are the brainchild of YG Entertainment, a South Korean talent company who introduced the world to "Gangnam Style" via Psy in 2012. After launching the popular K-pop groups Big Bang and 2NE1, they began holding auditions for the next big thing. Rosé, Jisoo, Jennie, and Lisa were selected to enter YG's training program alongside other hopefuls who, after years of daily singing, dancing, and language lessons, would become Blackpink. The four girls happened to be placed in the same dorm at the company's training facility, where they stayed up late singing and harmonizing together while Rosé played the guitar.
• Without knowing if they'd make the final cut, the girls spent years training for 14 hours a day with one day off every two weeks trying to make the group. Every month, there were evaluations to assess their skills and determine whether they were good enough to stay in the program. Jennie, who signed on in 2010, was in the program the longest at nearly six years.
• Blackpink's popularity was part of a growing trend in foreign-language music taking the mainstream by storm in the US. While rappers like Bad Bunny and J Balvin hit the charts with Spanish-language tunes, Blackpink attracted listeners with mostly Korean and Japanese lyrics with a girl-power vibe that crossed the language barrier. But they've also taken on English lyrics with great success: Their innuendo-laden electropop single "Ice Cream," featuring Selena Gomez, reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 - the highest entry from a female Korean act.
• Blackpink were almost called Pink Punk until YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk came up with a new name that reflected the group's edgy brand of femininity. Rosé told Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2020: "We kind of felt like there's two colors that represented us the most 'cause we're very girly but at the same time we're very savage too."
• YG envisioned Blackpink as a nine-girl act rumored to be called Aphrodite 9, but the combination of the core four proved to be a better dynamic.
• The Blackpink girls also have solo careers. Jennie released her first solo single, "Solo," in 2018; Lisa dropped "Lalisa" in 2021; Rosé issued "On The Ground" in 2021; and Jisoo debuted with "Flower" in 2023. They incorporated songs from their solo releases on their 2022-2023 Born Pink World Tour.
• Only three of the girls are Korean. Jisoo and Jennie were both born in South Korea while Rosé was born in New Zealand (raised in Australia) to South Korean immigrant parents. Lisa was born in Thailand and was the first non-Korean artist to be signed to YG Entertainment.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Just The Way You AreBruno Mars

Before launching his career as a singer, Bruno Mars was a writer/producer. He and his co-writers pitched "Just The Way You Are" to Cee-Lo Green; when he turned it down, Bruno recorded it himself and released it in 2010 as his first single as a lead artist.

BlackbirdThe Beatles

Paul McCartney wrote "Blackbird" in Scotland after reading about race riots in the US, triggered when federal courts forced the racial desegregation of the Arkansas capital's school system.

Invisible TouchGenesis

"Invisible Touch" was the first time a band member (Phil Collins) had a #1 Hot 100 hit with a group after scoring a #1 solo hit.

Foolish GamesJewel

A guy Jewel fell for when she was 16 inspired her hit "Foolish Games."

Return To SenderElvis Presley

When the Elvis stamps came out in 1993, lots of folks used them to mail letters with bad addresses so they would be Returned To Sender.

Rose MarieSlim Whitman

Country star Slim Whitman's version of the 1920s song "Rose Marie" spent 11 consecutive weeks at #1 in the UK in 1955, a record until 1991 when Bryan Adams’ "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" spent 16 weeks at the top.

Editor's Picks

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?