Nine years ago, BLACKPINK entered your area and locked everyone in. A group of four young women- Jisoo, Jennie, Ros, and Lisa- debuted as BLACKPINK under YG Entertainment, with a swagger that redefined what a K-pop girl group could be. Today, BLACKPINK stands as one of the few acts from South Korea to command both stadiums and charts worldwide, blending music, fashion, and personal branding into a cultural force.
BLACKPINK’s discography thrives on an addictive blend of fierce rap verses, anthemic choruses, and sleek production. Tracks like ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU,’ ‘How You Like That,’ and ‘Pink Venom’ embody their signature “girl crush” concept, a mix of empowerment, swagger, and style that transcends language barriers. Their music videos, boasting with high-fashion visuals and cinematic storytelling, have become cultural moments in themselves. The instant memorable choruses make their music as much festival anthems as radio hits.
As they celebrate nine years, BLACKPINK remains one of the few K-pop girl groups to crack both the cultural and commercial code globally. They’ve built a legacy on selective output, massive spectacle, and an unshakable brand identity.
BLACKPINK’s career has been a series of record-breaking milestones. They are the most-subscribed music act on YouTube (as an individual group), have the highest-charting K-pop girl group album on the Billboard 200 (“Born Pink” debuting at No. 1) and became the first K-pop girl group to headline Coachella (2019) — returning in 2023 as the first Asian act to top the festival’s lineup. Their “Born Pink” world tour became the highest-grossing tour ever by a female group, earning over $260 million. Their solo records add to the legacy of their individual power play and the group collectively.
Even with sporadic releases, their group dominate streaming charts globally each comeback. Case in point: the dropped their first single JUMP in over two years. In an industry that thrives on being in public eye, a part of their longevity lies in their ability to flourish as both a collective and as individual artists. Jennie’s sharp-edged rap-pop, Ros’s emotive ballads, Lisa’s hip-hop, and Jisoo’s elegant pop have carved out separate fanbases, while still retaining their status quo as Queens of K-pop- BLACKPINK.
BLACKPINK’s presence is as much about what you see as what you hear. From cinematic music videos shot across the world to stadium tours, the group serves- everytime. Currently, they are on their world tour titled Deadline, busy creating and breaking records.
You cannot be at the top without having faced your share of criticism, so has BLACKPINK. They have often faced critique over long gaps between releases, perceived overemphasis on image (blame K-pop industry for that), and navigating pressures of global stardom. Yet, they’ve weathered it all with each comeback, strategic appearances, record-breaking tours, and performances at Coachella and Hyde Park. In an industry where girl groups often have shorter commercial shelf lives, their sustained dominance is exceptional.
Now, reports suggest that the group will return with a new album later this year. This obviously sent BLINKs (fandom) into an overdrive. After their contract renewal as a group with YG Entertainment in late 2024, (they are now signed to different labels individually) speculation has mounted that the group’s next release will be their most ambitious yet.
In an industry where trends shift overnight, BLACKPINK’s name still commands immediate attention, and as their 9th anniversary shows, the world is still very much in their pink era (read-area).
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