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In the mid-twenties, the flamboyant girl group Blackpink, along with BTS, found themselves at the center of a K-pop revolution that eventually brought the genre to America after nearly two decades of dominance in South Korea. K-pop is driven by entertainment agencies that mold teenage students into synchronized performance groups with carefully choreographed songs, dance routines, and fashion looks that echo the youth trends in American pop music, but sung in both Korean and English. The constant cycle of promotion transforms artists from rookies into “idols,” attracting devoted fans who watch their every move and treat their music as sacred. One such agency, YG Entertainment, created pioneering girl group 2NE1 in the late 2000s, using its experience to form a supercharged version as Blackpink in 2016, choosing members who represent the Korean diaspora: Rosé is Korean but born in New Zealand; Jennie is Korean but raised in New Zealand; Lisa is Thai; and Jisoo is Korean. The group’s music, produced by Teddy Park, a K-pop rapper at YG who became its main producer, was significantly more energetic and clearly hip-hop-inspired; the group’s tagline, “Blackpink in your neighborhood,” was a clear indication of its international ambitions.
Blackpink continues their reunion tour. Illustration by Marion Bordain
With a flamboyance, solemnity, and sensibility that had never before characterized K-pop, Blackpink has emerged as a uniquely compelling girl group, combining kitsch and flamboyance with sophistication and refinement. Their most popular singles feature a frenetic hyperactivity balanced by the style and charm of understated ballads, and their two albums, The Album (2020) and Born Pink (2022), have made them the most successful K-pop girl group in history. In the years since Born Pink, the members have embraced the principles of Korean cultural expansion, putting an end to group performances and pursuing solo careers. Since December 2024, each of them has debuted as a solo artist: Rosé with “Rosie,” Jennie with “Ruby,” Lisa with “Alter Ego,” and Jisoo with the EP Amortage. All three albums contained mostly English-language songs, and three of them reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Blackpink continues their highly anticipated Deadline reunion tour with two shows at Citi Field on July 26 and 27, showcasing both their group and solo glory. — Sheldon Pierce
Sourse: newyorker.com
