BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK, as their name suggests, revel in contrasts—tough and feminine, supercharged riffs and sugary vocal melodies, hard-edged beats and floating-on-air whistles. It’s a mix that has helped the foursome become one of K-pop’s biggest girl groups, storming their way through bangers like the glitchy “DDU-DU DDU-DU” and the scorching “Kill This Love” as well as collaborating with fellow pop A-listers Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga. Brought together in 2016 by K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment, Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo became superstars almost instantly, standing apart from their peers because of their melding of hip-hop rhythms, electro-pop sizzle and girl-power spirit, as well as their high-concept fashion sense. The quartet’s audacious, giddy music fuels dance-heavy concerts and made their 2019 appearance at Coachella—when they became the first K-pop girl group to play the festival—a joyous frenzy. While they celebrate contradictions in their music and style, BLACKPINK are united by a single mission: They want to lift up their audience as they take their artistry to unexpected places, helping listeners gain what Rosé called “confidence and energy” from their forward-thinking take on pop.