Since their explosive debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has rapidly become one of the most popular K-pop girl groups globally. With their signature brand of confident, girl crush-worthy bangers, Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé have amassed legions of devoted followers known as "BLINKS".
As a diehard BLINK myself, I can attest to the absolute dominance of BLACKPINK across the world. After just 6 years, they have broken YouTube records, topped international iTunes charts, headlined sold-out world tours and become bonafide fashion icons.
BLACKPINK is the revolution, and their genre-blending discography is packed with forward-thinking bops. Below I‘ve compiled must-listen songs spanning their hit-stacked career, from early smashes to recent chart-conquers. Consider this your essential playlist whether you‘re a fellow BLINK or looking to get into the phenomenon that is BLACKPINK!
The Hit That Started It All: “Boombayah”
While later singles would further establish BLACKPINK‘s musical identity, their August 2016 debut "Boombayah" served explosive first notice. The high-energy, hip hop-tinged track showcases their versatility as they rap and sing about independence and self-love over thumping bass and African beats.
Backed by a vibrant music video filled with gorgeous visuals and intricate choreography, "Boombayah" instantly sparked global interest. It charted #1 in Korea, becoming the country’s fastest music video to reach 100 million YouTube views at the time.
To date, "Boombayah" has over 1 billion YouTube views and receives deafening cheers whenever BLACKPINK performs it in concert. Check it out below and watch the revolution begin:
Hot on its Heels: “Whistle”
BLACKPINK took a sultrier turn with their follow-up debut single "Whistle". Built on simple yet sinister production of whistles and finger snaps, they alternate breathy vocals and razor-sharp raps about playing hard to get in relationships.
Though more low-key than "Boombayah" visually, "Whistle" made similar impact, ultimately outcharting it in Korea. To this day, it remains the country‘s most-streamed song by a girl group, while its music video has over 580 million views:
"Whistle" showcased that BLACKPINK could craft global hits across genres – an ability they‘d continue honing with each comeback…
The Sophomore Smash: “Playing With Fire”
After quickly cementing their status in Korea, BLACKPINK began turning eyes across Asia and worldwide with October 2016 single "Playing With Fire".
Its skittering dance beat and melancholy lyrics brought richer emotion while still flaunting their versatility through rap-singing over EDM elements. The glossy music video has each member in their own colorful set piece, now a trademark of BLACKPINK visuals.
"Playing With Fire" became BLACKPINK‘s second #1 hit and won them Best Dance Performance – Female Group at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards. Today it remains a concert staple with over 340 million YouTube views, thanks to its soaring chorus and wig-snatching dance break.
Global Takeover With "As If It‘s Your Last"
By 2017, YG Entertainment knew it had something special with BLACKPINK and focused on breaking them further internationally. Thus their June 2017 single "As If It‘s Your Last" felt tailor-made to go viral abroad.
The energetic track blends moombahton with rock and pop flavours reminiscent of early 2010‘s hits. Alongside bubbly lyrics about living freely and seizing the moment, "As If It‘s Your Last" captures a joy and abandon rarely heard in K-pop.
Its music video follows suit, with the members having spontaneous fun like browsing blogs and eating ice cream. That combo of musicality and messaging struck a global chord – the song debuted at #1 on iTunes in 17 countries.
It now has over 900 million YouTube views, while celebs like Dua Lipa have covered it. "As If It‘s Your Last" remains one of BLACKPINK‘s all-time greatest songs and a precursor for their world domination.
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Makes YouTube History
If "As If It‘s Your Last" built international hype for BLACKPINK, then June 2018 single "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" shattered all expectations by breaking YouTube records.
Powered by a trilingual trap beat and horns, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" integrates components like Korean traditional drums, vocal chops and bass drops. Lyrically, it encourages self-love regardless of what others think or say.
The lavish music video translates that message through cyberpunk aesthetics. Scenes like Lisa shuttting down trolls while gaming radiate the cool confidence that attracts fans globally to BLACKPINK.
That video made YouTube premiere history, becoming the most-viewed within 24 hours by a Korean act. It hit 100 million views faster than any other at the time too.
Cementing their status as global superstars, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" won BLACKPINK a second Best Dance Performance award at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards. Byaggregating global music styles for local and international appeal, BLACKPINK continues breaking records across metrics.
Hard-Hitting Hip Hop Edge on "Kill This Love"
As their proudest BLINKs know already, BLACKPINK‘s members possess serious rap skills from years training in hip hop. Thus title tracks like "Kill This Love" fully showcase their musicality through hard verses blended with pop choruses.
Released in April 2019, "Kill This Love" incorporates rock and EDM to sonically intensify their message against toxic relationships. From percussion shots to epic orchestras, its musical drama mirrors the bold visual‘s set changes between hot and cold color schemes.
That song and video‘s ambition paid off hugely – "Kill This Love" broke three YouTube records, including fastest video to hit 100 million views by a Korean group. BLACKPINK also took their electrifying live set to American TV, performing "Kill This Love" on Good Morning America.
With hot raps, stronger vocals and visual theatrics, "Kill This Love" showed BLACKPINK levelling up their creative vision.
"How You Like That" Makes History on YouTube and iTunes
As K-pop experts know already, no BLACKPINK comeback yields just one hit. Their 2020 release was no exception, with pre-release single "How You Like That" smashing records globally.
The hip hop track exudes what fans love about BLACKPINK – unwavering confidence and resilience. They deliver fiery lyrics about moving forward despite hardships over intense beats and swelling strings in the chorus.
That message resonated worldwide even during pandemic times. "How You Like That" debuted at #1 on iTunes in over 60 countries, while its music video broke three YouTube records.
With their biggest hit yet on multiple fronts, BLACKPINK reached new heights entering the global mainstream.
Cooling Down With a Sweet "Ice Cream" Collaboration
What makes BLACKPINK such a cultural force is their versatility – the ability to pull off any concept authentically. Thus they chose fun and flirty for their August 2020 collab with pop icon Selena Gomez.
Matching bubbly electro-pop production, "Ice Cream" has playful lyrics celebrating their beauty and talents. BLACKPINK and Selena boast about having the flavours to "heal your soul" – with fans loving this supportive female alliance.
The vibrant, pastel-hued video translates that too, with the stars serving dance moves and looks against ice cream truck backdrops.
Beyond being a summer bop, "Ice Cream" showed BLACKPINK could hold their own with A-list American pop artists as equals. In turn, it opened them to wider audiences in the West.
Fan Favourite B-side: “You Never Know”
While BLACKPINK‘s breakneck title tracks steal most attention, their B-sides showcase impressive artistry too. One standout is October 2020‘s "You Never Know" blending R&B with guitar pop hooks.
Fans instantly connected with the song‘s message of gut-wrenching heartbreak post-breakup. BLACKPINK give stunning vocal performances singing of clinging to fading memories and love.
With vulnerable lyrics and musicality showcasing range, "You Never Know" has become a BLINK favourite. Personally, I find it proves how BLACKPINK can craft relatable stories as impactful as their confident anthems.
The Record-Breaking Return: “Pink Venom”
In August 2022, BLACKPINK made their mighty return from hiatus with fiery single “Pink Venom”. Marking the start of a new album era, it blends traditional Korean instrumentation with hard hip hop and EDM drops.
As the suspenseful track builds, they unleash intense rap-singing reflecting a new “venomous” side. Lyrically, BLACKPINK asserts their position atop the music industry by metaphorically “slaying pretenders”.
Unsurprisingly, “Pink Venom” made record-setting impact globally, becoming the fastest music video by a Korean group to 100 million YouTube views. BLACKPINK also topped iTunes charts in 75 regions, proving their unmatched international fandom power.
With a long-awaited album set for September, I predict “Pink Venom” is just the killer start to another history-making era for BLACKPINK!
Born To Make History: BORN PINK’s Early Standouts
This September, BLACKPINK finally unveiled their second full album BORN PINK, sending the BLINK world into feverish excitement.
While legacy tracks like “Pink Venom” and "Shut Down" anchor the album with girl crush hip hop energy, early standouts like “Hard To Love” and “Tally” explore more vulnerable lyrical territory. They bare their romantic struggles and self-doubts over moody production and guitars.
These emotional tracks showcase growth and diversity in BLACKPINK‘s discography. Rather than stick to formula, they‘re expanding their musicality – a creative risk that‘s clearly paying off.
Within days, BORN PINK topped global iTunes charts from the United States to France, Brazil to Australia. By baring their hearts and souls sonically, BLACKPINK continues resonating universally across borders, languages and cultures.
Why BLACKPINK Has Become An Unstoppable Global Phenomenon
Looking at the ever-growing accolades and rabid fandom surrounding BLACKPINK, their meteoric rise towards global domination begs a key question – what sets them apart from other K-pop groups?
A huge factor is their musicality – BLACKPINK‘s production often blends multiple genres like hip hop, EDM, pop and rock polished for Western crossover. That sonic diversity paired with multilingual skills allows them to seamlessly turn out banger after banger in Korean and English.
Visually too, BLACKPINK and their video directors have crafted an iconic look blending luxury fashion vibes with cute playfulness and punk attitude. Whether in glamorous dresses or streetwear, they exude a cool charisma and confidence that feels fresh amid girl group norms.
However, acclaim from critics and collaborators like Dua Lipa also praise the individuality of Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rosé shining through as performers. Their distinct personalities, talents and styles unite to form a multifaceted group greater than the sum of its parts.
In an industry pressured to conform to certain beauty standards, many fans find BLACKPINK inspiring for breaking the mould and finding global success by being their authentic selves.
Their relatability paired with excellence across multiple fronts has allowed BLACKPINK to culturally transcend being just a girl group, becoming what CNN calls “The World’s Biggest Pop Band” bar none.
What‘s Next For BLACKPINK In 2023 And Beyond?
After the record-shattering success of BORN PINK in 2022, what can fans expect on the BLACKPINK horizon moving into 2023 and beyond?
BORN PINK World Tour
BLACKPINK will be hitting the road in 2023 with the BORN PINK World Tour! Sure to be their biggest international tour production yet, they’ve already announced dates across Asia, Europe and North America.
Like their iconic Coachella guest set in 2019, I predict the BORN PINK Tour will only elevate BLACKPINK into a must-see live act globally, backed by their chart-topping new material.
Potential English Language Release
With BORN PINK proving how seamlessly BLACKPINK can incorporate English into their music, many industry experts predict a fully English single or album is imminent.
Not only could that help them crack Western markets even further, but open exciting collaborations like their epic “Ice Cream” teamup with Selena Gomez.
Solo Debuts
While BLACKPINK will likely stay busy together with comebacks and touring, their management company YG has suggested solo releases are in the pipeline too.
Lisa’s solo debut LALISA scored multiple hits in 2021, so fans are eager to see projects spotlighting Jennie, Rosé and Jisoo’s individual artistry in the future.
Continued Fashion and Brand Partnerships
As the biggest name in K-pop, BLACKPINK will no doubt continue their high-profile ambassador/collab deals in fashion, beauty and lifestyle spheres.
Jisoo remains a global face of DIOR, while Jennie fronts Chanel and Rosé has partnered with Saint Laurent. Lisa too has campaigned with BVLGARI, CELINE and MAC.
With each member boasting distinctive looks and taste, I expect more branded collaborations that organically align with BLACKPINK’s vibe and areas of personal interest.
Continued YouTube Milestones
Currently BLACKPINK is the most-subscribed artist on YouTube with over 86 million subscribers and counting. Across their music videos, they also have over 9.2 billion total video views to date.
Given the visually stunning high production value of their videos, I expect BLACKPINK to continue breaking YouTube records. Based on the speed of their growth, forecasts suggest they could hit 100 million YouTube subscribers within 2 years!
The Revolution Has Only Just Begun…
From record-breaking songs and videos to acclaim across fashion, beauty and business spheres, BLACKPINK sit firmly now as the world‘s biggest K-pop act.
Yet rather than be complacent with their still rising star power, members Lisa, Jennie, Rosé and Jisoo continue pushing their artistry. Despite already conquering Korea and crossing over successfully abroad, BLACKPINK stays determined to innovate their sound and visual direction.
That commitment to constant growth while retaining their confidence and individuality is what makes them a cut above typical pop groups. Musically and culturally, BLACKPINK feel like true empowering game-changers defining what Asian artists could achieve globally in the 21st century.
My fellow diehard BLINKS would agree – we sense BLACKPINK‘s revolution has only just begun! So be sure to check out all their brilliant songs so far, then bookmark this Ultimate Playlist for future updates. BLACKPINK are the revolution and the future…so you better be listening!
What‘s your favourite BLACKPINK song to date? Share your Hot Takes in comments below!