Making their debut in 2009 with the extended play (EP) 2NE1, they went on to become one of K-pop’s most affluent girl groups. Yes, we are talking about YG Entertainment’s 2NE1 and their impressive portfolio boasting several album records, daesangs (Korean grand prize) and sold-out shows. As they prepare to make their long-awaited comeback, we look at some of the most important achievements of 2NE1.
It was on 22 July that YG released an official statement about 2NE1’s comeback. After a 15-year hiatus, the K-pop girl group is getting back together for a global tour that will kick off in October in Seoul, expanding across Osaka and Tokyo and will continue through 2025.
WELCOME BACK, #2NE1#투애니원 #WELCOME_BACK #YG pic.twitter.com/TsLrLjrvcE
— YG FAMILY (@ygent_official) July 21, 2024
All you need to know about 2NE1
Known for breaking barriers and expanding K-pop’s global reach, 2NE1 is composed of four members — Bom, CL, Dara and Minzy. The K-pop girl group is mostly praised for their wide range of music styles, from hip-hop to ballads. Standouts from their music portfolio include hit album records like To Anyone (2010), 2NE1 2nd Mini Album (2011), Collection (2012) and Crush (2014). The group also has to their credit multiple popular songs, including “Fire” (2009), “I Don’t Care” (2009), “Go Away” (2010), “I Am the Best” (2011), “Come Back Home” (2014) and “Goodbye” (2017).
Billboard ranks 2NE1 among the top K-pop girl groups of the decade, massively responsible for “pav[ing] the way for a more empowered side” to them. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone deems them “undeniably one of the most influential acts” for exerting a massive influence on the upcoming generation of artists.
Know the members
Lee Chae-rin, aka CL, is a South Korean rapper, singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the leader of 2NE1. As a solo artist, CL made her debut with the single “The Baddest Female” in May 2013, and in February 2014, she released another solo track “MTBD” as part of 2NE1’s last studio album Crush. Her most popular standalone albums are In the Name of Love (2019) and Alpha (2021).
Park Bom made her debut in 2NE1 as the main vocalist of the group. Following the disbandment in 2016, the K-pop icon left YG Entertainment and signed with D-Nation Entertainment in 2019. She released her comeback single, “Spring”, in March 2019 under them. Bom dropped her repackaged album re: Blue Rose in May 2019.
Sandara Park, popularly known by her stage name Dara, is a South Korean singer who made her debut in 2009 as a member of the 2NE1. After the group’s disbandment, Dara released her first solo EP Sandara Park in July 2023.
Gong Min-ji, aka Minzy of 2NE1, released her first solo EP Minzy Work 01: Uno in April 2017. On 20 November 2020, Minzy made her debut in the Philippines with her single “Lovely” (Tagalog version).
Records set by 2NE1
#YGLIFENEWS #2NE1 THE WORLD’S FIRST TO HOLD 3D HOLOGRAM CONCERT IN ENGLAND IN NOVEMBER @ https://t.co/4KSIdNeNsc pic.twitter.com/ggLaPQfFMt
— YG FAMILY (@ygent_official) October 11, 2013
Their debut EP 2NE1 was named one of the best-selling records by a female group on the Korean Hanteo chart in 2009 and sold over 220,000 copies by 2016.
The group created history by holding the world’s first 3D hologram concert for three days at the Korea Brand and Entertainment Expo in London in 2013.
By the end of 2014, 2NE1 had a total of nine #1 songs on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart and became the group with the most #1 singles in the nation at the time. Prior to this, Gaon Music Chart had named them the artist with the most hit songs in South Korea in 2011.
2NE1’s last studio album Crush released in 2014 and went on to become the first album by a Korean artist to break into the top 100 of the US Billboard 200. It debuted at #61 and maintained its position as the highest-charting Korean album for over two years.
The album Crush further broke two records: the best-selling K-pop album and the highest-charting K-pop album on the Billboard 200 until BTS’s Wings surpassed it in 2016.
The group received a total of eleven awards at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards, including Top-Selling Artist, Best Rookie Group, Bonsang Award and Song of the Year for their hit track “I Don’t Care”.
The K-pop girl group is the first artist to receive all three daesangs (grand prizes) in the history of the Mnet Asian Music Awards in South Korea. Over the years, they went on to win a total of ten Mnet Asian Music Awards.
2NE1 also has to their credit nine Melon Music Awards. At the inaugural Melon Music Awards held on 16 December 2009, the group was the only new act included in the list of the top 10 artists in South Korea.
Not to forget, 2NE1 has sold over 66 million digital and physical records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling K-pop girl groups of all time.
(Hero and Featured image credit: CL/X)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2NE1 has to their credit multiple popular songs, including “Fire” (2009), “I Don't Care” (2009), “Go Away” (2010), “I Am the Best” (2011), “Come Back Home” (2014) and “Goodbye” (2017).
The group disbanded in 2016.
Their last song was "Goodbye" (2017) after the group disbanded.
All the four members of 2NE1 are equally popular.
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Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
