2NE1

2NE1

Industry	Music
Founded	2009 (2009)
Founder	YG Entertainment
Headquarters	Seoul , South Korea
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Music, concerts, merchandise
Owner	YG Entertainment

2NE1 () is a South Korean girl group established by YG Entertainment in 2009, consisting of members Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy. Celebrated for their innovative sound, distinctive fashion, and dynamic performances, they stand as a prominent force within the Korean Wave and are recognized as one of the most impactful K-pop girl groups, credited with broadening the scope of girl group concepts and challenging conventional K-pop norms.

Their debut occurred in March 2009 with the promotional track "Lollipop", released in collaboration with labelmates BigBang. The group quickly gained attention through their self-titled debut EP, which included popular tracks such as "Fire" and "I Don't Care". This was followed by their first full-length album To Anyone (2010) and a second self-titled EP in 2011, both of which spawned multiple chart-topping singles like "Don't Cry", "Lonely", "I Am the Best", and "Ugly".

In 2012, 2NE1 embarked on the New Evolution Global Tour, marking the first global tour undertaken by a Korean girl group. Their performance at the Prudential Center in New Jersey was ranked as the second-best concert of that year by The New York Times. Their sophomore and final studio album, Crush (2014), made history as the first Korean album to reach the top 100 on the US Billboard 200 chart, maintaining its record-high position for two consecutive years.

By 2014, 2NE1 had achieved nine number-one hits on the Gaon Digital Chart, holding the South Korean record for the most chart-topping singles. Following a two-year break, Minzy departed from the group in 2016, leading to an official disbandment declared by YG Entertainment. Their concluding single, "Goodbye", was released in January 2017. The group made an unexpected reunion appearance at Coachella 2022, and in 2024 announced a full comeback under YG Entertainment, launching the Welcome Back Tour, which drew an audience exceeding 250,000.

Throughout their career, 2NE1 has earned numerous awards, including nine Melon Music Awards, ten MAMA Awards, and eleven Cyworld Digital Music Awards. They were pioneers in securing all three major daesangs (grand prizes) at MAMA within just two years after debuting. With sales surpassing 66 million digital and physical records globally, they rank among the highest-selling girl groups worldwide.

Name

Originally named "21," the group changed their name to "2NE1" after discovering another artist using the same moniker. Pronounced in Korean similarly to "to anyone" and "twenty-one," the name combines references to the "21st century" and represents a "New Evolution."

2006–2008: Formation and pre-debut activities

In May 2008, South Korean media outlets revealed that YG Entertainment was preparing to launch a new girl group, initially dubbed "female BigBang." On May 19, YG confirmed that Park Bom, CL, and Minzy—each with previous musical experience—would be part of this ensemble, with Sandara Park expected to join as well. Early in 2009, YG officially announced that the group would debut in May, marking YG's first girl group introduction since Big Mama's debut in 2003. The members had undergone four years of training, with their debut tracks produced by Teddy Park, former leader of 1TYM.

2009–2010: 2NE1 1st Mini Album and To Anyone

Before releasing their debut extended play (EP) 2NE1 in 2009, the group introduced two singles. The initial track, "Lollipop", was a collaboration with labelmates BigBang and launched on March 27, 2009, to endorse the LG Cyon mobile phone bearing the same name. Despite producing a music video, "Lollipop" was not actively promoted because of its association with product advertising, which impacted its qualification for South Korean music charts. The follow-up single, "Fire", crafted by Teddy Park, fused elements of hip-hop and reggae, and debuted in May accompanied by two distinct videos—the "space" and "street" versions. Both clips surpassed one million views within a day, setting a record at the time and significantly increasing online search interest. The EP's final single, "I Don't Care", released simultaneously with the EP in July, presented a gentler image compared to "Fire". It became the most downloaded song that month, topped the Bugs chart throughout 2009, and secured the number one spot on Cyworld's annual popularity list as of January 2010.

In late 2009, members pursued solo projects while the group performed a reggae rendition of "I Don't Care" on Inkigayo in September; this version was made available digitally on September 3. By early 2010, sales of the 2NE1 EP had reached approximately 120,000 copies. The group also represented Korea at the sixth Asia Song Festival in 2009, where they received the Asian Newcomer Award. In February 2010, they digitally released "Try to Follow Me" to promote the Samsung Corby phone; this track climbed to number one on the Gaon Digital Chart. Midway through 2010, recording sessions took place in Los Angeles and London with producer Will.i.am, resulting in ten English-language songs intended for their American debut album.

Their inaugural full-length album, To Anyone, was unveiled on September 9, entering at number seven on the Billboard World Album Chart and accumulating 120,000 preorders. Multiple singles from this album achieved significant success: "Clap Your Hands", "Can't Nobody", and "Go Away" all reached top-three positions. Making K-pop history, 2NE1 became the first group to have three singles from a single album top various music program rankings and maintain leadership on Inkigayo for four straight weeks. The fourth single "It Hurts (Slow)" featured a Halloween-themed video released on October 31. Additionally, "Don't Stop the Music", issued on November 26 as a special release for Thai fans, supported their endorsement partnership with Yamaha Fiore.

2011–2012: 2NE1 2nd Mini Album and Japanese debut

On January 19, 2011, an English version of "Can't Nobody" was launched as a ringtone through Japanese retailer Recochoku, followed by its music video release on iTunes Japan. The group’s first solo international concert, The Party, took place at Manila's Araneta Coliseum on June 4, 2011. Their Japanese debut single "Go Away" was made available as a ringtone starting March 9 and served as the theme for the television show Mezamashi TV. Their initial Korean EP 2NE1 was introduced to the Japanese market on March 16; however, promotional efforts were suspended due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The EP entered the Oricon charts at number 24 with first-week sales of 3,860 copies. Appearances planned for Japanese TV program Music Station were postponed as they participated in Naver's "Pray for Japan" campaign supporting earthquake relief.

The group's second EP titled 2NE1 (2011) included chart-topping singles such as "Lonely", "I Am the Best", and "Ugly", alongside top-three hit "Hate You". Bom’s solo track "Don't Cry" dominated charts for two consecutive weeks. This EP led the Gaon Music Chart, surpassing sales of 108,000 copies. Renowned publication Spin Magazine ranked it as the sixth-best pop album of that year. In August, they embarked on their Nolza Tour, selling out three concerts in Seoul. Singles from this release dominated South Korea’s year-end Gaon Digital Chart.

September marked their inaugural Japanese concert tour starting at Yokohama Arena, where all 70,000 tickets sold out within one day generating revenue exceeding ₩10 billion. The Japanese edition of their 2NE1 2nd Mini Album, released September 21, debuted atop the Oricon Albums Chart, selling more than 48,000 copies—making them only the second South Korean girl group to achieve this milestone. Japanese-language versions of key singles were also issued. In October, MTV's Iggy honored them with "Best New Band" worldwide for their track "I Am the Best," marking their first American accolade. They performed in December at New York City's Times Square solidifying their status as leading figures in K-Pop.

On March 28, 2012, they unveiled their first full-length Japanese album Collection, alongside their second Japanese single "Scream". This album featured Japanese renditions of hits like "Love Is Ouch," "Fire," and included a cover of Madonna's "Like A Virgin." Various editions contained DVDs showcasing music videos. It peaked at number five on Oricon’s Daily Chart with over 32,000 copies sold. That year also saw performances at Japan’s Springroove festival and a collaboration with hip-hop group M-Flo on "She's So (Outta Control)," which reached number 43 on Billboard’s Japan Hot 100.

In May 2012, they appeared at Expo 2012's opening ceremony held in Yeosu. Acknowledged for their distinctive musical style and global impact within Hallyu culture, they represented Korean pop at June’s Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. A Korea Tourism Organization survey identified them as France’s most favored K-pop girl group with almost 65% support. They earned Best New Artist Video for "I Am the Best" at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan in 2012.

Their standalone single "I Love You", released in July, topped the Gaon Digital Chart becoming their sixth chart-topping hit. Later that month marked the launch of their inaugural global concert series—the New Evolution Global Tour—which encompassed fifteen shows across Asia and North America drawing an audience of approximately 180,000 attendees; this was notably the first world tour conducted by a K-pop girl group. Following their Los Angeles performance at Nokia Theatre L.A Live, they became the first K-pop female act to appear on Billboard's Current Box Score chart ranking number twenty-nine with ticket sales exceeding $650,000. Industry leaders including Will.i.am and Apl.de.ap from Black Eyed Peas alongside Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine were among notable attendees.

Subsequently, both 2NE1 and fellow YG Entertainment artists BigBang featured on MTV Style's list of "Best Band Style of 2012," sharing recognition with prominent Western acts such as One Direction and Destiny's Child.

2013–2014: Crush and Global Recognition

On March 14, 2013, 2NE1 unveiled the English-language track "Take the World On," a collaboration with American artist Will.i.am, which was featured in an advertisement for the Intel Ultrabook line. During an interview with Elle on March 21, CL revealed intentions to produce additional English-language songs, although a US album was not yet planned. Another partnership with will.i.am resulted in the song "Gettin' Dumb," featuring Apl.de.ap, included on his album #willpower, released April 23, 2013. Following this, 2NE1 released standalone singles; the reggae-inspired "Falling in Love" debuted on July 8 and quickly topped charts, earning MTV Iggy's "Song of the Summer" accolade. "Do You Love Me" was released on August 7 and secured a top-three position. In October, the group was designated honorary ambassadors for the Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo 2013 held in London. Their ballad "Missing You", launched November 21, led the Gaon Digital Chart and surpassed one million downloads by the end of 2014. Invest Chosun reported that 2NE1 generated approximately ₩40 billion in revenue during 2013.

In early 2014, 2NE1 made appearances on American television shows The Bachelor and America's Next Top Model, which were filmed in South Korea. The group followed this by releasing their second Korean studio album, Crush, in February. Two singles, "Come Back Home" and "Gotta Be You", were issued simultaneously; "Come Back Home" dominated the Gaon Digital Chart for two consecutive weeks and became their ninth and final number-one hit in South Korea, extending their record among idol groups. Nine out of ten tracks from Crush ranked within the top 20 on weekly charts for two weeks straight. The album sold around 10,000 copies in the United States and peaked at number 61 on the Billboard 200, setting a new benchmark for K-pop albums in terms of chart position and sales in the US market. A feature in the Los Angeles Times described it as "ushering in K-pop's future" worldwide. The music video for "Gotta Be You" commemorated their fifth anniversary since debut on May 21. The Japanese edition of Crush, released June 25, reached number four on Japan’s Oricon Daily Album Chart.

Following the release of Crush, 2NE1 embarked on their third concert tour, the All or Nothing World Tour, spanning twenty shows across sixteen cities including China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and Malaysia from March to October. At year-end, Crush received international acclaim: it was the sole Asian artist album featured on Fuse TV’s "40 Best Albums of 2014" and appeared on Rolling Stones list of Best Pop Albums alongside artists like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. It topped Billboards ranking of best K-pop albums and secured eleventh place on its year-end World Album chart—the first K-pop group to achieve this milestone. Their earlier single from 2011, "I Am the Best", was used in Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 commercial in August; it became the first K-pop track to reach number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, received airplay on US radio stations, and was officially released by Capitol Records in December.

MTV Iggy recognized "Gotta Be You" among its top global pop songs of 2014; it was also voted song of the year by readers. On December 21, at the SBS Gayo Daejeon, despite Park Bom’s absence, 2NE1 performed and won Best Female Group. According to The Straits Times, they ranked among Singapore’s ten most streamed Asian artists of that year—the only K-pop group listed. Reports estimated their earnings at ₩27.5 billion (US$23.4 million) for the first half of 2014, positioning them among South Korea's highest-paid entertainers.

2015–2017: Hiatus Period, Minzy’s Exit, and Disbandment

In March 2015, 2NE1 was one of just two Asian acts honored at the 2015 YouTube Music Awards. Dara ventured into acting with roles in web dramas such as Dr.Ian, We Broke Up, and KBS's Missing You. Meanwhile, Minzy established the Millennium Dance Academy. CL pursued a solo career in the United States with her release "Hello Bitches". The group's sole collective activity that year was a surprise reunion performance at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards held in Hong Kong where they performed "Fire" and "I Am the Best" following CL’s solo stage. This performance became MAMA’s most viewed girl group act and received praise from Fuse alongside artists like Beyoncé and Madonna. In Tumblr’s rankings for 2015, they were listed as the sixteenth most reblogged K-pop group; Spotify also highlighted them for having over one million listeners with substantial streaming figures.

In 2016, they were awarded China's Korea First Brand Grand Prize as one of the "Top 10 Most Anticipated K-Stars". After a year-long break from group activities, YG Entertainment confirmed Minzy’s departure in April. On November 25, YG officially announced that 2NE1 had disbanded; CL and Dara continued as solo performers while Park Bom's contract concluded separately. Their final single as a trio, "Goodbye", was released January 21, 2017; inspired by a letter CL wrote to Minzy, it topped Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart and charted internationally including France and Finland.

In a later revelation during 2021 interviews, Minzy and CL disclosed they had not been informed about disbandment ahead of time—contradicting YG Entertainment’s statements about extensive discussions—resulting in public criticism of YG's communication practices.

2022–present: Reunion and Fifteenth Anniversary Tour

On April 16, 2022, all four members reunited to perform "I Am the Best" at the Coachella music festival—their first joint appearance since their Mnet Asian Music Awards performance in 2015. The reunion received widespread acclaim; Teen Vogue described it as "one of the most exciting reunions in recent memory." Similarly, The A.V. Club ranked it among Coachella’s best performances that year while publications such as Variety and L'Officiel Singapore recognized it as a significant moment for K-pop globally in 2022.

On July 22, 2024, YG Entertainment confirmed plans for a full-scale reunion celebrating their fifteenth anniversary with the announcement of their Welcome Back Tour, commencing at Seoul's Olympic Hall on October 4, 2024. Additionally, they confirmed participation at the upcoming SBS Gayo Daejeon scheduled for December 9—their first performance there after ten years—featuring a medley including hits like "Fire," "I Don't Care," "Ugly," and "I Am the Best." The tour concluded at Seoul's KSPO Dome on April 13, 2025; drawing over a quarter-million attendees with total gross earnings reaching $44 million. On August 6, Bom announced a temporary withdrawal from group activities based on medical recommendations to allow more rest.

Other Ventures

Endorsements

Throughout their career, 2NE1 represented several prominent multinational brands such as Intel, Nikon, Adidas, Samsung, LG, Etude House, Singtel, Nintendo, and Fila. After debuting characters based on them within the game Sudden Attack in 2009, sales from these virtual avatars generated over ₩2.2 billion (approximately US$2 million) within seven months. By January 2011, endorsement deals commanded fees between ₩800 million to ₩900 million each—ranking highest among girl groups in South Korea at that time. TVCF placed them among South Korea’s top ten most popular commercial models; notably they were one of only three idol groups to make this list.

In 2012, they became pioneers among South Korean acts securing global endorsement contracts valued above ₩1 billion each with Adidas and Intel respectively. In May of that year plus one month into May 2013’s campaign titled “2NE1 Loves Shinsegae,” they launched “2NE1Loves.com” alongside collaborations with luxury brand Chrome Hearts. Their music frequently featured across commercials including “Lollipop” promoting LG Cyon phones; “[Try to Follow Me]” for Samsung Corby Folder; “Don't Stop The Music” advertising Yamaha Fiore motorcycles; while “[Go Away]” served as theme music for Japanese television program Mezamashi TV.

Philanthropy

After the devastating impact of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, members participated actively in Naver's “Pray for Japan” campaign to support relief efforts financially. Following their November concert titled Going Together Concert held in Hanoi that same year, proceeds amounting to ₩25 million were donated toward scholarships benefitting Vietnamese students. Early next year in January 2012 they contributed ₩20 million to Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital aimed at assisting hearing-impaired children from low-income households. Beginning July that year fans collectively raised roughly ₩20 million through Tree Planet Korea’s “Star Forest Project,” combating desertification and hunger across Africa; by mid-2013 approximately thirteen hundred mango trees were planted near Tonj town within South Sudan—designated as “2NE1 Forest” honoring both fans’ efforts and group legacy.

Artistry

Influences

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File:TLC 2016.jpg

Among key inspirations cited by members are the Spice Girls (top) and American R&B trio TLC (bottom).

The group acknowledges major influence from iconic ensembles such as the Spice Girls and TLC, embracing themes aligned with global "girl power" empowerment popularized notably by Spice Girls’ movement worldwide. They have been recognized as emblematic figures representing female empowerment within Hallyu culture waves internationally. Additionally cited inspirations include legendary R&B group Destiny's Child.

Each member brings unique vocal tones alongside distinctive images and fashion sensibilities: Park Bom draws inspiration from Beyoncé and Mariah Carey favoring hip hop/R&B styles; Minzy admires Michael Jackson and Rihanna; leader CL identifies producer Teddy Park alongside Madonna and Lauryn Hill as role models; Dara finds influence from singer-actress Uhm Jung-hwa plus Filipino vocalist Regine Velasquez while growing up admiring Britney Spears’ style and musicality.

Musical Style

Covering genres such as hip hop, R&B, electropop alongside reggae and dancehall influences defines much of their soundscape. According to critics like those at NME, their genre blending is unprecedented among girl groups whereas outlets such as ABS-CBN attribute their continual innovation as key differentiators within competitive markets.

Their debut track “Fire” combined elements of hip-hop beats layered with electropop synths incorporating reggae undertones projecting strong assertive energy while signaling reggae’s untapped potential within South Korea’s music scene then emerging rapidly thereafter. Follow-up single “I Don’t Care” merged medium-tempo R&B rhythms with gentle reggae melodies presenting a softer feminine image contrasting initial fierceness.

Within debut album To Anyone (2010), songs like “Go Away” maintained electropop-dance vibes while “It Hurts (Slow)” embraced contemporary R&B stylings; “Clap Your Hands” incorporated urban hip-hop rhythms whereas “Can’t Nobody” received acclaim for catchy hooks combined with rap sections highlighting versatility though some critics noted autotune overuse.

Their self-titled mini-album released in late-2011 fused electro-house beats partnered with hip-hop flows plus pop-rock guitar elements earning praise from publications like Spin describing it among year's most exhilarating releases overall; electro-house anthem “I Am The Best” stood out due to its bold swagger whereas ballad “Lonely” marked departure featuring acoustic instrumentation paired with raw vocal delivery.

The trot-infused Eurodance single “I Love You” blended traditional Korean music elements with pulsating synths creating an ideal pop fusion praised widely among fans; “Falling In Love” further expanded reggae-inflected sounds breaking new ground domestically while “Missing You” diverged stylistically incorporating slow choruses enriched by acoustic guitar layers grand piano accompaniment plus vocal harmonies emphasizing emotional depth.

Their final studio effort ‘’Crush’’ (2014) demonstrated sophisticated genre fusion opening with tracks combining Indian tabla percussion alongside buzzing electronic textures followed by reggae/trap hybrids exemplified by single “Come Back Home.”

Stage Performances

Known for dynamic concerts incorporating elaborate costumes props plus stage effects earning acclaim across domestic/international media outlets alike—such as during their three-day Seoul Nolza tour concerts praised for atmosphere alongside individual member strengths showcased distinctly—their New Evolution Global Tour spanning multiple countries featured intricate costume designs transforming stages into thematic environments ranging from amusement parks nightclubs arenas fantasy realms complete with giant props conveyor belts video walls simulating roller coaster rides domestic publication SSTV lauded production quality live execution calling it an authentic showcase capturing essence of performance art while AsiaOne described them as consummate live performers trendsetting style icons worldwide following August New Jersey show ‘’The New York Times’’ ranked it second-best concert experience nationally Billboard journalist Jeff Benjamin noted how they successfully filled East Coast arenas signaling growing influence of Korean pop culture Los Angeles Times highlighted them embodying modern pop culture traits reflecting female empowerment global digital connectivity plus danceable trends.

Since debuting with “Fire” back in ’09 they gained recognition not only for musical prowess but also style charisma stage presence: initial live broadcast performances such as SBS Inkigayo showcased powerful sophisticated aura achieving nearly fifteen percent broadcast ratings per minute attracting attention industry figures including Jimmy Iovine from Interscope Records plus celebrity blogger Perez Hilton initially establishing strong hip-hop image thereafter evolving conceptually post-debut mini-album featuring leopard print pants on “Pretty Boy” followed by simpler monochrome attire paired with youthful choreography during “I Don’t Care” emphasizing unique charm distinctiveness.

Fashion

Renowned regionally as trendsetters setting style benchmarks known for bold statement-making fashion choices Carolina Malis writing for ‘’South China Morning Post’’ observed how they challenged traditional Korean female archetypes embracing vibrant daring aesthetics sparking viral beauty trends concerts showcased over one hundred custom-designed outfits collectively dubbed “2NE1 Collection” spanning streetwear futurism ‘’Harper's Bazaar’’ Singapore described their style spectrum ranging ultra-punk to high-glam unapologetically urban CR Fashion Book emphasized their fiery renegade concepts embodying independence rebellion attracting collaborations globally with major fashion houses.

In music videos live performances members frequently donned luxury brands including but not limited to Moschino, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Givenchy Versace KTZ Jeremy Scott Mary Katrantzou significantly contributing to popularizing Givenchy Balmain within South Korean fashion circles Fashion commentator David Yi noted circa mid-2010s how they led adoption trends embracing brands like Hood By Air Off-White influencing contemporary streetwear movements.

Janelle Okwodu from ‘’Vogue’’ highlighted distinct individual styles uncommon among girl groups experimenting extensively with hairstyles colors notably CL’s signature bull-horn hair Dara’s Vegeta-inspired hairdo gaining media attention post-’11 release “I Am The Best,” while Dara’s palm-tree hairstyle debuted during ’09 single “Lollipop” is regarded as iconic defining look across decade spanning K-pop scenes A consumer survey conducted in Singapore during ’13 ranked them highest among female K-pop artists whose fashion influenced consumer markets significantly.

Impact and Legacy

Acknowledged for shattering conventional girl-group stereotypes within Korean pop music industry by pioneering what is now termed “girl crush” concept expanding stylistic narratives beyond merely sexy or cute archetypes ‘‘Rolling Stone’’ described them unequivocally as one of most influential acts shaping contemporary generation substantially broadening musical horizons influencing subsequent artists KAIST identified them as most impactful musical entity according to Power Entertainer Korea report published ’13 ‘‘Billboard’’ included them among decade’s top K-pop girl groups credited with fostering empowered imagery ‘‘SCMP’’ labeled them iconic while ‘‘NME’’ noted numerous artists adopted trademarks originally popularized by them.

They have served as inspiration across wide spectrum including groups such as I-dle, Aespa, Blackpink, Twice, soloists like Jane from Momoland or Key from Shinee plus international creatives including designer Jeremy Scott singers Audrey Nuna Rei Ami Chungha Ailee Jeon Somi Choi Ye-na Oh My Girl Seunghee Choi Yoo-jung Kiss of Life Woo!ah! Lapillus Secret Number Chocolat Dal Shabet Stellar Young Posse Loona Vivi Itzy Lia WJSN Dayoung TripleS Kim Na-kyoung Xinyu Fifty Fifty Sio Among others In early ’24 Han from Stray Kids remarked how ‘‘2NE1 defined entire generation continuing influence many Korean artists.’’

Internationally acknowledged ‘‘Billboard’’ critic Caitlin Kelley referred to “I Am The Best” as quintessential example embodying girl crush concept, ‘‘Stereogum’’ ranked its music video second-best visual work during decade, ‘‘Pitchfork’’ hailed it as landmark moment within girl-group history, ‘‘Billboard’’ placed both “I Am The Best” plus “I Love You” respectively fourth seventy-seventh greatest K-pop songs over decade. Classics like “Fire” along with “I Am The Best” are considered definitive tracks appearing within Melon charts plus ‘‘Seoul Shinmun’’'s top hundred K-pop masterpieces. ‘‘GQ’’ included “I Am The Best” among twenty-four songs shaping global decade musically, whereas “Come Back Home” earned induction into Korea World Music Culture Hall Of Fame during ’23.

‘‘Rolling Stone Korea’’ observed that upon disbandment group earned place within K-pop hall of fame coinciding emergence new generation. Media outlets such as ‘‘The Independent’’, ‘‘Billboard’’, ‘‘Pollstar’’ have dubbed them "Queens Of K-pop," while Official UK Charts referred to them as original queens paving way. In ’17 editor-in-chief at ‘‘Idology’’ wrote how group established fresh paradigm redefining female idols expanding fandom internationally Music critic Kim Yun-ha remarked phrase “‘reminiscent of 2NE1’ will endure eternally praising legendary status.”

Achievements

2NE1 earned a multitude of accolades and distinctions throughout their career. Their debut track "Fire" and its accompanying performances were recognized as innovative and striking, leading to their initial victories on Inkigayo and further triumphs on Music Bank. In May 2009, "Fire" was honored as Cyworld Song of the Month, while 2NE1 was named Rookie of the Month. Their follow-up single "I Don't Care" secured the Song of the Year at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards, marking them as the first South Korean idol group to achieve a daesang within their debut year. Additionally, they received several awards at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards, including Top-Selling Artist and Song of the Year.

At the first-ever Melon Music Awards in 2009, 2NE1 stood out as the sole rookie among South Korea’s top 10 performers and clinched the Best New Artist award. Based on online chart rankings, Mnet.com also designated them as "Artist of the Year."

The year 2010 saw 2NE1 dominate the 2010 Mnet Asian Music Awards, winning two daesangs for To Anyone—Artist of the Year and Album of the Year—along with Best Music Video for "Can't Nobody," and Best Female Group. This achievement made them the first act in MAMA history to sweep all three daesangs in one ceremony. They also took home three awards at that year’s Melon Music Awards, including Album of the Year. Their subsequent EP received another Album of the Year award at the third Melon Music Awards, solidifying their status as the only female group to earn this honor multiple times. At the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards, they won Song of the Year for "I Am the Best," becoming the first artist to receive this distinction twice, as well as Best Vocal Performance for "Lonely." With four daesangs from MAMA in total, they hold more grand prizes than any other female artist.

In November 2012, 2NE1 was presented with the Prime Minister Commendation at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, acknowledging their leadership in promoting the Korean Wave and their significant contributions to popular culture.

From 2009 through 2013, sixteen of their tracks appeared in Melon's annual top 100 digital charts, ranking them fourth in South Korea’s digital hit history behind SG Wannabe, BigBang, and Davichi. Star News recognized their albums 1st Mini Album (2009), To Anyone (2010), and 2nd Mini Album (2011) as some of the most successful digital releases ever, with two achieving top positions on yearly charts. The Gaon Music Chart named them South Korea’s artist with the highest number of hit songs in 2011. With combined global sales exceeding 66 million digital and physical units, 2NE1 ranks among the world’s best-selling girl groups.

Members

• Bom () — Currently inactive due to health issues
• Dara ()
• CL () — group leader
• Minzy ()

Discography

• To Anyone (2010)
• Crush (2014)

Filmography

• Style (2009)
• Girlfriends (2009)
• 2NE1 TV (2009)
• 2NE1 TV Season 2 (2010)
• 2NE1 TV Live: Worldwide (Season 3) (2011)
• America's Next Top Model (2014)
• The Bachelor – Juan Pablo (2014)
• The Tim Yap Show (2014)

Concert tours

• Nolza Tour (2011)
• New Evolution Global Tour (2012)
• All or Nothing World Tour (2014)
• Welcome Back Tour (2024–2025)

Additional concerts

• YG Family Concert (2010)
• YG Family 15th Anniversary Concert (2011–2012)
• YG Family World Tour: Power (2014)

See also

• List of best-selling girl groups