YG’s Alleged Attempts to Hinder BLACKPINK’s Success: What the Evidence Shows

As members of BLACKPINK transition from YG Entertainment, their solo careers are thriving, leading fans to speculate that YG may have previously restricted BLACKPINK’s potential.

Here are some points raised by fans regarding this claim:

Lisa’s Remarkable Solo Journey

Lisa, the youngest member of BLACKPINK, marked a crucial milestone in 2024 by concluding her exclusive contract with YG Entertainment after over five years. She quickly established her own label, LLOUD, and formed a strategic partnership with the international powerhouse RCA Records, setting the stage for a series of remarkable music releases.

In July, Lisa released “ROCKSTAR,” showcasing her collaboration with an international production team. While the all-English single stirred some discussion regarding its artistic direction, it effectively launched Lisa’s independent career. Shortly after, she introduced a groundbreaking collaboration with Grammy-winning Latin pop artist Rosalía titled “New Woman.” This duet highlighted Lisa’s versatility, as she seamlessly navigated from influences of American hip-hop to a blend of K-pop and Latin sounds.

Capitalizing on the success of these releases, Lisa has made headlines across major international events, from the 2024 VMAs to the Global Citizen Festival, and she is set to appear at the Victoria’s Secret runway. On October 3rd, she will release “Moonlit Floor,” a track previously teased at the Global Citizen Festival.

These opportunities and the creative freedom have blossomed since Lisa partnered with RCA Records, indicating that such ventures may have been constrained during her time with YG Entertainment.

Jennie’s Creative Renaissance

Similar to Lisa, Jennie has experienced an exceptional year of professional development through her company, ODDATELIER. Although she faced initial challenges in management, Jennie and her team have laid a strong foundation for her independent career away from YG’s influence.

Jennie has recently announced her upcoming comeback with “Mantra,” the lead single from her solo album, set for release on October 11th. She has also launched a personal website and embraced bold, experimental styles for her promotional activities.

The artist has undergone dramatic changes, sporting pink hair for the “Mantra” music video and platinum blonde hair during Paris Fashion Week. While some of these creative choices have sparked discussions among fans, they symbolize Jennie’s newfound artistic freedom.

This creative liberation sharply contrasts with a poignant revelation from four years ago during BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That” era. Despite creating a buzz with her fringed, dyed hair and Hanbok outfit, Jennie reportedly requested stylists to tone down her looks to avoid overshadowing her bandmates—a decision stemming from unwritten group dynamics and YG’s meticulously crafted image guidelines for each member.

Rosé’s Musical Evolution

On October 1st, Rosé shocked the music scene by announcing her self-titled solo album “Rosie,” scheduled for release on December 6th through Atlanta Records. This project represents years of creative exploration, finally coming to fruition after joining THE BLACK LABEL.

Fellow members Jennie and Jisoo quickly expressed their support, with Jennie sharing heartfelt congratulations on Instagram: “So proud and happy for you, rosieposie. It’s time to wake everyone up with your beautiful voice🤍. Can’t wait!!! Love you🌹”

This marks a significant shift from Rosé’s time at YG, where, despite her evident passion for songwriting, her releases were limited to just two singles (“On the Ground” and “Gone”) and one album track (“Hard to Love”).

A Year of Independence Versus Seven Years Under YG

The contrast between BLACKPINK’s current individual output and their group activities under YG is pronounced. Despite their global prominence, the group’s discography under YG included fewer than 50 songs and only two full albums—each comprising just eight tracks, an unusually small catalog for a group with so many years of experience.

While YG’s “less is more” strategy undoubtably helped cement BLACKPINK as an industry powerhouse, the lengthy hiatuses and limited releases may have stifled the members’ creative potential. All four members have exhibited their talents, yet these abilities were seldom showcased in their group releases.

Now, with their exclusive contracts ended, three of the four members—Lisa, Jennie, and Rosé—are now enjoying unprecedented creative freedom. Their collective musical output in recent months already surpasses what might have been feasible during a typical year under YG’s management. Meanwhile, Jisoo has chosen to advance her acting career.

This indicates that YG’s management style, while successful in enhancing BLACKPINK’s brand, may have, perhaps inadvertently, limited the full artistic expression of its members.

Source: K14

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