Biography
2NE1 (Korean: 투애니원; RR: tuaeniwon, IPA: [tʰu.ɛ.ni.wʌn]) was a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment which was active between 2009 and 2016. The group had four members: Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy. Known for their stereotype-shattering image, musical experimentation, fashion, and stage presence, 2NE1 is considered one of the most successful and influential girl groups in K-pop. They have reportedly sold a total of 66.5 million records, which would make them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
The group was introduced in March 2009 after appearing on the promotional single "Lollipop" alongside labelmate Big Bang. 2NE1 rose to prominence with the release of their debut eponymous extended play 2NE1 (2009), which featured the singles "Fire" and "I Don't Care". The latter was named the Mnet Asian Music Award for Song of the Year, making 2NE1 the first idol group to receive a daesang in the same year of debut. Throughout their career, 2NE1 amassed nine number-one songs on the Gaon Digital Chart, the most of any idol group then, including "Go Away", "I Love You", "Missing You" and "Come Back Home".
2NE1 followed up their debut EP with their first studio album, To Anyone (2010), and their second EP; the latter produced four chart-topping singles: "Don't Cry", "Lonely", "I Am the Best" and "Ugly". Considered the first world tour by a K-pop girl group, their New Evolution Global Tour visited eleven cities in seven countries in Asia and North America in 2012, and their show at the Prudential Center in New Jersey was named the second best concert of the year by The New York Times. 2NE1's final studio album, Crush (2014), was critically acclaimed and the highest-charting K-pop album on the US Billboard 200 at the time, debuting at number 61.
The quartet also ventured into the Japanese music scene through YG's partnership with Avex Trax, releasing Nolza in 2011 and following up with the studio albums Collection (2012) and the Japanese version of Crush (2014). After a period of group hiatus, Minzy announced her departure from the group in April 2016, and the other three members officially disbanded that November.[1] Their final single, "Goodbye", was recorded as a trio and was released on January 21, 2017 as a farewell to their fans.