They were forced to disband by their company on November 24, 2016, and now exist in a sort of limbo state, as all members have referred to themselves as members of the group, often meeting up and even reuniting at Coachella 2022, but have not yet acquired the rights to promote as a group.
2NE1 has released a promotional song featuring the group Big Bang called Lollipop. The song was released as a promotional song for the CYON cellular phone Lollipop. Although it was not a promoted single (as it was an advertisement song, there were problems with network chart eligibility), "Lollipop" proved to be a strong chart hit, going to #1 on various online charts and topping music television network Mnet's online chart for four weeks in a row. Despite already achieving chart success, the group did not officially debut until May. On May 6th 2009, they released their debut digital single, "FIRE ". The group released 2 music videos for the single, one known as the "space version" and the other known as the "street version. They then released a self-titled mini-album and promoted their hit "I Don't Care" followed by "Pretty Boy." Both songs received a substantial amount of success, with the former becoming one of their biggest hits.
In August 2010, YG Entertainment founder, Yang Hyun Suk, announced that 2NE1 will promote three title tracks for their first full length album, TO ANYONE. In addition, three music videos would be produced, filmed, and released for the tracks. The album would be released on September 9, 2010.
Two days before the release of the album, the pre-orders for the copies of the album were very high. YG Entertainment stated that the pre-orders for the album have already reached around 120,000 copies surpassing the amount of sales made by their previous mini-album which only sold around 100,000 copies in total.
Music videos for 박수쳐 and GO AWAY were released on September 9 and 10, respectively.CAN'T NOBODY was originally scheduled to be released on September 11, 2010 but was instead unveiled on September 12.
2NE1 held their comeback stage of Korean music program Inkigayo on September 12. They performed their three title tracks, 박수쳐, GO AWAY, and CAN'T NOBODY. The performances were recorded early in the day so they could perform at the Hallyu Dream Concert in Gyeongju later in the evening.
According to a YG Entertainment representative, promotions for the album alone cost the company a total of $850,195.
The height of 2NE1's commercial success was reached in the time surrounding their following two Korean projects. Their 2nd Mini-Album, released in 2011, brought them their biggest hit, I AM THE BEST, as well as 3 other hit songs, Lonely, Hate You, Ugly , and a solo hit by Bom, and also included 2010's Don't Stop The Music.
They released multiple successful singles and Japanese projects between 2011 and 2014.
Their second full album, CRUSH, was released in 2014, alongside its massively successful single, Come Back Home. The album debuted at number 61 on the United States "Billboard 200", and was followed with its second single, Gotta Be You.
Maknae Minzy left the group in April of 2016 following dissatisfaction with the group's long hiatus and alleged mistreatment from the label. 2NE1 released one song, Goodbye, without her following their disbandment, a song written by CL as a goodbye to Minzy, now serving also as a goodbye from the group to their fans. Minzy has since been promoted multiple times as "Minzy of 2NE1", singing the group's songs and carrying their name at events. The other three members left the label within the following years, and also sing the group's songs while referring to themselves on multiple occasions as members of 2NE1. The group often meet and speak privately, and reunited on stage in 2022 during CL's set at Coachella 2022 to perform their signature song, "I Am The Best." This made them the first Korean girl group to perform on the Coachella's "Main Stage", and second to perform at Coachella over-all, after BLACKPINK. It is also worth noting that YG and multiple members of BLACKPINK have cited 2NE1 as inspiration for the group, with BLACKPINK even receiving at least one known unreleased 2NE1 song, titled "Blame It On Your Love". BLACKPINK released their version of the track, now titled "As If It's Your Last," in 2017. 2NE1 was intended to have a collaboration as solo artists on CL's 2021 album, ALPHA. The song, Let It, was released in the end as a solo song by CL, due to time constraints surrounding Minzy's schedule. CL previewed Bom and Dara's parts during a livestream upon her album's release.
• CL (Leader, Main Rapper, Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Center, Face Of The Group)
Real Name: Lee Chae Rin (이채린)
Date of Birth: February 26, 1991 (1991-02-26)
• 박봄 (BOM / Park Bom) (Main Vocalist)
Real Name: Park Bom (박봄)
Birth date: March 24, 1984 (1984-03-24)
• 산다라 (DARA / Sandara Park) (Vocalist, Visual)
Real Name: Sandara Park (박산다라)
Date of Birth: November 12, 1984 (1984-11-12)
• 공민지 (MINZY / Gong Min Ji) (Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, Lead Vocalist, Maknae)
Real Name: Gong Minji (공민지)
Date of Birth: January 18, 1994 (1994-01-18)
I Am The Best
2NE1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가 (제-제-제일 잘 나가)
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Oh, my God
누가 봐도 내가 좀 죽여주잖아 (alright)
둘째가라면 이 몸이 서럽잖아 (alright)
넌 뒤를 따라오지만 난 앞만 보고 질주해
네가 앉은 테이블 위를 뛰어다녀 I don't care
건드리면 감당 못해 I'm hot, hot, hot, hot fire
뒤집어지기 전에 제발 누가 날 좀 말려
옷장을 열어 가장 상큼한 옷을 걸치고
거울에 비친 내 얼굴을 꼼꼼히 살피고
지금은 여덟 시 약속시간은 여덟 시 반
도도한 걸음으로 나선 이 밤
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가 (제-제-제일 잘 나가)
내가 봐도 내가 좀 끝내주잖아 (alright)
네가 나라도 이 몸이 부럽잖아 (alright)
남자들은 날 돌아보고 여자들은 따라해
내가 앉은 이 자리를 매일 넘봐 피곤해
선수인척 폼만 잡는 어리버리한 player
넌 바람 빠진 타이어처럼 보기 좋게 차여
어떤 비교도 난 거부해 이건 겸손한 얘기
가치를 논하자면 나는 billion dollar baby
뭘 좀 아는 사람들은 다 알아서 알아봐
아무나 잡고 물어봐 누가 제일 잘 나가?
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가
내가 제일 잘 나가 (제-제-제일 잘 나가)
누가? 네가 나보다 더 잘 나가? (hey)
No, no, no, no
Na, na, na, na (brr)
누가? 네가 나보다 더 잘 나가? (hey)
No, no, no, no
Na, na, na, na (brr)
누가? 네가 나보다 더 잘 나가? (hey)
No, no, no, no
Na, na, na, na
누가? 네가 나보다 더 잘 나가? (hey)
No, no, no, no
Na, na, na, na
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Bam ratatata tatatatata
Oh, my God
"I Am the Best" by 2NE1 is a song about self-confidence and being proud of oneself. The repetitive chorus, "I am the best," reinforces the idea that the singer is confident in their abilities and success. The verses continue this theme, with lyrics that express how others may envy the singer's success, but they do not care because they are too focused on moving forward and continuing to improve. The line "누가 봐도 내가 좀 죽여주잖아" ("Everyone can see that I'm killing it") shows how much the singer believes in themselves and their abilities.
The song also touches on the pressure of being a public figure, as the lyrics talk about how exhausting it is to constantly have to be aware of people watching and imitating them. The line "남자들은 날 돌아보고 여자들은 따라해" ("Men turn to look at me and women copy me") expresses the pressure of being a role model and constantly needing to set a good example.
Overall, "I Am the Best" is a song about unapologetically believing in oneself and continuing to work towards success, even in the face of pressure and envy from others.
Line by Line Meaning
내가 제일 잘 나가
I am the best, no one can match me
내가 제일 잘 나가 (제-제-제일 잘 나가)
I am the absolute best, nobody is even close
Bam ratatata tatatatata
The sound of my success being celebrated
Oh my god
Even the heavens are amazed by how good I am
누가 봐도 내가 좀 죽여주잖아
Even at first glance, I am clearly the best and unbeatable
둘째가라면 이 몸이 서럽잖아
Even the second best is poor in comparison to me
넌 뒤를 따라오지만 난 앞만 보고 질주해
You might try to follow me, but I am always running ahead
네가 앉은 테이블 위를 뛰어다녀 I don't care
I could even jump on the table you're sitting at, I don't care
건드리면 감당 못해 I'm hot hot hot hot fire
I am so fierce that anyone who messes with me will get burned
뒤집어지기 전에 제발 누가 날 좀 말려
Please, someone cool me down before I turn everything upside down
옷장을 열어 가장 상큼한 옷을 걸치고
I choose the freshest and newest clothes from my wardrobe
거울에 비친 내 얼굴을 꼼꼼히 살피고
I take time to examine my face in the mirror carefully
지금은 여덟 시 약속시간은 여덟 시 반
It's 8 o'clock now, and the appointment time is 8:30
도도한 걸음으로 나선 이 밤
I step out confidently, strutting with a haughty gait
내가 봐도 내가 좀 끝내주잖아
Even in my own opinion, I am truly amazing and unbeatable
네가 나라도 이 몸이 부럽잖아
Even you would envy me and want to be like me
남자들은 날 돌아보고 여자들은 따라해
Men turn around to watch me, and women try to emulate me
내가 앉은 이 자리를 매일 넘봐 피곤해
Everyone is always checking the seat where I was sitting, it's tiring
선수인척 폼만 잡는 어리버리한 playa'
You pretend to be a seasoned player, but you're just immature and trying to look cool
넌 바람 빠진 타이어처럼 보기 좋게 차여
You might look good, but you're like a flat tire filled only to look the part
어떤 비교도 난 거부해 이건 겸손한 얘기
I refuse to compare myself to others, this is just me being humble
가치를 논하자면 나는 billion dollar baby
If we're talking value, I am worth billions
뭘 좀 아는 사람들은 다 알아서 알아봐
Those who know a thing or two can easily see for themselves
아무나 잡고 물어봐 누가 제일 잘 나가?
Just ask anyone, who is the best of them all?
누가? 네가 나보다 더 잘 나가?
Who? Do you really think you're better than me?
No no no no!
Absolutely not!
Na na na na!
You can't even compare
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Hong Jun Park
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind