K-pop supergroup Blackpink returned to Los Angeles over the weekend, officially kicking off the North American leg of their Deadline world tour.
The four-member girl group — comprised of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — played two sold-out shows at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium on July 12 and July 13, setting a new record as the first girl group to sell out two nights at the stadium. The group’s first L.A. shows in nearly two years, the two nights brought over 100,000 fans to the Inglewood-based venue, according to Live Nation.
The L.A. shows were shrewdly tied to Blackpink’s first group release in nearly three years with the undeniably catchy and energetic single, “Jump,” which was released Friday (July 11). The track, which remains in the top spot of Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global Chart, broke YouTube’s record for the most-viewed video globally in a single day with 26 million views, according to a release.
Night two of the girl group’s L.A. run was full of energy, excitement and even a crowd-pleasing surprise in the form of a special guest. Here are some of the highlights from Blackpink’s Deadline world tour in L.A.
An Ideal Setlist Update for the Group
Blackpink performs at SoFi Stadium in L.A.
YG Entertainment
In the time since the chart-topping group last visited L.A., Blackpink has ventured off as individuals, each enjoying increasingly fruitful solo careers. In December 2023, it was announced that the group had renewed their exclusive contracts for group activities with YG Entertainment; however, it was later announced that all four members decided to part ways with the label for solo activities. Jennie signed with Columbia Records through a partnership with her record label and entertainment company Oddatelier; Lisa and her entertainment company LLOUD signed a partnership deal with RCA Records; Rosé signed a global solo deal with Atlantic Records; while Jisoo signed a global deal with Warner Records.
With that in mind, it was hard to envision what a setlist might look like, but Blackpink managed to strike an impressive balance of classic songs, new solo works and a guiding act-structure to the show. The group kicked off the show with perhaps the most quintessential Blackpink track, “Kill This Love,” later playing other signature songs such as “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Lovesick Girls,” “Forever Young” and “How You Like That.” They also performed their debut songs (“Boombayah” and “Whistle”), songs from their most recent full release (“Pink Venom” and “Shut Down”) and their latest single “Jump.”
A Well-Executed Special Guest Surprise
Rosé and Bruno Mars have taken the charts by storm with the Blackpink member’s solo release “Apt.” The single, inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, has spent 37 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100; it currently sits at No. 27, having peaked at No. 3.
The singer closed her solo set with “Apt.” As Rosé finished the first chorus, the crowd already more than engaged in the exuberant performance, fans erupted when Mars was lifted onto the extended stage. The pair — sporting matching racing jackets — looked downright thrilled to perform the song, making it a highlight of the night second only to Blackpink’s performance of “Jump.”
A Stadium Bathed In a Sea of Pink
Blackpink performs at SoFi Stadium.
YG Entertainment
There’s something to be said for why K-pop groups make for the ideal stadium act. Blackpink, much like other K-pop groups, puts on a show seemingly tailor-made for a stadium with a non-stop, visually exciting nearly three hours of performance.
A Blackpink show would be enjoyable in nearly any venue but a stadium with legions of fans, almost all with the group’s iconic pink hammer lightstick in hand, adds to the experience ten fold. The girl group is slated to head to Chicago’s Soldier Field, Toronto’s Rogers Stadium and New York’s Citi Field before heading to Paris, Milan, Barcelona and London this year.
A Chance for Everyone to Shine
Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé and Jennie on stage at Deadline world tour in L.A.
YG Entertainment
During act two — each portion broken up by pre-recorded video showing the women of Blackpink driving down a road, through the lights of Las Vegas and more — the group’s eldest member, Jisoo, and the youngest, Lisa, performed their solo sets, while Jennie and Rosé performed theirs during act four.
Jisoo endeared herself to the crowd with songs like “Earthquake” and “Your Love,” the latter featuring a section that found the 30-year-old being hoisted in the air and paraded around the stage. Lisa performed strong versions of “Thunder” and “Fxck Up the World,” with the 28-year-old White Lotus actress also showcasing her undeniable dancing skills.
Jennie, who played a small run of shows timed to her solo release Ruby, had the crowd singing along to a mashup of her songs “Mantra” and “With an IE (way up).” The 29-year-old made the stadium feel like a club with a dynamic performance of her hit “Like Jennie.” Rosé was the last of her group members to perform solo. The 28-year-old sang the mellow “3am” and an abridged version of her album’s lead single “Toxic Till the End” before ending with a dynamite performance of “Apt.”
It’s clear that each member of the group has had time to grow as a performer — Lisa and Jennie made their solo Coachella debut, Jisoo toured Asia earlier this year and Rosé found herself with an unstoppable top 40 hit in “Apt.” But each solo section skillfully conveyed the notion that performing as solo singers has only improved their skills and chemistry as a group. The choice to include these solo sections contributed to the overall feeling that any attendee of the show likely felt when leaving Sunday night — Blackpink is at the top of their game.