2NE1

2NE1 achieved the first iTunes No. 1 in 31 countries for a Korean act, a global breakthrough that predated the streaming era by three years. Their debut EP sold 250,000 copies in its first week, and I Am the Best amassed over 700 million YouTube views—outpacing #8 TWICE's early single views by a factor of five. Widely regarded as the group that laid the groundwork for BLACKPINK, 2NE1 fused hip-hop, EDM, and R&B with fashion-forward visuals that shattered the idol mold. Their cultural impact remains a benchmark for girl groups.