Back in 2008 when 2NE1 was preparing to debut, YG Entertainment rigorously advertised them as being the next 'Big Bang' or the 'female' Big Bang. As a result, audiences had a pre-conceived notion of what they thought 2NE1 was going to be. In essence, even before their debut, people were already forming an image of them as a basic reflection of their predecessors. How have they changed that image throughout the years? And how has that image gained them success both nationally and overseas?

Since 2NE1 is bound to comeback this month, I think it is relevant to discuss their story of success, which I argue, is directly related to their music.

Although Big Bang is exclusively a hip-hop group, with some variations here and there, 2NE1 is much more experimental and we've seen this through the years. Take, for example, their songs (in chronological order) 'I Don't Care', 'It Hurts' and 'Falling In Love'. Although not authentically, these tracks have distinct Reggae characteristics that remind audiences of the genre. They also attempt to explore punk rock with songs like 'Ugly' and R&B with 'Love is Ouch', 'You and I' and 'Missing You'. This is 2NE1's weapon for success: the integration of universal and trending genres in their music.

2NE1's music, therefore, is not only appealing to South Korean audiences but also to international ones. They are the representation of the Hallyu wave. Their collaborations with foreign artists such as will.i.am and Snoop Dogg (on stage) further legitimizes their overseas appeal. 2NE1 is responsible for being an outlier in South Korea's idol girl groups, which in turn leads to them to success through a distinct color.

But what about the international success of other girl groups? Arirang TV's 'Showbiz Korea' ranked the top 5 most loved k-pop songs overseas in 2013. Girls' Generation's 'Gee' ranked 2^nd place. So maybe music genre is not the only factor of success? Maybe the Hallyu audience is much more accepting?

Please keep your eyes peeled for 2NE1's comeback this month!