Biography
Korean superstar CL first reached widespread audiences through her role in the K-pop quartet 2NE1 before launching a solo path that blended rap and vocal work. She appeared on tracks alongside Diplo and Psy, then dropped the explosive single “Hello Bitches” in 2015. After contributing to multiple collaborations and performing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, she focused on original material at decade’s end, releasing the EP series In the Name of Love and issuing her first full-length album, Alpha, in 2021.
Born Chae-rin Lee in Seoul, she grew up largely in Japan and France, where exposure to Queen, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, and Lil’ Kim sparked her musical interests. Her initial recording credit came on Big Bang’s “Hot Issue” in 2007, and she joined 2NE1 two years later. Serving as the group’s lead rapper, she injected a sharper edge into the lineup, which quickly emerged as one of the most prominent K-pop acts of the late 2000s. During that period she guested on G-Dragon and Teddy Park’s “The Leaders” and shared a track with fellow member Minzy on “Please Don’t Go.” Over the next several years 2NE1 issued multiple EPs and albums, including To Anyone and Crush, both of which cracked the Top Ten on Billboard’s world charts.
CL stepped out solo with “The Baddest Female” in 2013. Built on a buoyant hip-hop beat and dubstep break, the track functioned as an empowering anthem reminiscent of M.I.A., who later joined a remix of the follow-up single “Hello Bitches.” She signed with Scooter Braun in 2014 and soon collaborated with Skrillex, Diplo, and G-Dragon on “Dirty Vibe.” Another Diplo-linked cut, “Doctor Pepper,” arrived the next year featuring RiFF RAFF and OG Maco; the dark trap number reached the Top 50 on Korean charts. “Hello Bitches” climbed even higher, nearing the Top 20. Planned as the title track of an EP, “Lifted” never materialized in that format yet became her first entry on both the U.S. Hot 100 and Rap charts.
In subsequent years she toured extensively, worked with Lil Yachty, and contributed to several soundtracks. She also took part in the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony. CL wrapped the decade with a string of singles that were later compiled on the EP In the Name of Love. She resurfaced in 2020 with “HWA” and “5 STAR,” the opening singles from her debut album Alpha, which was released in October 2021.
Born Chae-rin Lee in Seoul, she grew up largely in Japan and France, where exposure to Queen, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, and Lil’ Kim sparked her musical interests. Her initial recording credit came on Big Bang’s “Hot Issue” in 2007, and she joined 2NE1 two years later. Serving as the group’s lead rapper, she injected a sharper edge into the lineup, which quickly emerged as one of the most prominent K-pop acts of the late 2000s. During that period she guested on G-Dragon and Teddy Park’s “The Leaders” and shared a track with fellow member Minzy on “Please Don’t Go.” Over the next several years 2NE1 issued multiple EPs and albums, including To Anyone and Crush, both of which cracked the Top Ten on Billboard’s world charts.
CL stepped out solo with “The Baddest Female” in 2013. Built on a buoyant hip-hop beat and dubstep break, the track functioned as an empowering anthem reminiscent of M.I.A., who later joined a remix of the follow-up single “Hello Bitches.” She signed with Scooter Braun in 2014 and soon collaborated with Skrillex, Diplo, and G-Dragon on “Dirty Vibe.” Another Diplo-linked cut, “Doctor Pepper,” arrived the next year featuring RiFF RAFF and OG Maco; the dark trap number reached the Top 50 on Korean charts. “Hello Bitches” climbed even higher, nearing the Top 20. Planned as the title track of an EP, “Lifted” never materialized in that format yet became her first entry on both the U.S. Hot 100 and Rap charts.
In subsequent years she toured extensively, worked with Lil Yachty, and contributed to several soundtracks. She also took part in the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony. CL wrapped the decade with a string of singles that were later compiled on the EP In the Name of Love. She resurfaced in 2020 with “HWA” and “5 STAR,” the opening singles from her debut album Alpha, which was released in October 2021.
Albums
Singles
