CL has officially joined THEBLACKLABEL, with the agency welcoming the 2NE1 leader through a bilingual announcement in Korean and English. The signing marks her first major agency move since leaving YG Entertainment in December 2019 and establishing her independent label, Very Cherry.
“We warmly welcome CL and ask for your love and support towards her upcoming activities,” the label announced. The singer is expected to make her comeback this month.
The announcement also brings CL back together with Teddy, the producer and songwriter who founded THEBLACKLABEL and played a significant role in shaping 2NE1’s sound. Their previous collaborations include some of the group’s best-known songs, such as “I Am the Best” and “Fire,” making the move particularly meaningful for fans familiar with the early years of her career.
Your daily dose of music news, trends, and fresh drops.
InMusic Newsletter
CL, whose real name is Lee Chae-rin, debuted in 2009 as the leader and main rapper of 2NE1. Alongside Bom, Dara and Minzy, she helped establish the group as one of the defining acts of second-generation K-pop, with a distinctive combination of hip-hop influences, electronic production and bold visual concepts. The quartet became internationally recognized through releases including “Fire,” “I Don’t Care,” “Can’t Nobody” and “I Am the Best.”
While pursuing activities with the group, CL began developing her solo identity, making her official solo debut in May 2013 with “The Baddest Female.” She followed it with “MTBD” in February 2014 before expanding her international ambitions through English-language releases. In 2016, “Lifted” made her the first Korean female solo artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
Following 2NE1’s disbandment announcement in November 2016, CL remained under YG Entertainment for several years before departing in December 2019. She subsequently released In the Name of Love, a six-track EP that December, offering a more personal look at the period surrounding her departure from the company. In 2021, she returned with Alpha, her long-awaited debut full-length studio album, featuring songs including “Spicy,” “Lover Like Me” and “Tie a Cherry.”
The launch of Very Cherry gave CL greater control over her music and creative direction, allowing her to operate independently while continuing to develop her international career. Her signing with THEBLACKLABEL now introduces a different professional arrangement, with the opportunity to work alongside a company whose founder has been closely connected to some of her most recognizable musical moments.
Photo: THEBLACKLABEL / Instagram
Leave a Reply