Describing the female group as the ŌĆ£top musical act in the U.S.,ŌĆØ Billboard reported that BLACKPINK broke the record and became the first K-pop female artist to top the U.S. BillboardŌĆÖs main album chart ŌĆśBillboard 200.ŌĆÖ Josh Glicksman, an assistant editor at Billboard Magazine, said, ŌĆ£ItŌĆÖs hard to understate the significance of the group scoring a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 ŌĆö itŌĆÖs a loud-and-clear signal that BLACKPINKŌĆÖs stateside presence is rock-solid, and that wonŌĆÖt be changing anytime soon.ŌĆØ Stephen Daw, a staff writer at Billboard, also shared, ŌĆ£Getting a No. 1 album when up against a chart behemoth like Bad BunnyŌĆÖs Verano Sin Ti is something that multiple established acts have been unable to do in recent weeks, so seeing an act like BLACKPINK soar up the charts for a No. 1 debut is a massive deal.ŌĆØ Jason Lipshutz praised the high quality of their new album, saying, ŌĆ£The Album┬Ārepresented a strong introduction to the quartetŌĆÖs studio personas for those previously unfamiliar with the group, but┬ĀBorn Pink┬Āexpands upon that first step sonically and lyrically, with bolder production choices and less hesitancy to let their individual personalities shine on each track.┬ĀBorn Pink┬Ārecognizes the wider audience that BLACKPINK speaks to now, and effectively communicates with the masses.ŌĆØ Stephen Daw added, ŌĆ£The rise of K-pop has brought about the collective re-interest in girl groups, and thereŌĆÖs no denying that BLACKPINK have long been at the forefront of that movement,ŌĆØ explaining why BLACKPINK became the ones to end that 14-year drought of girl group No. 1ŌĆÖs. Regarding ŌĆ£Shut DownŌĆØ, which scored its debut on this weekŌĆÖs Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 25, an assistant news editor at Billboard named Starr Bowenbank commented: ŌĆ£The track is a delightful combination of swag and braggadocio-filled verses ŌĆō which has admittedly been a little absent from mainstream pop releases in the past year ŌĆō and a sticky chorus, which happens to have a rather fun portion in English (ŌĆ£Whip it, whip it, whip it, whip itŌĆØ) and thus provides an A+ for listeners to sing along to.ŌĆØ Meanwhile, BLACKPINK made history by becoming the first female group to simultaneously top the Billboard charts and BritainŌĆÖs Official Albums Chart Top 100 charts since DestinyŌĆÖs Child in 2001. Source (1)
