BLACKPINK Song How You Like That: Music Video & Track Guide
In June 2020, BLACKPINK ended a 14-month group hiatus with a single record label drop that smashed YouTube view records in under 24 hours. The BLACKPINK song How You Like That did not just announce their return—it served as the architectural blueprint for their first full-length studio release, The Album.
Direct Answer: Released on June 26, 2020, through YG Entertainment and Interscope, "How You Like That" is a hybrid hip-hop and trap track composed by Teddy Park, Danny Chung, R. Tee, and 24. It functions as the lead pre-release single for BLACKPINK's 2020 debut studio record, The Album. The song gained global recognition for its massive EDM beat switch, physical set visual production, modernized Hanbok fashion, and set a YouTube record at launch with 86.3 million views in 24 hours.
Why the 2020 Comeback Changed K-Pop Single Strategy
When a group takes a year-long break at the peak of global momentum, the industry standard is to play it safe with an easy radio pop hook. YG Entertainment and BLACKPINK took the exact opposite route. They built a track designed around contrast, sudden production shifts, and heavy bass drops that forced listeners to pay attention.
Before "How You Like That," K-pop releases frequently relied heavily on digital streaming campaigns alone. This single changed the playbook by synchronizing three distinct drivers at once:
- A pre-release single strategy that built anticipation across a three-stage rollout prior to the full album release.
- An ultra-high-budget physical music video set built entirely without reliance on full-screen CGI background plates.
- A standalone performance concept designed specifically to go viral on short-form video platforms and global dance channels.
If you examine our comprehensive BLACKPINK discography timeline, you can trace how this single marked a clear shift from regional K-pop promotion to immediate global debut syndication.
Anatomy of the BLACKPINK Song How You Like That
Musically, the BLACKPINK song How You Like That relies on tension and release. It opens with an orchestral brass riff that creates immediate scale before dropping down to a sparse beat led by Jennie and Jisoo.
| Section | What happens | Who leads |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | Heavy brass riff | — |
| Verse 1 | Low-register rap and vocal | Jennie, Jisoo |
| Pre-chorus | Rising synth and melodic build | Rosé, Jisoo |
| Chorus drop | Empty trap beat + hook | Lisa, Jennie |
| Verse 2 | Fast hip-hop cadence | Lisa |
| Bridge | Vocal peak | Rosé, Jisoo |
| Outro | Extended EDM tribal beat and chanted hook | Group |
1. The Verse Structure
The song starts in the key of B minor at a tempo of 130 beats per minute. The verses do not overload the mix. Instead, they leave space for vocal delivery, allowing Jennie’s low-register opening and Jisoo’s rich tone to anchor the narrative of rising from rock bottom.
2. The Pre-Chorus Escalation
Rosé and Jisoo take over the pre-chorus, driving the arrangement upward with rising synth pads. The tempo feels as though it accelerates, building suspense right before the expected chorus melody.
3. The Empty Drop
Instead of delivering a sweeping vocal chorus, producers Teddy Park and R. Tee pull the instrumentation back. The chorus hits with a heavy trap bassline, sharp percussion, and the central motif: "Look at you, now look at me." This bait-and-switch technique creates maximum contrast, making the beat drop hit twice as hard in club and arena environments.
4. The Tribal Outro
The final minute abandons standard song architecture entirely. The group switches to a collective chant over an aggressive march beat. This section was specifically written to serve as a high-energy dance break during stadium concerts.
Deconstructing the Record-Breaking YouTube Video and Visual Aesthetics
The official video blackpink how you like that set unprecedented records upon its premiere on June 26, 2020. It generated 86.3 million views in its first 24 hours on YouTube, holding the title for the biggest music video premiere on the platform at that time.
| Metric | Value / record |
|---|---|
| 24-hour debut views | 86.3 million |
| YouTube premiere peak | 1.66 million concurrent viewers |
| Time to 100 million views | 32 hours |
| Dance performance view count | 1.5+ billion (as of 2024) |
When analyzing blackpink how you like that videos, four distinct visual elements explain why the video sustained long-term viewership long after its release week:
Real-Set Construction Over Green Screen
Unlike many modern pop productions that rely heavily on post-production visual effects, YG Entertainment constructed massive physical sets. These included:
- A life-sized, ruined temple adorned with overgrown flora.
- An umbrella-covered ice cavern set for Rosé's solo scenes.
- A golden, oriental-inspired market set constructed for Lisa's hip-hop verse.
- A massive dark-wing background frame for the final dance break.
The Hanbok Fashion Movement
One of the most discussed details of the blackpink how you like that music video was the custom modernized Hanbok worn during the climax. Designed by Korean fashion brand Danha, these traditional garments were cropped and restructured into contemporary stage attire. This styling choice brought traditional Korean dress aesthetics directly into global pop fashion conversations.
The Dance Performance Variant
On July 6, 2020, YG Entertainment released a simple dance performance clip shot against a plain hot-pink studio wall. Stripped of cinematic editing and set changes, this single choreography video surpassed 1.5 billion views on YouTube, outperforming many high-budget music videos from other mainstream artists.
You can inspect the complete stage outfit history and video production notes inside our dedicated live performance archive.
Where "How You Like That" Fits in BLACKPINK Album Songs
To understand the trajectory of blackpink how you like that album songs, you have to trace how the group constructed their first full-length project.
"How You Like That" serves as Track 1 on The Album, functioning as the energetic front door to an eight-song tracklist.
| # | Track | Role on The Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | How You Like That | Lead pre-release single / high energy |
| 2 | Ice Cream (feat. Selena Gomez) | — |
| 3 | Pretty Savage | — |
| 4 | Bet You Wanna (feat. Cardi B) | — |
| 5 | Lovesick Girls | — |
| 6 | Crazy Over You | — |
| 7 | Love To Hate Me | — |
| 8 | You Never Know | — |
While later tracks like "Lovesick Girls" offer emotional narrative depth and "Ice Cream" delivers bright summer pop, "How You Like That" sits firmly as the dark, assertive anthem of the record. Placing it as the opening track sets an uncompromising tone for the rest of the project.
For an in-depth breakdown of lyrics, line distributions, and producer credits across all eight tracks, visit our The Album track breakdown.
Vocal Guide: How to Sing How You Like That and Master HYLT Karaoke
If you want to sing how you like that by blackpink or tackle hylt karaoke at your next outing, understanding how the vocal parts are split across Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa is essential.
Pitch and Vocal Range Breakdown
- Key: B Minor
- Vocal Range: F#3 to D5
- Pacing: Mid-tempo verses transitioning into fast-cadence rap and rhythmic vocal chants.
Step-by-Step Performance Strategy
| Step | Focus | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verse 1 (Jennie / Jisoo) | Keep tone deep and resonant; avoid over-singing the lower notes |
| 2 | Pre-chorus (Rosé) | Shift into chest-head mix; hold vocal stability through the build-up |
| 3 | Chorus drop (Lisa / Jennie) | Pitch takes a back seat to rhythmic punch; deliver "Look at you, now look at me" short and sharp |
| 4 | Rap verse (Lisa) | Practice the English/Korean rapid transitions; keep consonants crisp |
| 5 | Outro chant | Group chant needs controlled projection; pace breathing before the final beat drop |
- Verse 1 (Control and Pitch): Keep your voice low and steady. Jennie’s opening lines rely on dark vocal coloring, while Jisoo follows with warm, breathy resonance. Do not push volume here; let the microphone do the work.
- Pre-Chorus (Vocal Transition): Rosé brings a bright, sharp mix into the pre-chorus. Practice transitioning smoothly from your chest voice into a light head-mix without letting the pitch drop flat.
- The Drop (Rhythmic Staccato): During the chorus, pitch matters less than rhythmic timing. Speak-sing the words with sharp staccato accents. If you drag the phrasing on "How you like that that-that-that-that," you lose the rhythm of the track.
- Lisa’s Rap Section: Lisa’s verse in the second half demands fast diction and rapid switches between Korean and English lines. Practice this verse at 0.75x speed first to master the cadence before attempting full tempo.
Performance Evolution: From Music Shows to Stadium Tours
"How You Like That" evolved considerably from its initial television broadcast performances to its place on stadium setlists.
Music Show Debut (June 2020)
The television debuts on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and SBS Inkigayo featured tight, television-tailored choreography. The focus was entirely on camera angles, synchronicity, and sharp formation changes.
The Born Pink World Tour Arrangement (2022–2023)
During the Born Pink World Tour, the arrangement was expanded for a live band performance:
- Live Drums: Replaced the compressed studio drum samples with heavy acoustic kick drums and live cymbal crashes.
- Extended Guitar Riffs: Added an electric guitar accent layer under the bridge to translate better in massive stadium acoustics.
- Pyrotechnics Integration: The song’s tribal outro was paired with heavy stage pyrotechnics, transforming a short 3-minute track into an extended stadium finale opener.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning behind the song "How You Like That"?
The song conveys a message of resilience, confidence, and overcoming dark or challenging circumstances. The lyrics describe hitting rock bottom, regaining strength, and rising back up to face critics with undeniable success.
Who produced and wrote "How You Like That"?
"How You Like That" was written by Teddy Park and Danny Chung, with composition credited to Teddy Park, R. Tee, 24, and Bekuh Boom. Production was handled by Teddy, R. Tee, and 24 under YG Entertainment.
What record did the "How You Like That" music video set on YouTube?
Upon its release on June 26, 2020, the official music video achieved 86.3 million views in its first 24 hours. It broke five Guinness World Records at the time, including the most-viewed video in 24 hours on YouTube.
Is "How You Like That" a single or part of an album?
It functions as both. It was initially released as a standalone digital pre-release single (alongside a physical single album for collectors) on June 26, 2020. It later served as the opening track for BLACKPINK's first full studio project, The Album, released on October 2, 2020.
What traditional clothing is featured in the music video?
During the climax dance sequence, the members wear customized, modernized Hanbok (traditional Korean attire). The pieces were designed by Korean fashion house Danha, who adapted traditional motifs into modern stage outfits.
What is the tempo and key of "How You Like That"?
The song is written in the key of B minor with a tempo of approximately 130 beats per minute.
Explore the Complete Archival Breakdown
Understanding a single track is just one piece of documenting BLACKPINK's full discography and performance legacy.
If you are researching track credits, comparing live performance arrangements across world tours, or building a song-by-song breakdown of their releases, explore our full independent fan archive at BLACKPINK Decade Set. You will find source-verified setlists, production notes, and discography histories organized for fans and researchers alike.