THIS ONE’S FOR BLINK.

10 YEARS

08.08.2016 → 08.08.2026

THE SET IS ABOUT TO START

BLACKPINK Square Up: Track List and Release Context

In June 2018, BLACKPINK faced a specific structural test. Nearly two years after their debut, the group possessed world-class name recognition and a string of chart-topping singles, yet their entire available discography contained just five released songs. Fans and industry analysts wanted to see if the group could sustain a cohesive multi-song narrative without losing the sharp intensity of their individual track releases.

Square Up is BLACKPINK's debut Korean mini-album, officially released on June 15, 2018, by YG Entertainment. The four-track EP features "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "Forever Young," "Really," and "See U Later," written and produced by main collaborator Teddy Park alongside Future Bounce, R.Tee, 24, and Bekuh BOOM. The record entered the US Billboard 200 at number 40, establishing a new peak for a Korean female act at the time and defining the sonic framework for their subsequent international work.

The Transition from Single Drops to a Mini-Album

Before June 2018, YG Entertainment had executed a strategy of slow, isolated releases for BLACKPINK. The group debuted in August 2016 with Square One ("Whistle" and "Boombayah"), followed three months later by Square Two ("Playing with Fire" and "Stay"). In mid-2017, they dropped the standalone digital single "As If It's Your Last."

While every release achieved massive digital stream numbers, the lack of a physical album or a multi-song collection created catalog scarcity. Listeners had single tracks on repeat, but there was no extended project to establish their versatility across different sub-genres of pop and hip-hop.

The arrival of the blackpink square up EP changed that framework completely. By grouping four distinct tracks into a single mini-album, the release delivered both an aggressive lead single and three fully realized side tracks. It transformed BLACKPINK from a high-profile singles act into an artist capable of anchoring full-length arena setlists and physical media collections.

Complete Track List and Production Credits

The arrangement of the four tracks on Square Up follows a distinct sequence. The project starts with maximalist trap-pop before shifting into lighter dance rhythms, acoustic hip-hop, and defiant pop-rock.

1. DDU-DU DDU-DU (뚜두뚜두)

As the lead single, "DDU-DU DDU-DU" anchors the entire project. Driven by a prominent whistle synth motif, Eastern European-inspired oriental scales, and heavy trap sub-bass, the track uses high-energy vocal delivery across every section. Jennie opens the verse with fast rap cadence, Lisa takes the mid-song rap section, and Jisoo and Rosé build the harmonic bridge before the beat drop. The song became a massive streaming success, becoming the first music video by a K-pop group to surpass two billion views on YouTube.

2. Forever Young

Promoted as the co-title track alongside "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "Forever Young" is a moombahton and dance-pop anthem built around a bright, summer-oriented melody. The song takes a structural turn in its final minute, switching from a smooth pop chord progression into a high-BPM trap outro with the repeating refrain "BLACKPINK is the revolution."

3. Really

"Really" drops the heavy bass density of the first two songs in favor of an R&B-inflected hip-hop bounce. Built around clean acoustic guitar chords, soft percussion, and conversational vocal lines, the song demonstrates the group's lighter pop dynamics. It acts as an easy-listening counterweight to the intense production of the opening tracks.

4. See U Later

Closing out the EP, "See U Later" combines sharp synth lines, pop-rock guitar strums, and a bouncing trap snare. Lyrically, it delivers a direct message cutting ties with an unreliable partner, bringing the mini-album to an assertive finish.

Physical Album Package: Black Version vs. Pink Version

The physical blackpink square up cd release was distributed in two distinct physical editions: the Black version and the Pink version. Both editions contained identical audio tracks on the CD disc, but they offered contrasting visual designs and collectible inclusions inside the 3D lenticular packaging.

Physical Package Specifications:

The blackpink square up pink version featured a softer palette with pastel lighting, set props, and streetwear styling. In contrast, the Black version focused on sharp contrast, darker studio portraiture, and high-fashion aesthetics. This split visual branding reinforced the core identity of the group: the balance between aggressive, confident performances (Black) and accessible, melody-driven pop (Pink).

To track how these physical releases fit between their early single drops and their later projects, you can review our BLACKPINK discography timeline.

How Square Up Set the Stage for Kill This Love

Listeners discovering the discography often look at the relationship between kill this love square up releases to understand how the group evolved.

Square Up served as the immediate conceptual ancestor to 2019's Kill This Love mini-album. Before Square Up, the team worked primarily with single-track rollouts. The success of this 2018 EP proved that a four-to-five song format could generate massive global interest, sustain physical sales, and support a full world tour.

When BLACKPINK launched their In Your Area World Tour in late 2018, the four songs from Square Up formed the structural backbone of the setlist. The tracks gave the group enough material to create extended live arrangements, band solos, and dynamic concert transitions. The album layout—combining a hard-hitting trap lead single, a melodic dance secondary track, and two distinct hip-hop/R&B B-sides—became the exact formula used for the Kill This Love EP a year later.

For detailed breakdowns of physical packaging, insert variations, and disc pressings across eras, consult our physical album archive.

How to Analyze the Square Up Production Blueprint

To understand why this mini-album resonated so broadly, examine how the production team layered the instrumentals:

  1. The Lead Hook: "DDU-DU DDU-DU" relies on a distinct, easily recognizable sound effect (the whistle synth) paired with simple, catchy vocal chants.
  2. Genre Switching Within Songs: Rather than keeping a uniform beat throughout, songs like "Forever Young" feature abrupt tempo and genre switches in the final third. This keeps short pop tracks from feeling repetitive during repeated listens.
  3. Vocal Division: Rap duties are divided sharply between Jennie and Lisa to establish punchy rhythm sections, while Rosé and Jisoo supply the melodic bridges and pre-choruses that ground the tracks.

To explore individual stem breakdowns, composition credits, and audio metrics, access our interactive track database.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tracks are included on BLACKPINK's Square Up?

The mini-album features four standard tracks: "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "Forever Young," "Really," and "See U Later."

What is the difference between the Square Up Black and Pink versions?

The Black and Pink versions of Square Up share the exact same CD track list, but they feature completely different cover art, photobooks, and collectible photo cards.

Is "As If It's Your Last" on the Korean Square Up mini-album?

No, "As If It's Your Last" was released as a standalone digital single in 2017 and is not part of the standard Korean Square Up track list.

Who produced the songs on Square Up?

Teddy Park produced all four tracks on the mini-album, collaborating with co-producers 24, R.Tee, Choice37, Future Bounce, and Bekuh BOOM.

When was the Square Up EP released?

YG Entertainment officially released Square Up across digital platforms and physical retail stores on June 15, 2018.

Continue Exploring the Archive

Understanding Square Up provides the context needed to appreciate BLACKPINK's transition from a promising rookie group to global festival headliners. Use our source-led database at BLACKPINK Decade Set to examine full discography data, track details, and complete release histories.