Quick Read
- BLACKPINK released their new mini-album, “DEADLINE,” on February 27, 2026, their first group music project in over three years.
- The five-track EP includes the lead single “GO” and four other songs, all primarily in English, signaling a global focus.
- The release follows a period of successful solo careers for JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA, and the “DEADLINE World Tour” which concluded in January 2026.
- “GO” marks the first time all four BLACKPINK members collectively wrote on a single track.
- Collaborators on the album include Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Diplo, EJAE, Cirkut, and long-time producers TEDDY and IDO.
YEREVAN (Azat TV) – Global K-pop sensation BLACKPINK has officially released their highly anticipated new mini-album, “DEADLINE,” today, February 27, 2026. This release marks the quartet’s first major group music project in over three years, following a period of extensive individual solo endeavors and a landmark world tour, signaling a significant return to collective activities with a collection of globally-focused, predominantly English tracks.
The five-track EP, titled after their recent record-breaking world tour, includes the lead single “GO,” for which a music video was also unveiled. “DEADLINE” follows the group’s chart-topping 2022 full-length album, “Born Pink,” and their 2025 comeback single, “JUMP,” which featured Diplo and reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
BLACKPINK’s “DEADLINE” Era Begins
The release of “DEADLINE” culminates a year of heightened anticipation since BLACKPINK first teased a new tour in February 2025. The “DEADLINE World Tour” eventually spanned 16 cities and 33 concerts, wrapping up in Hong Kong in January 2026, and notably saw the group become the first K-pop girl group to headline Wembley Stadium in August 2025, according to Rolling Stone. While the tour celebrated their existing discography, it also laid the groundwork for this new musical chapter.
Ahead of the mini-album, the Diplo-assisted track “JUMP” served as an early summer single in 2025, blending Korean and English lyrics. However, the four new tracks on “DEADLINE” – “GO,” “Me and My,” “Champion,” and “Fxxxboy” – are all performed entirely in English. This strategic shift signals a new, globally-focused pop chapter for the group, aiming to solidify their presence on the world stage, as noted by Billboard.
Charting Solo Successes and the “DEADLINE” Tour
Between their last group album, “Born Pink,” and the current release, the members of BLACKPINK – JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA – each pursued highly successful solo careers. ROSÉ released her solo LP “Rosie,” featuring the hit collaboration “Apt” with Bruno Mars, and became the first solo K-pop artist to perform at the Grammy Awards earlier this month alongside Mars, according to Consequence.net. LISA dropped her album “Alter Ego” and appeared in “The White Lotus,” while JENNIE released her debut solo project “Ruby,” and JISOO unveiled her EP “Amortage” last year.
These individual successes not only kept the members in the spotlight but also showcased their diverse musical capabilities, enriching their collective return. The “DEADLINE World Tour” served as a powerful reunion, allowing fans to reconnect with the quartet before the launch of new music.
A New Global Chapter for BLACKPINK
The decision to feature all-English tracks on the new EP, excluding the previously released “JUMP,” underscores BLACKPINK’s intent to broaden their international appeal. This move follows a trend among K-pop artists to engage a wider global audience, demonstrating the group’s ambition to transcend linguistic barriers in mainstream pop music. The album features a roster of acclaimed collaborators, including Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who co-wrote the lead single “GO,” alongside long-time producers TEDDY, IDO, and new talents like EJAE and Cirkut, according to Billboard.
TEDDY, EJAE, and IDO recently garnered a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media with “Golden” earlier this month, highlighting the caliber of talent involved in the “DEADLINE” project. This blend of established hitmakers and fresh voices aims to deliver innovative sounds while retaining BLACKPINK’s signature style.
Critical Reception and Collaborations on “DEADLINE”
The lead single, “GO,” stands out as a significant milestone, marking the first time all four BLACKPINK members – JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA – have collectively written on a single track. Billboard praised “GO” as not only the best song on “DEADLINE” but also a truly representative track of the group’s duality and range, from ROSÉ’s urgent opening lines to JENNIE’s fierce tone and the track’s “turbo-charged synths.”
Other tracks like “Fxxxboy” explore a brooding, emo headspace, praised for its emotional delivery, while “Champion,” co-written by EJAE, carries an empowering message akin to her Grammy-winning work. “Me and My” offers a familiar empowering anthem with a minimal hip-hop beat. The production credits are robust, featuring talents like Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, and Tobias Wincorn on “Me and My,” and Lukasz Gottwald and Theron Thomas on “Champion.”
The release of “DEADLINE” solidifies BLACKPINK’s position not just as a leading K-pop act, but as a formidable global pop force consciously evolving its sound and strategy to appeal to an ever-expanding international fanbase, leveraging both individual star power and collective synergy.