CL (rapper)
A fiercely independent artist who shattered the demure image of K-pop, becoming a global symbol of female swagger and creative control.
Born 1991 (age 35)·South Korean rapper and singer·Birthday: February 26·Millennials
Biography
Born Lee Chae-rin in Seoul, CL's childhood was a transcontinental shuffle between South Korea, Japan, and France, an upbringing that forged a borderless artistic perspective. She was scouted by YG Entertainment and thrust into the spotlight as the leader of 2NE1, a group that deliberately defied K-pop's cute conventions with brash hip-hop and electronic sounds. CL was the group's charismatic nucleus, her rapping and stage presence radiating a confrontational confidence. After 2NE1's dissolution, she embarked on a solo career marked by high-profile Western collaborations and a deliberate, sometimes frustrating, pace that underscored her commitment to artistic autonomy rather than factory-line output. More than a performer, CL evolved into a fashion muse and a figurehead for a generation of fans seeking authenticity and power in pop culture.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
CL was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When CL Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
CL's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the groundbreaking K-pop group 2NE1, which became the first Korean girl group to hold a solo arena tour in the United States.
- Her 2015 solo single "Hello Bitches" amassed over 100 million views on YouTube, cementing her international appeal.
- Performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, a symbol of Korea's modern cultural export.
- Became the first Korean female soloist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 2016 single "Lifted".
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Korean, Japanese, English, and French.
Her stage name CL stands for "Creamy Latte" in her early years, but she later said it means "Leader of 2NE1" and "Crazy Little".
She was a student at the prestigious Korean Kent Foreign School before pursuing music full-time.
She made a cameo appearance in the 2018 film "Mile 22" starring Mark Wahlberg.
“I'm not trying to fit in a box. I'm trying to break boxes.”
