'Post Up': CL makes triumphant return as K-pop's 'baddest female', fans call her comeback's appetizer 'insane'
K-pop's resident 'baddest female' CL has made her epic comeback with a song and music video for 'Post Up', her first release since her six-track EP 'In The Name of Love' dropped at the end of 2019.
Lee Chae-rin has been one of K-pop's most popular idols ever since she debuted with 2ne1 in 2009. The group would go on to be one of South Korea's most influential and successful girl groups worldwide, and its members remain fan-favorites to this day, despite being pushed into a hiatus and eventual disbandment while still at the top of their careers. Since then, each member has gone on to embark on solo activities, with Bom and Minzy releasing solo music and Dara reigniting her acting and television career. CL, while still with YG Entertainment, released her first solo single, 'The Baddest Female', back in 2013, and was set to drop an EP 'Lifted' during the group's hiatus. Though the EP's title single did release in 2016, the EP itself seemed to disappear into the ether. But as soon as she left YG in 2019, CL dropped an EP with six songs she had completed during her hiatus. Each was accompanied by a music video as well as the date it was originally completed.
And now, having left the past where it belongs, CL returns anew with 'Post Up', the first single of her new journey as a solo artist in her own right. And fans, naturally, can't help but rejoice and share how happy they are for the singer. One fan tweet read, "Can u believe we get to be present in the queen of kpop releasing her single for her fans after her company did her dirty and rebuilt herself by her own queen behaviour." While at YG, CL spent the bulk of her time building connections within the music industry, both within South Korea as well as in Amrica in preparation for a US debut that didn't manifest. Following her exit from YG, CL put out her music under the Kakao M-affiliated label SuneV, and has since seemingly managed herself, most likely with the aid of a smaller team. Despite this, she managed to put out multiple music videos for six songs over three consecutive weeks, with nearly all six crossing the first million mark in streams and views with ease.
can u believe we get to to be present in the queen of kpop releasing her single for her fans after her company did her dirty and rebuilt herself by her own ๐ queen behaviour. @chaelinCL #POSTUP_CL POST UP OUT NOW pic.twitter.com/wHjvtpwU8m
โ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ (@memealuvzCLx) September 14, 2020
And much like with 'In The Name of Love', CL appears to have participated closely on 'Post Up', with most of the marketing for it coming through the singer's own social media channels. After some technical difficulty, which CL hopped on an Instagram live to clear up, the official video for 'Post Up' dropped. The track features CL rapping about her journey thus far and making sure her detractors know she's coming back to reclaim her crown. "The Queen is back, CL is back!" said one fan, and another shared, "CL IS THE WAY!!!!!"
CL INSTAGRAM LIVE
โ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ (@memealuvzCLx) September 14, 2020
CL said she had technical difficulties and she can't do the livestream on Youtube ๐๐ @chaelinCL #POSTUP_CL POST UP OUT NOW pic.twitter.com/xAHV0PHsVf
The Queen is back, CL is back! #PostUp_CL @chaelinCL
โ ๐ผยฒโดสฐ๐ฏ IN็ ๐ช๐ณ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ สธแตสทแถฆ (@kakkuuung) September 14, 2020
CL has come to be known for many things, including her rapping, singing, dancing, writing, and stage presence. Her rap sounds as good as ever on 'Post Up'. One fan shared, "B****HHHH BARS BARS BARS." Another fan quoted one specific part of CL's rap, stating, "HOW ABOUT YOU SAY IT TO MY FACE? Gurll whatt?"
HOW ABOUT YOU SAY IT TO MY FACE ? Gurll whatt? @chaelinCL #POSTUP_CL POST UP OUT NOW
โ sandi (@Realsandistd) September 14, 2020
Several fans also hailed the return of their "DANCING QUEEN," with many commending the "DANCE BREAK" that features in the latter portion of the music video. One fan stated, "Letโs go dancer!! CL."
DANCING QUEEN POST UP OUT NOW #POSTUP_CL
โ elinหห POST UP 14TH SEPTEMBER (@queengzbs) September 14, 2020
DANCE BREAK @chaelinCL#POSTUP_CL
โ สฒ ๐ธ โบ แถแดธ โป แดพแดผหขแต แตแดพ โป แดฐโปแดฐแตสธ โบ (@2ne7swift) September 14, 2020
POST UP OUT NOW
Some were, naturally, confused at how short the song was, given not much information about it was released prior to the official drop. One fan asked, "Wait, was that it?" And another said, "F*** SO SHORT BUT SOOOOO GOOD. I GO BY THE NAME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW!!!!! 2NE1 MY FOREVER BLESSING!!! THE BADDEST FEMALE! HAIL QUEEN CL." 'Post Up' serves as an intro song for CL's upcoming full comeback release, the official date for which hasn't been released yet. And if this short track tells us anything, it's that CL did not come to play this time around. As one fan stated, "THIS IS INSANE WHAT THE F***."
F*CK SO SHORT BUT SOOOOO GOOD ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅ
โ Younghoonie baby (@x2112x1) September 14, 2020
I GO BY THE NAME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW!!!!!
2NE1 MY FOREVER BLESSING!!!
THE BADDEST FEMALE!
HAIL QUEEN CL ๐๐#PostUp_CL
Check out CL's intro track 'Post Up' below: