I. Introduction
BLACKSWAN in a promotional photo for their 2020 album Goodbye Rania
BLACKSWAN (previously known as Rania, then BP Rania) is currently a 4-member group consisting of Youngheun, Fatou, Judy, and Leia. The group debuted in 2011 as Rania with the single album Teddy Riley, the First Expansion into Asia and the title track of "Dr. Feel Good", but later changed their name to BP Rania (from "Black Pearl Rania") in 2016 after then-member Alex was made the leader as a reference to her skin tone. After that, the group went on to release 2 more title tracks and promote 2 more B-sides before finally rebranding as BLACKSWAN in 2020 with a 5-member lineup that later became the current 4-member lineup after Hyeme left the group.
II. Members
Picture |
Stage name |
Real name |
Date of birth |
Nationality |
Position in the group |
Joined in |
---|
|
Youngheun |
Go Young-heun |
November 20, 1994 |
South Korean |
Leader/Main vocalist |
2019 |
|
Fatou |
Samba Fatou Diouf |
March 23, 1995 |
Senegalese |
Main rapper |
2020 |
|
Judy |
Kim Da-hye |
May 16, 1995 |
South Korean |
Main dancer |
2020 |
|
Leia |
Larissa Cartes |
May 14, 2001 |
Brazilian/Japanese |
Visual/Maknae |
2019 |
III. Former members
Picture |
Stage name |
Real name |
Date of birth |
Nationality |
Position in the group |
Debuted with the group in |
Left in |
---|
|
Yijo |
Chang Yijiao |
June 16, 1987 |
Chinese |
Dancer |
2011 |
2011 |
|
Joy |
Jutamas Wichai |
July 27, 1990 |
Thai |
Visual |
2011 |
2011 |
|
Riko |
Kim Joo-yeon |
March 10, 1989 |
South Korean |
Leader |
2011 |
2014 |
|
Yina |
Hwang Saem |
May 4, 1987 |
South Korean |
Leader |
2011 (rejoined in 2016 after first leaving in 2014) |
2017 |
|
Jooyi |
Yoo Joo-yi |
August 20, 1989 |
South Korean |
Leader/Main vocalist |
2011 |
2016 |
|
Di |
Kim Da-rae |
October 18, 1991 |
South Korean |
Leader/Main rapper/Main dancer |
2011 |
2016 |
|
T-ae |
Lee Tae-eun |
September 24, 1993 |
South Korean |
Main dancer |
2011 |
2016 |
|
Xia |
Jang Jin-young |
November 15, 1993 |
South Korean |
Maknae |
2011 |
2016 |
|
Sharon |
Park Sharon |
November 29, 1992 |
South Korean |
Sub-vocalist |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Alex |
Alexandra Reid |
March 5, 1989 |
American |
Leader/Main rapper |
2015 |
2017 |
|
Zi.U (formerly Seulji) |
Kim Seul-ji |
February 24, 1995 |
South Korean |
Lead vocalist |
2015 |
2019 |
|
Hyeme |
Kim Hye-mi |
December 22, 1995 |
South Korean |
Main vocalist |
2015 |
2020 |
|
Yumin |
Kim Yoo-min |
April 22, 1994 |
South Korean |
Sub-vocalist |
2016 |
2018 |
|
Ttabo |
Fu Yingnan |
June 8, 1995 |
Chinese |
Main rapper |
2016 |
2019 |
|
Jieun |
Kang Ji-eun |
October 17, 1993 |
South Korean |
Leader/Lead vocalist |
2016 |
2019 |
|
Namfon |
Korapat Bisechuri |
June 25, 2001 |
Thai |
Maknae |
2018 |
2020 |
|
Seonghyun |
Lee Seong-hyun |
October 10, 1996 |
South Korean |
Main dancer |
2019 |
2020 |
III. Discography
Cover art |
Release title |
Type |
Release date |
Title track |
---|
|
Teddy Riley, the First Expansion into Asia |
Single album |
April 6, 2011 |
"Dr. Feel Good" |
|
Time to Rock da Show |
Mini album |
November 17, 2011 |
"Pop Pop Pop" |
|
Style |
Single |
September 21, 2012 |
"Style" |
|
Just Go |
Full album |
March 8, 2013 |
"Just Go" |
|
Demonstrate |
Mini album |
November 5, 2015 |
"Demonstrate" |
|
Start a Fire |
Mini album |
December 30, 2016 |
"Start a Fire" |
|
Refresh 7th |
Mini album |
August 12, 2017 |
"Beep Beep Beep" |
|
Goodbye Rania |
Full album |
October 16, 2020 |
"Tonight" |
IV. Trivia
- Taiwanese singer and actress Sarah Wang was part of Rania's pre-debut lineup, but left the group before their 2011 debut and later opened a Hello Kitty restaurant in Beijing known as the Dreams Restaurant.
- The group's company later filled her spot using Thai trainee Data (who left due to homesickness) and Canadian trainee Minhee (who left due to parental disapproval) and, lastly, former member Yijo.
- As a last-minute addition to Rania's lineup, Yijo never participated in any of the performances for her group's song "Dr. Feel Good" and left shortly after Rania's debut due to working visa issues.
- Seonghyun left BP Rania some time before the group rebranded as BLACKSWAN.
- Hyeme left BLACKSWAN after she was accused of scamming 50 million won from someone because DR Music had already planned for her to leave the group when her contract expired; BLACKSWAN's promotions for their Goodbye Rania album were cut short after this.
- In an interview with YouTuber Ploopy678, former member Yina stated that many of Rania's members left before their contracts expired by either stating their intentions to leave in order to gain permission from their company to leave or leaving without the permission to do so.