For a lot of newcomers to K-pop, a lot of the idols and groups of the genre can blend together. Despite each group trying to stand out from the rest, they all have to use the same tried and true methods of attracting fans to their cause. It’s pretty rare to find a group that legitimately stands out from the rest. However, throughout their career, B1A4 have managed to be different from the rest of the crowd because of their self-production, their backgrounds, and their first reveal to the world.
The group debuted on April 23, 2011, under WM Management. Their name is based both on the expression “Be the One All for One” and the group members’ blood types. They have released nine studio albums (including their Japanese albums) and seven EPs over their career so far. They recently concluded their hiatus for military service and returned with their latest single in January 2024.
B1A4 have been a self-produced group long before that became a common trend within K-pop. Much of their work was written and organized by Jinyoung before he left the group in 2017 due to not re-signing with WM. However, the other members have stepped up since then and have held the tradition of self-production in the years since.
The group is often called “countryside-doles,” a portmanteau of “countryside” and “idols” because all of the members come from the countryside regions of Korea. Although they aren’t from the same provinces, this countryside background makes the group unique. Many South Koreans have a sense of pride in which part of the country they come from, which translates to pride in others from that region and the work they are doing.
B1A4 were also introduced to the world in a unique way: through a webcomic. Webcomics and K-pop have had a number of crossovers over the years, as K-pop is a truly multimedia genre. There’s a very different feeling between getting to know the members of a new group via videos and photos of the idols themselves versus having your first interaction be as animated characters. It makes for a much more casual, friendly first impression than is had with most groups.
This differentiation has left the group with many fans. A large number of K-pop fans online have included songs like “Lonely” on their favorite-ever lists.
As mentioned before, the group has recently restarted activities and it looks like they’re set up for even more awesome activities in the years to come. They might be down to three of the five original members, but you can bet that B1A4 are still following the mantra of "Be the One All for One!”