Jennie has never just been a pop star; she’s a phenomenon, the kind of celebrity whose every move sparks conversation, adoration and relentless scrutiny. But the BLACKPINK “it girl” doesn’t just acknowledge that gaze – on her debut solo album, ‘Ruby’, she meets it head-on. Across the kaleidoscopic record, Jennie is both untouchable and deeply human, one who falls in love too hard, brushes off the noise and emerges from her gilded cage more confident than ever.
Nowhere is that confidence more palpable than on ‘Like Jennie’, where she’s self-aware of her own influence. Over an electrifying beat, she name-checks herself with playful bravado, turning her name into both a flex and a challenge: “Who wanna rock with Jennie? / Keep your hair done, nails done like Jennie.” It’s the kind of song only she could pull off – a declaration of dominance wrapped in effortless cool.
On ‘With The IE (Way Up)’, she plays with perception, taking control of the narratives spun around her name. The track cheekily nods to Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Jenny from the Block’, borrowing its signature flute melody (which itself traces back to The Beatnuts’ ‘Watch Out Now’). But where J.Lo’s hit was a declaration of staying grounded, Jennie’s version is sharper, more defiant: “Target on my name / But you’re way off / Why are you evaluating me on your day off.”
While Jennie has long been known as a rapper in the K-pop world, ‘Ruby’ leans into her identity as a vocalist, with lush, R&B-infused tracks (like the SZA-coded ‘Start A War’) that let her show off the full range of her voice. Jennie’s choices in collaborators also feel purposeful; they complement her rather than overshadow her, ensuring that even when she shares the mic, she remains the gravitational centre of every song.
‘Handlebars’, her sultry tie-up with Dua Lipa, captures the reckless rush of falling too hard, too fast. “I heard that fools rush in / That’s me,” she croons over a hazy, late-night beat. The neo-soul flourishes of ‘Love Hangover’, featuring a smooth assist from Dominic Fike, blend soulful intimacy with a laid-back groove. Meanwhile, ‘Damn Right’, a ’90s slow jam featuring Childish Gambino and Kali Uchis, is undeniably sensual, with each artist’s signature style melting seamlessly into the track.
But the perfect statement of artistic intent – ambitious, self-assured and wholly hers – is ‘Zen’, a tension-fuelled powerhouse oscillating between sparse, stomping verses and an overwhelming, industrial-tinged chorus. Its bristling production and halting flow create a stark contrast between emptiness and overload, amplifying the track’s intensity. Stripped of its sonic chaos, ‘Zen’ is deceptively simple – but Jennie’s charisma and the track’s off-kilter catchiness make it a highlight.
Truthfully, Jennie didn’t have to try this hard. As one of the most famous and influential K-pop stars of her generation, ‘Ruby’ could have been a victory lap – an easy, crowd-pleasing release that leaned on her star power alone. The album’s first single, ‘Mantra’, might have set the stage for a project full of vapid pop songs, but instead, ‘Ruby’ pushes deeper, offering a record with a distinct point of view.
After years of being scrutinised for everything from her dating life to her facial expressions, Jennie flips the lens back onto herself with ‘Ruby’, where she seizes control of her own mythos with staggering clarity. She asserts herself not just as a global star, but as a fully realised artist, shaping her sound and vision with an intentionality that signals real growth.
Details
- Record label: Columbia Records / Odd Atelier
- Release date: March 7, 2025