Rating: 10/10
Jennie Kim, K-pop “It Girl” and member of the high-profile K-pop group BLACKPINK, released her debut solo album, “Ruby,” on Friday.
In December 2023, all four BLACKPINK members chose not to renew their contracts to pursue solo activities with YG Entertainment, the South Korean entertainment company and label that manages the girl group’s endeavors.
BLACKPINK, as a group, remains under YG’s management.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Shortly after, JENNIE announced her own music label and creative space, ODDATELIER. “Ruby” was released under ODDATELIER and Columbia Records. The album is based on JENNIE’s alter ego, Ruby Jane, who is bold, confident and inspiring.
Three pre-released singles built anticipation for the album: “Mantra,” “Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)” and “ExtraL (feat. Doechii).” The music video for the track “ZEN” was released in late January after being previewed in the official album trailer.
The 15-track album collaborates with renowned artists such as Dua Lipa, Kali Uchis, Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike and FKJ.
It also features production and songwriting from celebrated producers and writers Mike WiLL-Made-It, Diplo, El Guincho, Dem Jointz, Tayla Parx, Amy Allen and Delacey.
“Ruby” opens with a music-box-style track called “Intro: JANE with FKJ.” FKJ produced and composed the track. The tune consists of a whispery instrumental with JENNIE humming mystifyingly, introducing fans to the album’s aesthetic and sound.
“like JENNIE,” produced by Diplo, is the next song and fourth album single. Established songwriter Tayla Parx and past collaborator ZICO helped write it. The track incorporates English and Korean lyrics into a confident beat about individuality and dominance in mainstream society.
Tracks “start a war” and “Handlebars (feat. Dua Lipa)” are confessional, with JENNIE singing about precautions in relationships and friendships. These two songs exemplify JENNIE’s dive into dream and chill pop.
Surprisingly, Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block” was sampled in JENNIE’s track, “with the IE (way up),” putting a fresh, contemporary twist on the 2000s hit with a hip-hop approach.
“ExtraL” and “Mantra” are rap-based party songs with hard-hitting beats and verses. These songs showcase JENNIE’s rapping skills and exhibit her role as the main rapper of BLACKPINK.
Transitions occur in tracks “Love Hangover” and “ZEN.” “Love Hangover” is a mid-tempo pop song with bass instrumentals, and “ZEN” is an anthem about not letting anyone doubt your identity. The track features striking production that defies genre, contributing to the album’s unique cohesion.
R&B takes over in “Damn Right (feat. Childish Gambino & Kali Uchis),” “F.T.S.,” “Filter” and “Seoul City.” Experimenting with different sounds, these four songs are standouts of the album and establish JENNIE as an R&B star. “Damn Right” is reminiscent of her collaboration with The Weeknd and Lily Rose-Depp for “The Idol’s” “One Of The Girls.”
“Starlight” and “twin” are the two ballad-type songs on the album, allowing JENNIE’s raw vocals to stand out. “twin” is the most personal track and the album’s closer, written like a letter to a detrimental past relationship.
“Ruby” is not a reintroduction or K-pop crossover transition for JENNIE; she’s been an established global trendsetter in pop culture, recognized for music, fashion and acting.
The album demonstrates her versatility, tackling new sounds and different genres, expanding her music catalog beyond previous upbeat, synthy pop songs like “SOLO” and “You & Me.”
With an upcoming solo Coachella performance and a three-city album promotion tour titled “The Ruby Experience,” JENNIE is dedicated to giving the album the recognition it deserves and taking steps to become a household name in music.
