JENNIE’s “Ruby” — This is not BLACKPINK… in a good way!
Who else got them obsessed like JENNIE?
Six years into her career, JENNIE (Jennie Kim) from K-pop supergroup BLACKPINK has released her debut album "Ruby." The title references her alter ego "Jennie Ruby Jane" – the same name she used for her acting debut in HBO's "The Idol." While the concept of an alter ego recalls her BLACKPINK teammate LISA's recent debut album (which featured five different character personas that felt somewhat disjointed), JENNIE's approach is more cohesive, resulting in a short but satisfying listening experience.
"Ruby" boasts an impressive roster of collaborators, including producer Mike Will Made It (known for work with Kendrick Lamar), Dem Jointz, El Guincho, and features from artists like Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, Doechii, and Dua Lipa. The album blends hip-hop and R&B influences that occasionally evoke K-pop's 90s golden era while incorporating contemporary elements – a balance perfectly exemplified by the lead single "Mantra".
The album opens with the ethereal, eclectic "Jane" featuring FKJ before transitioning to the standout track "Like JENNIE," which showcases her rapping prowess – perhaps her strongest technical contribution to K-pop. As the album's only song with Korean lyrics (co-written by Zico), JENNIE confidently declares: "I think I really like JENNIE/Haters, they don't really like JENNIE/'Cause they could never ever be JENNIE." The lyrics echo her debut single "SOLO" while asserting a more distinctive artistic identity.
JENNIE particularly shines when rapping, as evidenced in her collaboration with Doechii on “ExtraL”. This track highlights her versatility, seamlessly switching between flows without being overshadowed by the Grammy winner’s TikTok-viral-worthy verse. Throughout “Ruby”, despite numerous high-profile collaborations, JENNIE consistently stands out — her raspy, deep vocals complementing rather than competing with her featured artists. The Dua Lipa collaboration “Handlebars” is a highlight destined for TikTok virality (we can see it in the next few weeks!), while “Damn Right” with Kali Uchis and Childish Gambino offers a smooth throwback to 2000s R&B reminiscent of Rihanna, early SZA, and Ciara.
Nostalgia serves as a recurring element that engages listeners by evoking familiarity while offering something fresh. “With the IE (way up)” cleverly samples J.Lo’s “Jenny on the Block” but adds bolder statements: “It seems I got a chokehold on ‘em/Everybody’s cool, but when I do it I’m the problem.” Similarly, “start a war” features SZA-influenced vocal enunciatio9n with emotionally raw lyrics: “Ever since the day you locked in/I was gonna be your down bitch/If I need to start a war/I’m gon’ try for you, I fight for you, go off for you.”
Within BLACKPINK’s catalog of predominantly trap-pop and high-energy bangers, individual members rarely get opportunities to showcase vocal range and emotional depth. “Ruby” remedies this, especially in acoustic ballads like the album closer “twin”, “Starlight”, and the build-up to the house-induced chorus of “Filter”, all of which reveal JENNIE’s vulnerability and vocal capabilities.
Some missteps of “Ruby” belong to its overuse of the mellow effect from R&B, which makes some parts of the album sound forgetful (“ZEN” — which should have been the intro, “Seoul City”, “F.T.S”, even the Dominic Fike-collab “Love Hangover”). However, JENNIE astutely recaptures attention by following these moments with bass-heavy, dynamic tracks. Another misstep that I can mention here is how the duration of the songs is short, but we can blame streaming for that!
“Ruby” offers a multifaceted glimpse into JENNIE’s artistry beyond BLACKPINK, revealing new dimensions of an artist we thought we knew. Based on this impressive debut, it’s clear that while JENNIE is integral to BLACKPINK’s success, she’s equally capable of thriving on her own creative path.
Listen to “Ruby” now
