Blackpink member Jennie released her debut solo studio album Ruby on 7 Mar 2025, seven years after becoming the first member of the K-pop group to venture into solo music with her 2018 single “Solo”.
The English-language album showcases a kaleidoscopic range of sounds and styles, marking a significant evolution from her earlier work.
Blackpink’s First Solo Star Explores New Musical Territory with ‘Ruby’
Jennie’s debut single “Solo” was characterized by nostalgic EDM-pop elements with simple, declarative lyrics centered on self-empowerment.
This core message remains present in Ruby, particularly in tracks like “Mantra” with its chant-along chorus and “ExtraL” featuring rapper Doechii.
Unlike her previous work, which was produced exclusively by Teddy Park (the producer behind many Blackpink hits), Ruby sees Jennie collaborating with an eclectic team including Diplo and El Guincho.
This shift has allowed her to explore different facets of her artistry.
The album delivers a diverse musical palette ranging from acoustic ballads (“Twin”) and virtuosic rapping (“Zen”) to nostalgic R&B (“Damn Right” featuring Childish Gambino and Kali Uchis). On “Start A War,” Jennie channels influences from artists like Rihanna and SZA, while “Handlebars” with Dua Lipa jumps straight into its chorus.
Not all tracks focus on autonomy. “Love Hangover,” her collaboration with Dominic Fike, shows Jennie falling into destructive patterns with an undeserving partner. Her falsetto performance on this track is so transformative that it might surprise longtime fans.
Strong Billboard Chart Performance Builds Momentum for Jennie’s Solo Career
Ahead of the album’s release, Jennie’s latest single “ExtraL” with Grammy-winning rapper Doechii made an impressive Billboard chart debut.
The track landed at No. 6 on both Hot Dance/Pop Songs and Dance Streaming Songs charts, while reaching No. 3 on Dance Digital Song Sales.
Globally, “ExtraL” launched at No. 18 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 13 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. On the all-genre U.S. Hot 100, it debuted at No. 75, marking Jennie’s highest solo placement as lead artist.
Jennie’s collaboration with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, “One of the Girls” from The Idol, continues its strong performance, climbing to No. 63 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 41 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The track has spent 71 and 73 weeks on these charts respectively, previously peaking at No. 10 and No. 5.
Meanwhile, “Mantra” has returned to the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart at No. 188 after falling off the list. The song previously peaked at No. 2 and has now spent 19 weeks on the tally.
Not all recent releases have maintained momentum. “Love Hangover,” her duet with Dominic Fike, dropped from No. 110 to No. 126 on the Billboard Global 200 and from No. 67 to No. 86 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Despite an initially promising debut, the track has struggled to maintain traction.
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