Jennie Kim, widely known as Jennie, started her career as the main rapper of Blackpink. After her contract with her previous label ended in 2023, Jennie began curating her long-awaited solo debut album. On March 7, “Ruby” was released, and Jennie presented it as a buffet for her fans. Ranging from R&B tracks like “Seoul City” to “like JENNIE,” an upbeat rap track, the album gained massive support from both die-hard fans and new listeners due to Jennie’s strong vocals, emotional lyrics and most importantly, how it displayed Jennie’s unique and versatile artistic personality.
The album opens with “Intro: JANE with FKJ,” a dreamy opener that takes the listener to a different world. Jennie’s vocals are smooth and delicate, accompanied by seamless instruments by French instrumentalist FKJ that evoke a feeling of mystery and nostalgia. Jennie’s voice also shines in track 12 of the album, “Filter,” in which Jennie presents her vocals through an emotional performance. The song is a self-love anthem that explores the expectations put on women, and how Jennie loves herself more “with no filter,” tying it back to unrealistic beauty standards or having to mask one’s emotions. “Filter” is especially relevant to Jennie due to the strict expectations enforced upon idols in the Korean music industry, adding a personal layer to its message that helps build a deeper connection between her and her fans.
Another strength of “Ruby” is its lyricism and storytelling. During her time in Blackpink, Jennie was continuously restricted when it came to her involvement in writing and producing her solo and group music, which made her debut, in which she was highly involved, incredibly intriguing. This is seen in her eighth track, “Love Hangover,” in which Jennie captures the chaotic nature of a love that, despite its unhealthy nature, is impossible to quit by comparing it to the feeling of being intoxicated. Jennie, again, presents soft, lighthearted vocals, contrasting with Dominic Fike’s raw verse, which ultimately creates a track that explores the messy aspects of a passionate yet toxic relationship.
Despite having various music genres, the album doesn’t fail to present Jennie and pave the path she wants to take as an independent solo artist. Tracks like “Filter,” “Starlight” and “twin” demonstrate vulnerability —something the Korean singer was unable to show during her time as a K-pop idol in Blackpink. In contrast, songs such as “like JENNIE,” “ExtraL” and “Mantra” are loud, powerful anthems about cherishing and valuing oneself. In this debut, the listener gets to hear every aspect of Jennie as she explores and finds her unique musical identity.
“Ruby” was filled with featured artists —some examples being Doechii, Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis, which shifts the focus away from her in her debut, which is supposed to introduce who Jennie is to her audience. For example, in “Handlebars,” Jennie appears to abandon her unique style and let her voice blend in with Dua Lipa’s, which takes the spotlight away from her. Despite this shortcoming, “Ruby” is an incredible milestone for Jennie to establish her solo career.
