At exactly midnight on March 7 (local time), Jennie unveiled her first album, “RUBY”, across all digital music platforms. Prior to the official release, she introduced three singles—”Mantra”, “Love Hangover”, “ExtraL”, along with the video “ZEN” version. Each track carries a distinct identity, from melody to concept.
The album “RUBY” features 15 tracks, collaborating with six international artists, with Jennie fully investing in every aspect of production. The album concept follows a black-and-red theme, perfectly embodying Jennie’s essence—radiant, powerful, yet undeniably feminine. She pushes her creative boundaries, showcasing exceptional musical insight and artistic vision.
Table of contents
“RUBY”—A Complete Storyline Inspired by Shakespeare
For “RUBY”, Jennie crafted a well-thought-out storyline, centering on her personal journey, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s “The Seven Ages of Man”. This renowned passage from “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare depicts the journey of life through seven distinct stages, each with unique roles and characteristics. Inspired by this, Jennie expresses her perspective on love, birth, faith, and personal triumphs through her debut album.
This demonstrates Jennie’s dedication to her craft—her artistic vision is not just about following trends or chasing viral moments. She knows what she wants and what she needs. In fact, creating this album was another step in the female idol’s artistic growth and a precious journey to finding her true voice
A Pain-staking Journey before No-skip Album
Over the past year, Jennie and her team traveled back and forth between Korea and the U.S., meticulously refining every detail of the album. This was revealed in her behind-the-scenes “RUBY” production recap video released on the morning of March 6 (KST). Collaborating with an international team, Jennie ensured every note and melody was carefully crafted. Out of the 15 tracks, she is credited as a composer and songwriter for 13 songs, with the remaining two credited for composition.
The album blends a diverse mix of musical styles—soft and emotional tracks, as well as intense hip-hop and rap performances. Jennie showcases her versatility in both rapping and singing. Each track is captivating in its own way, keeping fans hooked. Following the release of “RUBY”, fans are raving about the meticulous effort put into every aspect of the album. Some of the most replayed songs include “Handlebars” (ft. Dua Lipa), “Like JENNIE”, “Starlight”, and “Twin”.
Jennie delivers an immersive listening experience with “RUBY”, ensuring a seamless flow between tracks without any urge to skip. The album’s sequence is thoughtfully arranged, not just based on catchy tunes, but carefully structured to maintain a cohesive narrative. Despite its diversity in genres and themes, “RUBY” remains tightly connected, highlighting the overarching essence of the project and showcasing the depth of Jennie’s artistic expression.
The track chosen for promotion is “Like JENNIE”—the boldest personal statement in the album. “Like JENNIE” was co-written by Zico, Jennie’s close friend and collaborator. She raps in both English and Korean, with the song already going viral since its track sampler release. In this song, Jennie openly addresses the criticism she has faced over the years, delivering a powerful message: of ‘haters don’t like Jennie because they can never be Jennie’.
Outstanding Visual Concept
The “Like JENNIE” MV is set for release at noon on March 7 (KST), but Jennie has dropped a fiery teaser, featuring daring and bold looks that have the internet buzzing. Her striking images have gone viral on K-pop forums. The “Like JENNIE” MV will also be showcased on a massive LED screen at Shinsegae Square, South Korea, further amplifying the scale of Jennie’s promotional campaign, leaving fans in awe.
Late on March 6, Jennie surprised fans with two teaser photos alongside Dua Lipa, showcasing their stunning visuals. Though no further details were provided, fans speculate that an MV for “Handlebars”—their collaborative love song from “RUBY”—is on the way. Excitement is building as fans eagerly await more surprises from Jennie.
Promotions & Achievements
Following the album’s release, Jennie will hold four live shows performing the full “RUBY” album—staying true to “The Seven Ages of Man” concept—in both the U.S. and Korea. The first show will take place in Los Angeles, with Jennie having already completed rehearsals for the event.
In South Korea, Jennie’s album release has dominated trending searches. Despite being an English-language album aimed at international markets, “RUBY” is making waves in Korea. Within an hour of release, all tracks surpassed 1,000 likes on MelOn, making it the first album by a female artist this year to achieve this milestone. As Korea’s ultimate “It Girl,” every move Jennie makes continues to captivate audiences.
Jennie’s album has received highly positive reviews, with many calling it BLACKPINK’s most refined and well-structured project to date. By releasing “RUBY”, Jennie has marked a new chapter in her independent career. Fans hope the public will embrace her efforts and support her in achieving even greater success.
On the other hand, the much-anticipated “Like JENNIE” MV is set to premiere at noon on March 7 (KST).
