Lisa’s “Alter Ego”: A Bold Statement that Captures K-Pop History, Yet Suffers Alarming Sales Drop
Table of contents
- About Lisa’s “Alter Ego”
- General Information
- Tracklist
- Born Again – 3:51
- ROCKSTAR – 2:18
- Elastigirl – 2:57
- Thunder – 2:48
- New Woman – 2:59
- Fxck Up The World (Title Track) – 3:12
- Rapunzel – 3:05
- Moonlit Floor – 2:35
- When I’m with You – 2:52
- BADGRRRL – 2:12
- Lifestyle – 2:41
- Chill – 2:39
- Dream – 3:43
- FXCK UP THE WORLD (Vixi Solo Version) – 2:55
- Rapunzel (Kiki Solo Version)
- Album Overview
- Album Versions
- Review
- Alarming Sales Drop
About Lisa’s “Alter Ego”
Lisa officially released her debut album “Alter Ego” on digital platforms. This project, completed over a year after her departure from YG Entertainment and the launch of her label LLOUD, features 15 tracks showcasing five distinct personas of Lisa, each with unique styles and vibes.
General Information
- Artist: Lisa
- Album Type: 1st Studio Album
- Release Date: February 28, 2025
- Length: 42:38 (digital bonus)
- Genre: Hip-hop, Electropop, Trap
- Label: LLOUD, RCA Records
Tracklist
Born Again – 3:51
- Featuring: Doja Cat & RAYE
- Writer: LISA, RAYE, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wells, Doja Cat
- Producer: RAYE, Andrew Wells
- A haunting yet uplifting song with ethereal synths and a deep bassline. The lyrics symbolize Lisa’s rebirth as an artist, leaving behind old expectations and embracing her true self.
ROCKSTAR – 2:18
- Writer: LISA, Delacey, Lucy Healey, James Essien, Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee
- Producer: Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee
- A high-energy, bass-heavy track with rebellious lyrics about confidence and power. Lisa asserts her dominance in the industry, celebrating her journey and proving she is unstoppable.
Elastigirl – 2:57
- Writer: LISA, Elle Campbell, Conor Blake, Rollo Armstrong, Holz
- Producer: Holz
- A fierce and dynamic track blending hyper-pop and trap influences, Elastigirl showcases Lisa’s unstoppable energy and adaptability.
Thunder – 2:48
- Writer: LISA, ABSOLUTELY, ILYA, Rob Knox
- Producer: ILYA, Rob Knox
- A hard-hitting hip-hop track with booming 808s and electrifying synths, Thunder delivers an intense, storm-like energy.
New Woman – 2:59
- Featuring: ROSALÍA
- Writer: ROSALÍA, Tove Lo, Tove Burman, Max Martin, ILYA
- Producer: Max Martin, ILYA
- An empowering track blending R&B and hip-hop elements, New Woman celebrates independence and self-worth. Lisa delivers smooth vocals and sharp rap verses, encouraging listeners to embrace their power.
Fxck Up The World (Title Track) – 3:12
- Featuring: Future
- Writer: LISA, Jaeyoung Lee, Nija, ATL Jacob, Finatik, Zac, Hendrix Smoke, Future
- Producer: ATL Jacob, FNZ, Hendrix Smoke
- A bold and electrifying hip-hop track infused with heavy electronic beats and powerful bass. The lyrics serve as Lisa’s fearless declaration of independence, confronting critics while embracing her evolution as an artist.
Rapunzel – 3:05
- Featuring: Megan Thee Stallion
- Writer: LISA, Carly Gibert, Aldae, Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee, Megan Thee Stallion
- Producer: Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee
- A trap-infused anthem about breaking free from limitations. Lisa compares herself to Rapunzel, no longer waiting for rescue but taking control of her destiny.
Moonlit Floor – 2:35
- Writer: Jessie Reyez, Matt Slocum, Rykeyz
- Producer: Rykeyz
- A mesmerizing mid-tempo ballad with dreamy instrumentals. The lyrics tell a story of late-night introspection, where Lisa reflects on her past, present, and future under the glow of the moon.
When I’m with You – 2:52
- Featuring: Tyla
- Writer: LISA, Tyla, P2J, Ari PenSmith, Mocha Bands, Believve
- Producer: Ari PenSmith, Mocha Bands, Believve, Sammy Soso
- A sultry Afrobeat-infused R&B track, When I’m With You blends Lisa’s smooth vocals with Tyla’s signature Afro-pop flair.
BADGRRRL – 2:12
- Writer: LISA, BBYKOBE, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina, Nathan Andrew Chen, Philip Andre Mueller
- Producer: Ojivolta, DJH & ninetyniiine
- A bold and fiery hip-hop banger, BADGRRRL showcases Lisa’s fierce attitude and unshakable confidence. With hard-hitting beats, braggadocious lyrics, and a commanding flow, the track embodies Lisa’s fearless persona as she takes full control of the spotlight.
Lifestyle – 2:41
- Writer: LISA, ABSOLUTELY, James Essien, Ryan Tedder, Grant
- Producer: Ryan Tedder, Grant, James Essien, ABSOLUTELY
- A bold, bass-heavy anthem that celebrates Lisa’s success and lavish lifestyle. The track blends trap beats with slick rap verses, exuding confidence and independence.
Chill – 2:39
- Writer: LISA, Ali Tamposi, Sammy Soso, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen
- Producer: Stargate
- A laid-back, groovy track with mellow instrumentals and soothing melodies. Lisa encourages listeners to take a breath, relax, and enjoy life’s simple moments.
Dream – 3:43
- Writer: LISA, Ali Tamposi, Feli Ferraro, Shintaro Yasuda, her0ism
- Producer: Shintaro Yasuda, her0ism
- A smooth R&B track with sensual undertones, Dream captures the feeling of longing and desire. Lisa’s sultry vocals glide over the lush production, making it one of the album’s most intimate songs.
FXCK UP THE WORLD (Vixi Solo Version) – 2:55
- Writer: LISA, Finatik, Zac, ATL Jacob, Hendrix Smoke, Nija, Jaeyoung Lee
- Producer: ATL Jacob, FNZ, Hendrix Smoke
Rapunzel (Kiki Solo Version)
- Writer: LISA, Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee, Aldae, Carly Gibert
- Producer: Ryan Tedder, Sam Homaee
Album Overview
Lisa’s debut solo album, “Alter Ego,” is a bold exploration of her artistic versatility, blending multiple genres and personas into a cohesive yet dynamic project. The album introduces five distinct alter egos: Roxi, Kiki, Vixi, Sunni, and Speedi, each representing different facets of her personality and musical influences. These personas are visually showcased in the album’s physical covers, promotional materials, and an official comic, “Alter-Ego: The Official Comic,” which ties into the album’s cyberpunk-inspired narrative.
The concept for “Alter Ego” stemmed from Lisa’s experimentation with various music styles during the recording process. Embracing this diversity, she crafted an album that seamlessly moves between hip-hop, rock, R&B, electronic, and pop. The five-point star used throughout the promotional campaign symbolizes the unity of these alter egos, while the album’s trailer visually represents them through five unique locations: a mystical garden, an intergalactic runway, a neon-lit racing track, a dreamlike seaside escape, and a fiery volcanic stage. Each alter ego is linked to a specific track, embodying different moods and styles.
Album Versions
- Vinyl Version
- Jewel Case Version
- Photobook Version: Kiki, Vixi, Speedi, Roxi, Sunni
Review
The lead single, “Fxck Up The World,” is a hard-hitting electronic hip-hop track where Lisa delivers a powerful personal statement, confronting criticism and defying expectations. Known for her signature self-assured lyrics, Lisa once again flexes her confidence, similar to “ROCKSTAR,” but this time with even sharper lyricism.
One of the most talked-about lines in the song: “They want the old Lisa, then go listen to my old songs” sparked heated discussions online. While fans applauded her boldness, some skeptics noted the irony, referencing Taylor Swift’s iconic “Look What You Made Me Do” and pointing out that Lisa’s previous solo discography, released under YG, only contains two songs.
Despite the debates, “Alter Ego” has already made history. Before its official release, Lisa became the first female K-pop soloist to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams with an album, achieved with just four pre-released tracks (ROCKSTAR, New Woman, Moonlit Floor, and Born Again).
Music critics have had mixed but generally positive reactions. Rolling Stone quickly reviewed the album, awarding it a 3.5/5 and praising Lisa’s artistic versatility. The review highlighted her ability to reinvent herself, drawing parallels to her budding acting career in “The White Lotus” and calling “Alter Ego” a promising step in shaping her solo identity.
Alarming Sales Drop
Despite “Alter Ego” doing relative well on digital music platforms, its physical sales have raised alarms. In particular, Korea’s Hanteo Chart reported that only 30,400 physical copies of “Alter Ego” were sold on the 1st day of release – showing a sharp decline compared to Lisa’s previous solo release, “LALISA”, which 1st day sales amounted to 330,129 copies.
Such a reduction has led to the surprise of many netizens, as Lisa’s popularity has only grown since 2021, when “LALISA” was released, which was supposed to translate into higher sales.
However, some fans have suggested the reasons for such a notable fall. In particular, it was pointed out that Lisa’s personal label, LLOUD, is partnered with RCA Records for the release of “Alter Ego”. As a result, it was the LLOUD X RCA Records site that was primarily advertised to fans as the go-to purchase place, causing this to be the major channel of album sales.
On the other hand, Hanteo only reported sales from specific affiliated stores, which likely doesn’t include the LLOUD X RCA Records site. Thus, the Hanteo figure may not fully reflect the actual sales for “Alter Ego”, and the actual number may be much higher.
