Powered by the K-pop group Blackpink, singer and rapper Jennie is preparing to launch her solo career with a debut album titled Ruby. In a first preview revealed on January 22, 2025, the artist reveals promising collaborations, from Dua Lipa to Kali Uchis, via Doechii. A look back at the meteoric rise of the performer, rapper and Chanel muse.
Blackpink, global female K-pop phenomenon
At the heart of the wave of Korean groups that have launched over the last decade, Blackpink is without a doubt the one who reigns supreme over the industry K-pop feminine. Indeed, the girls band collects awards and paves the way for a whole generation of groups that followed it: it is the first female K-pop group to land first place on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 ranking and the first female K-pop group to having performed on the Coachella stage without forgetting the three Guinness awards won for their stratospheric number of listens on online platforms…
This is how Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé et Jennie – the four members of the quartet – set out to conquer the planet in just seven years of career. In two sold-out tours, each of these artists became muses of a major fashion house: Jisoo chez Dior, Rosé at Saint Laurent, Skims at Tiffany & Co., Lisa at Celine’s then Louis Vuitton et Jennie chez Chanel.
Singer Jennie’s promising solo debut
Since its creation in 2016, the group Blackpink – which mixes pop, EDM and hip-hop – is managed by the label YG Entertainmentone of the four major music agencies from South Korea. A true stable of talent, the agency represents the interests of its artists both as individual artists and as a group.
But when the contract of Blackpink expired in 2023, the members of the girls band have chosen to renew their collaboration with the label as a group – but not as individual artists. Then, each of the artists in the group successively launched their careers as solo artists.
Initiated in 2018 with the release of a single literally titled Solothe beginning of the career of Jennie was particularly successful. Jennie Kim (her birth name), the 29-year-old South Korean artist can boast a host of accomplishments in the space of two years. She created her own music label named OddAtelier, signed a contract with the agency Columbia Records – in addition to starting a career as a model by parading for the first time for the house Jacqueson the occasion of his show organized in June 2024 in Capri.
-The Idolthe star’s first steps as an actress
In 2023, Jennie also made her acting debut in the series The Idolwhich depicts with sarcasm the workings of star system. Led by Sam Levinson (Euphoria) and the producer and singer The Weekndthe program caused controversy from the presentation of its first two episodes at the Cannes Film Festival for its lewd and outrageous look.
But as a chafouine dancer about to arrive in the spotlight, Jennie overshadows a high-flying cast, composed among others of Lily-Rose Depp et Troye Sivan. In the media columns Women’s Wear Dailyshe confides in this role for which she was not prepared: “I trusted Sam to collaborate on whatever scenes we were going to work on together, because the show is about the music industry. The fact that the main subject was about the industry fascinated me and I thought I could bring something unique to the role.”
Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Doechii… The prestigious collabs of RubyJennie’s new album
In the series credits, the singer and rapper is credited as Jennie Ruby Jane : her anglicized name that she has had since childhood, officially adopted in 2024. This is also the name that she chose to give to her first solo album entitled Ruby. Recorded in Los Angeles, the opus is announced as “a musical experience at the crossroads of genres”. With Mantraa first dance-pop single released in October 2024, the artist offers an anthem to self-confidence and endless nights spent with friends. If the title does not completely free itself from the paths explored during its years Blackpinkthe featurings which are at the heart of Ruby might well surprise us.
In a polished aesthetic preview revealed on January 22, 2025, Jennie announces the names of the artists that we will be able to meet in this new opus. Seven years after the title Kiss And Make Up (2018) which brought together Blackpink et Dua Lipathe interpreter of Houdini will collaborate again with Jennie. The rapper Childish Gambinothe Colombian artist Kali Uchisthe rising star Doechii, as well as Dominic Fike and FKJ, will also be there for this new project. With Rubythe career of Jennie could reach new skies. Verdict on March 7…
Ruby (2025), by Jennie, available March 7, 2025.
