Ruby

by JENNIE

Overview

When BLACKPINK announced that three of its members would be issuing their debut albums, many Blinks looked to ROSÉ to lead the charge. And lead she did: 2024's "APT." became the fastest K-pop video in history to hit a billion views. It's about as hard an act to follow as you could imagine -- but on her first solo album, Ruby, BLACKPINK compatriot JENNIE proves an equal powerhouse. Ruby is strongest at its boldest. Opening hit "Like JENNIE" is a hurtling meteor of confidence -- "who else got `em obsessed like JENNIE?" -- with the idol placing herself at the forefront of the culture amid funk carioca drums and carving synths. A second hit appears quickly with the foot-forward "Mantra," whose "pretty girl mantra" seems set to replicate the success of SSERAFIM's "Crazy" on the club circuit. There are room-clearing raps ("Start a War") and roof-raising chants ("ExtraL"), bold showings from Doechii and Dua, highlife parties and SUV squadrons; this is an album that thrives when things get fierce. Yet in its more downtempo moments, Ruby's writing proves a little less dependable. The directness that gives its hits their ballast can verge on barebones on the likes of "Seoul City" and "Damn Right," with the latter's "damn right, I did that, yeah" feeling especially underbaked. The melodically brilliant "F.T.S." falls down similarly, uniting acronyms with no throughline, while repeated "starlight, bright"s ironically dim the mood of "Starlight." Though there's plenty to love in the album's closer, Ruby struggles to supply its more pensive moments with the right level of depth. What's most interesting here is seeing JENNIE come into the light as an auteur as much as an idol. K-pop's already thriving maximalism is put to the test on tracks like "Filter," which flips between genres and even time signatures as it flits between dream-like euphoria and standoffish self-confidence. JENNIE's attention to detail here truly brings Ruby to life, with the vocal textures she lays duet-like under every track, the sheer range of tones and voices she employs, and the shuddering Gesaffelstein-like synth breakdown that splits "ZEN" in half. JENNIE's solo debut is the most inventive of the BLACKPINK solo efforts and all the more brilliant for it, carefully constructed and laden with showings of solo stardom. A little refinement in the writing room might be appreciated in the long term, but it's clear that JENNIE has the vision to deliver something spectacular. ~ David Crone

Product Details

Release Date:	08/22/2025
Label:	Columbia Records
UPC:	0198029250114

Tracks

1. Intro : JANE with FKJ
2. like JENNIE
3. start a war
4. Handlebars
5. with the IE (way up)
6. ExtraL
7. Mantra
8. Love Hangover
9. ZEN
10. Damn Right
11. F.T.S.
12. Filter
13. Seoul City
14. Starlight
15. twin

Album Credits

Performance Credits

JENNIE   Primary Artist
Dominic Fike   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Doechii   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
FKJ   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Dua Lipa   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Kali Uchis   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Childish Gambino   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
William Lamoureux   Violin,Viola
Shelby Epstine   Glockenspiel
Rob Bisel   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Vocals (Background)
Megan Bulow   Vocals (Background)
Carly Gibert   Vocals (Background)
Sam Homaee   Multi Instruments
Vincent Fenton   Synthesizer
Rasmus Soegren   Multi Instruments
Amanda Renee Ibanez   Vocals (Background)
Jelli Dorman   Co-Producer,Vocals (Background)
James Alan Ghaleb   Piano
Delacey   Vocals (Background)
Tayla Parx   Vocals (Background)
Blaise Railey   Vocals (Background)
Aaron Sterling   Drums,Percussion
El Guincho   Drums,Clapping,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass
James Alan   Piano
Amy Allen   Vocals (Background)
Ido Zmishlany   Bass,Drums,Organ,Keyboards,Clavichord,Synthesizer Bass,Vocals (Background)
Chris "Tek" O'Ryan   Vocals (Background)
Jonas Jeberg   Multi Instruments

Technical Credits

Kirsten Allyssa Spencer   Composer,Lyricist
Armel Potter   Composer,Lyricist
Melz   Producer
Leclair   Producer
Gage   Engineer,Producer
Moneygoformyles   Producer
Chris Bhikoo   Assistant Engineer
True Beatzz   Producer
Xeryus   Producer
Jackson Card   Engineer
Jorge Alfonzo   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Rob Bisel   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer
Billy Walsh   Composer,Lyricist
Megan Bulow   Composer,Lyricist
Carly Gibert   Composer,Lyricist
Alexis Boyd   Composer,Lyricist
Pluss   Producer
Jacob Richards   Assistant Engineer
Sam Homaee   Producer
Mike Seaberg   Mixing Engineer
Dominic Fike   Composer,Lyricist
Zikai   Composer,Lyricist
Bryce Bordone   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Rasmus Soegren   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer
Jennifer Ortiz   Engineer
Resource   Producer
Anthony Vilchis   Assistant Engineer
Jean Marcel Day Jr   Composer,Lyricist
Isabelle Zikai Gbotto Carlsson   Composer,Lyricist
Jaylah Hickmon   Composer,Lyricist
Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane   Assistant Engineer
JaydaLove   Engineer
Trey Station   Assistant Engineer
Eunkyung Jung   Engineer
Elle Campbell   Composer,Lyricist
Christopher Newlin   Composer,Lyricist
Cameron Gower-Poole   Engineer,Vocal Producer
Xeryus Gittens   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
JENNIE   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Amanda Renee Ibanez   Composer,Lyricist
FKJ   Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Bibi Bourelly   Composer,Lyricist
Jelli Dorman   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Dua Lipa   Composer,Lyricist
30 Roc   Producer
James Alan Ghaleb   Composer,Lyricist
Karly Loaiza   Composer,Lyricist
Claudia Valentina   Composer,Lyricist
Delacey   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Vocal Producer
Tayla Parx   Composer,Lyricist
Braylin Bowman   Composer,Lyricist
Samuel Gloade   Composer,Lyricist
Blaise Railey   Composer,Lyricist
Jumpa   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Morgan Jones   Assistant Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Myles Harris   Composer,Lyricist
Sorana Pacurar   Composer,Lyricist
Manny Marroquin   Mixing Engineer
Jaycen Joshua   Mixing Engineer
Kuk Harrell   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Diplo   Producer
Aaron Sterling   Engineer
El Guincho   Producer
Carmen Reese   Composer,Lyricist
Amy Allen   Composer,Lyricist
Ido Zmishlany   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Dem Jointz   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Chris "Tek" O'Ryan   Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Zico   Composer,Lyricist
Childish Gambino   Composer,Lyricist
Thomas Wesley Pentz   Composer,Lyricist
Donald Glover   Engineer
Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy Jr.   Composer,Lyricist
Asheton Hogan   Composer,Lyricist
Mike WiLL Made-It   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Jose Fernando Arbex Miro   Composer,Lyricist
Ariowa Irosogie   Composer,Lyricist
Serban Cazan   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing Engineer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering Engineer
Will Quinnell   Mastering Engineer
Devin Workman   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Jonas Jeberg   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer