BLACKPINK’s Jennie Announces Debut Solo Album ‘Ruby’

Jennie, a founding member of K-pop quartet BLACKPINK, has officially announced her debut solo album, Ruby.

Slated for release on March 7, the highly anticipated project boasts an impressive lineup of collaborators, including Childish Gambino, Dua Lipa, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, and Kali Uchis. The album and its star-studded roster of guest artists were revealed on the singer’s social media on Jan. 21 via a teaser video and pre-order launch through her independent label, Odd Atelier.

Ruby will feature 15 tracks, including her October 2024 single “Mantra,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Global 200.

The single marked a turning point in her solo career, setting the stage for what Jennie previously described as her “album journey.”

In a recent interview with Billboard, Jennie reflected on the deeply personal process of creating Ruby. “It’s not nice to be someone who’s always like, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t say anything,’ ” she said of the project she began in early 2024. “I want to say I’m almost there.” Acknowledging the challenges she faced along the way, she added, “I’m just going to say, ‘I don’t do well with time.’”

Since debuting with BLACKPINK in 2016, Jennie has been part of their stratospheric rise to global fame. BLACKPINK’s groundbreaking achievements include becoming the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella in 2019 and the first South Korean girl group to top the Billboard 200 with their second album, Born Pink, in 2022.

In late 2023, Jennie launched Odd Atelier and partnered with Columbia Records, giving her the creative freedom to pursue her solo aspirations.

“While I was on my last BLACKPINK tour, I couldn’t stop myself from starting to plan ahead,” Jennie said. “I listed out the things that I want in my life and started pinpointing, or prioritizing, what’s my very next step. And instantly, I was like, ‘I still haven’t accomplished the dream of releasing a solo album.’ I wanted to satisfy myself by achieving that goal.”

Jennie’s Billboard achievements have seen her achieve success as both a group member and a solo artist. Her debut single “Solo” topped the World Digital Song Sales chart in 2018, and “You & Me” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart in 2023. She also made her Hot 100 debut in 2023 with her collaboration on The Idol soundtrack. As Ruby approaches, fans and industry watchers are eager to see how Jennie continues to define her career as a solo artist.