Jennie’s Album Achieves Historic Success: Unique Achievements Compared to Other BLACKPINK Members

On March 7, Jennie of BLACKPINK made waves in the music industry with the launch of her debut album, RUBY. The album, which features a total of 15 tracks and showcases collaborations with six international artists, is characterized by exceptional top-tier production in both its music and visual presentation. Throughout RUBY, Jennie articulates a profound personal narrative, reflecting her artistic evolution after nearly a decade of success in the global K-pop scene.

Critical Acclaim from Leading Music Publications

More than a week following its release, RUBY continues to resonate, garnering enthusiastic responses from fans and critics alike. Esteemed international music magazines have showered the album with positive reviews: Rolling Stone assigned it a score of 3.5 out of 5, while NME rated it a commendable 4 out of 5, hailing it as a daring and assured debut. Clash Music even awarded RUBY a stellar 9 out of 10, commending Jennie’s vocal prowess as the main rapper of BLACKPINK.

Additonally, the Grammy website recognized RUBY as a must-listen for March, placing it alongside other notable releases such as Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM.

Historic Score Achieved from Pitchfork

The most highly anticipated review was from Pitchfork, renowned for its rigorous evaluations of music. On March 12, the platform reviewed RUBY, bestowing it with an impressive score of 7.1, a rating that sparked joy among fans.

In its assessment, Pitchfork observed how BLACKPINK’s global acclaim has influenced the group’s musical journey, sometimes resulting in tracks that lacked authenticity and were overly catered to Western audiences. The review noted that earlier solo endeavors by Rosé (titled rosie), Lisa (with her album Alter Ego), and Jisoo (featured in Amortage) did not present a cohesive artistic identity. In stark contrast, Jennie’s RUBY exhibited significant ambition in both production and songwriting. The review concluded, “If JENNIE has the most robust individual musical identity of the quartet, it’s because her songs have a crucial element the others’ lack: They sound good.”

Critic Joshua Minsoo Kim lauded RUBY for its rich and thoughtfully composed tracks, each providing an engaging sonic journey. However, Pitchfork also pointed out some critiques concerning Jennie’s performance style.“JENNIE excels on these tracks because she knows how to play the game, ” the review mentioned, likening her to Rihanna, who has faced similar criticism for perceived lazy performances. Nonetheless, Kim acknowledged her charisma and stylish appeal, which could elevate lesser productions.

Among the standout tracks identified were Handlebars and Damn Right—the latter featuring production by Mike WiLL Made-It—characterized as the most captivating elements of RUBY. Conversely, songs such as Twin (an acoustic ballad criticized for vague lyrics), Seoul City (considered lackluster), and Start a War (a mellow track that echoed SZA but fell flat) were noted among the album’s weaker offerings.

A Remarkable Milestone for a K-Pop Soloist

The Pitchfork review quickly gained traction on music forums, with fans of Jennie reveling in her achievement. Fewer K-pop artists have received scores above 7 from Pitchfork; a prestigious list that includes BTS, f(x), NewJeans, Red Velvet, Seo Taiji & Boys, and TWICE. Notably, RUBY surpassed BLACKPINK’s earlier projects, Kill This Love (6.2) and Born Pink (6.5).

Remarkably, Jennie now holds the highest Pitchfork rating for any solo K-pop artist, eclipsing Rosé’s rosie, which was rated at 5.5.

In a turn of events, Joshua Minsoo Kim stirred a lively debate on Twitter with fans of Lisa, highlighting the subjectivity of music reviews and the impact of personal taste on album evaluations.

In a further significant achievement on March 12, Jennie became the most-streamed female K-pop soloist on Spotify, amassing an impressive 3.609 billion streams across all her music. The release of RUBY, with its substantial collection of 15 tracks, has profoundly bolstered her streaming figures. With the album enjoying sustained success, fans anticipate even more record-breaking milestones on the horizon.

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