Jennie from BLACKPINK is making solo waves again, and Rolling Stone is all here for it! Her album “Ruby” just got crowned as one of the best albums of 2025 so far, in a year overflowing with musical heavyweights. The list includes icons like Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga, but also plenty of new names trying to shake things up. And the cherry on top? Jennie is the only K-pop artist in the list.
Released as part of the solo drops from the BLACKPINK quartet, “Ruby” is fast-paced, smooth, and sweet with early 2000s and 2010s R&B nostalgia, but with a modern twist. Rolling Stone also said that Jennie channels major Rihanna vibes throughout the record, showing off that same quiet control and magnetic energy that made “Anti” such a cultural reset. It’s not just imitation, though. “Ruby” plays with that inspiration and brings in a fresh and unique perspective to the table.
250606 Rolling Stone released the best albums of 2025 and #JENNIE’s debut album “Ruby” was selected as one of them, and she is the only K-pop act on the list. pic.twitter.com/h0xIyWvxwF
— DC 제니 갤러리 (@JennieDCGallery) June 5, 2025
Critics are loving how Ruby manages to feel both familiar and fresh. The magazine noted that some tracks give “second-generation descendant” of Rihanna, but Jennie isn’t just chasing someone else’s legacy. She’s clearly building her own lane: smooth, polished, and stylish. With Ruby, Jennie proves she’s not just a K-pop star branching out, she’s a pop star, period! And as Rolling Stone puts it, 2025 is packed with melancholic brunettes, emotional chaos, and full-on sonic experiments. “Ruby” fits right in and stands out!