5 Highlights From Jennie’s Empowering, Vulnerable and Groundbreaking Ruby

Not many albums have had us as excited as Jennie’s. Ever since ‘Mantra‘ dropped, there’s been nothing but build-up toward Jennie’s first solo album to the point that Ruby garnered 450k pre-orders globally. The expectations were there, and Ruby still blew us away even more than we could’ve ever imagined. Ruby is Jennie’s story from start to finish; it’s her artistry that is at the forefront, as she has her touch in every single song. While Ruby deserves all your attention and devotion, following the message and story from track 1 to track 15, here are some of our highlights and why Ruby is already one of the albums that shaped 2025!

‘Handlebars’ (featuring Dua Lipa)

‘Handlebars’ is a no-brainer when talking about the best songs out of Ruby and the latest single for a reason. We already knew Dua Lipa with BLACKPINK was a match for pop perfection after the release of ‘Kiss And Make Up’ back in 2019, and we got something—dare we say—even better with ‘Handlebars.’ It’s not only that the song is catchy, smooth, and simply pleasant to listen to, but their voices mix together so incredibly well. Both fit the song and each other to perfection in a way that is simply impossible to describe because of how great it is—you need to hear it for yourself. It also helps that ‘Handlebars’ is truly infectious and has a fun concept about falling too hard, too fast, making it vulnerable but also lighthearted, which fits perfectly in Ruby.

‘start a war’

While Jennie tackles several themes and topics in Ruby, ‘Handlebars’ isn’t the only (kind of) love song in Ruby. The best song to embody the all-consuming love Jennie explores in Ruby is ‘start a war.’ With a familiar and satisfying sample as the main melody for the chorus, Jennie takes her own spin and makes it fit perfectly to her tone, the atmosphere of the song, and the emotions behind the lyrics. ‘start a war’ is a perfect pop song about devotion and unconditional love, and it gets better with every single listen.

‘extraL’ (featuring Doechii)

Jennie came out with several singles before the release of Ruby: the iconic ‘Mantra,’ the infectious ‘Love Hangover,’ the mindblowing ‘ZEN,’ and, of course, the unforgettable ‘extraL.’ To say this song slaps still doesn’t do it justice. ‘extraL’ is all about female empowerment and unapologetic self-love. Through this song, Jennie served us one of her best raps, and mixing with Doechii’s unique aura was the touch of genius this song needed to be complete. ‘extraL’ is without a doubt one of the most unforgettable moments of the record—and if you hadn’t picked up on it yet… The competition is hard.

‘twin’

Jennie goes through many emotions, inspirations, and styles in Ruby. The album encapsulates everything Jennie is about—it’s confident, bold, and powerful, but it also shows sides that are more vulnerable, raw, and real. Ruby is all about telling Jennie’s story from start to finish, the ups and the downs. This album is her. The closing track, ‘twin,’ is a perfect example of how Jennie isn’t afraid to put her story and most vulnerable moments out in the open. Break-ups are hard, but even harder are break-ups between friends, and that’s what ‘twin’ is all about. The acoustic track explores the fallout of a friendship and the heartbreaking hope that, at some point in the future, it will be okay. It’s relatable but also extremely personal and, by far, one of Jennie’s strongest moments as a songwriter.

‘like JENNIE’

Not many can say they’ve had the impact Jennie has had on the industry. Jennie is the definition of an “it girl,” and that’s exactly why this song is absolute genius. Being in the spotlight also gives way, unfortunately, to blatant hate and unprovoked criticism. Still, Jennie has risen from all of it. ‘like JENNIE’ is a clap-back at all the negativity that has been put her way but also how, within that hate, people have constantly tried to replicate what she has created. It’s the moment where she truly rewrites the narrative and makes it clearer than ever before that there is just one and only Jennie; insane rap verses, including one in Korean, a mind blowing performance, and a killer attitude, Jennie didn’t come to play. It’s fun, it’s sassy and cheeky, and it’s Jennie at her absolute best.

It is true – no one does it like Jennie. And if you had any doubts about it, Ruby is right here to prove it.

What’s your favorite track out of Ruby? What was your favorite single? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.

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