Jennie Kim of BLACKPINK has stepped into the spotlight as a solo artist with the release of her debut album Ruby. The 15-track project, launched on March 7, 2025, showcases her artistic evolution, featuring collaborations with a lineup of globally recognized artists, including Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, and Kali Uchis.
One of the most talked-about tracks on Ruby is “Handlebars,” a collaboration with Dua Lipa that explores the unpredictability of love. The song captures the reckless thrill of falling too fast, comparing it to the experience of losing control while riding a bike. With lyrics such as “I trip and fall in love / Just like a Tuesday drunk / I always go all in, all in, all in / Over the handlebars / Hitting the ground so hard / If I’m alone, fallin’, fallin’, fallin’ ,” the song conveys a sense of surrender to the chaos of emotions. Written by Lipa alongside Amy Allen, James Alan Ghaleb, Rob Bisel, and Delacey, the track fuses R&B and pop elements, creating a hypnotic and melodic experience.
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The music video for “Handlebars,” directed by BRTHR, adds a surreal visual dimension to the track. Opening with Jennie reclining on a circular bed surrounded by flickering television screens, the video establishes a futuristic and dreamlike atmosphere. As she strolls through a neon-lit alley, she freezes the rain with a snap of her fingers, reflecting moments of emotional suspension. Dua Lipa enters the scene through a glowing portal, joining Jennie in a sequence that unfolds on a heart-shaped, electrified spider’s web – a symbolic representation of entanglement in love. The video’s climax features the two artists locked in a mirrored gaze, their tears merging into a radiant, floating disco ball heart.
This collaboration is not the first between Jennie Kim and Dua Lipa. In 2017, BLACKPINK joined forces with the British singer for “Kiss and Make Up,” a bilingual dance-pop track that introduced the Korean group to a broader global audience. Their renewed partnership in “Handlebars” builds on their past synergy while showcasing how both artists have evolved musically and visually over the years.
Following BLACKPINK’s Born Pink world tour, Jennie took creative control of her music by establishing her independent label, Odd Atelier, in November 2024. Recording Ruby primarily in Los Angeles, she collaborated with diverse producers and songwriters to craft a sound that pushes beyond her previous work. The album features various genres, allowing Jennie to showcase both her rapping and singing abilities. She delivers confident verses on “Like Jennie,” taps into smooth R&B vocals on “Handlebars,” and blends both approaches on “ExtraL” featuring Doechii.
Ruby has already generated significant commercial success, with lead single “Mantra” topping charts in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as earning high placements on the Billboard Global 200 and South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart.
Jennie Kim will take the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13 and 20. These performances will give fans a closer look at the sonic and visual identity she has crafted with Ruby, reinforcing her presence as an artist with a vision of her own.
