JENNIE Ruby Album Billboard 2025 Best List: K-Pop's Solo Success Story

BLACKPINK's JENNIE has made history as the only K-pop artist featured on Billboard's "The 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far" list with her debut solo album "Ruby," cementing her position as a breakthrough solo artist in the global music scene.

Billboard praised JENNIE's album, stating: "Jennie fans have long awaited her official solo debut, and with RUBY, she delivers a striking first project that radiates confidence, elegance, and empowerment". The publication highlighted "Like JENNIE" as "a bold statement track that introduces her unapologetic persona through blunt, self-assured lyrics".

The recognition comes amid a competitive year for album releases, with Billboard noting that "blockbuster albums have dominated the charts in 2025" from established artists like Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, and Morgan Wallen.

JENNIE's success extends beyond Billboard. Rolling Stone named "Ruby" one of the best albums of 2025 so far, praising Jennie's reinterpretation of R&B-driven pop, while Complex called it "a defining moment in Jennie's career". She remains the only K-pop artist to be featured on both Rolling Stone and Complex's best-of lists.

Released on March 7, 2025, "Ruby" achieved impressive commercial milestones:

• Sold over one million copies globally in the first week
• Debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with 26,500 copies sold in the U.S.
• Sold more than 660,000 copies in its first week in South Korea, marking the highest first-week album sales for a K-pop female solo artist in 2025
• Debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the highest-ranked album by a K-pop female soloist

"Ruby" consists of fifteen tracks and features collaborations with Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, Dua Lipa, and Kali Uchis. Released through her independent label Odd Atelier in partnership with Columbia Records, the album represents JENNIE's complete creative control as both artist and producer.

The album was supported by five singles: "Mantra", "Love Hangover", "ExtraL", "Like Jennie", and "Handlebars", with multiple tracks achieving international chart success.

While JENNIE celebrates solo success, BLACKPINK prepares for their group comeback. The "Deadline World Tour" will begin on July 5, 2025, at the Goyang Stadium in South Korea, and is currently set to conclude on January 25, 2026, at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong.

The stadium tour includes dates in Asia, the United States and Europe, with BLACKPINK becoming the first K-pop girl band to perform at London's Wembley Stadium.

JENNIE's achievement represents a significant moment for K-pop's global expansion. Her recognition across three major American music publications demonstrates the genre's growing influence in Western markets, while her commercial success proves the viability of K-pop solo careers beyond group activities.

As the music industry continues evolving, JENNIE's "Ruby" serves as a blueprint for how established K-pop artists can successfully transition to solo careers while maintaining critical and commercial appeal on a global scale.