BLACKPINK's JENNIE "like JENNIE" Crowned #1 K-pop Song of 2025 by Billboard

JENNIE's Korean-language anthem breaks barriers as critics recognize her chart-topping solo success across global markets.

Billboard has officially named "like JENNIE" the top K-pop song of 2025 on their prestigious mid-year critics' picks list, solidifying BLACKPINK member JENNIE's position as a leading solo artist.

The track from JENNIE's debut album Ruby has achieved unprecedented success for a Korean-language song. "Like JENNIE" peaked at number 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the longest-charting song sung solely by a female K-pop soloist in Hot 100 history.

On Pop Airplay charts, traditionally resistant to non-English content, "like JENNIE" climbed to a new peak of No. 31 in its sixth week, demonstrating remarkable crossover appeal. The song also dominated global charts, remaining at number 6 on the Billboard Global 200 for 10 consecutive weeks, becoming the longest charting 2025 song in the Top 10.

Billboard praised "like JENNIE" as "a two‑minute power surge that truly cements JENNIE's status as a next-generation It Girl" featuring "some of the sharpest rapping of her career with a snarled confidence". The publication noted how the song challenges expectations, showing "that Jennie Kim cannot only serve a self-celebratory anthem for the masses but also flip all expectations of what constitutes a K-pop hit today".

JENNIE's global impact extends beyond Billboard recognition. "Like JENNIE" topped Spotify's mid-year 2025 Global Impact List, which ranks Korean tracks most streamed internationally. All nine of Jennie's featured tracks came from Ruby, showcasing unprecedented solo artist dominance.

The Global Impact List reflects "a shift in K-pop from group-centered storytelling to more personal narratives and individual artistic identity", with solo artists claiming 19 of the top 30 positions.

The song incorporates "brazilian funk and phonk" production courtesy of Diplo, creating a unique sonic hybrid that sets it apart in the global music landscape. This innovative approach helped the Korean-language track succeed where many have struggled to break through Western radio barriers.

Ruby, JENNIE's debut solo studio album released on March 7, 2025, sold one million copies globally in the first week and was named one of Billboard's "50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far" as the only K-pop album to make the cut. The album featured collaborations with major artists including Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, and Doechii.

JENNIE made history by becoming the first K-pop female soloist to chart 3 songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 with tracks from Ruby. The achievement demonstrates her ability to compete in English-dominated markets while maintaining her Korean identity.

"like JENNIE" represents more than commercial success-it signals a new era where Korean-language content can achieve mainstream Western recognition through authentic artistic expression rather than linguistic conformity. As the song continues breaking records, JENNIE has established herself as a bridge between K-pop's global ambitions and Western music industry acceptance.