JENNIE is one of the most recognizable members of BLACKPINK, but her career is no longer defined only by the group.
Since BLACKPINK's debut in 2016, she has developed a separate identity through solo music, fashion, acting and her own company. Her first full-length solo album, Ruby, pushed that identity even further.
For someone discovering JENNIE for the first time, here's what actually matters about her career.
JENNIE Profile
Stage Name: JENNIE (제니)
Full Name: Jennie Kim (김제니)
Date of Birth: January 16, 1996
Birthplace: South Korea
Nationality: South Korean
Group: BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK Debut: August 8, 2016
Solo Debut: 2018
Company: ODD ATELIER
First Studio Album: Ruby
Fandom: BLINK for BLACKPINK
JENNIE spent part of her childhood in New Zealand before returning to South Korea and eventually becoming a trainee at YG Entertainment.
That international background would later fit naturally with BLACKPINK's increasingly global career.
JENNIE's Career Before BLACKPINK
JENNIE joined YG Entertainment as a trainee years before BLACKPINK debuted.
During that period, she appeared in music connected with established YG artists, giving audiences an early look at a trainee who would eventually become part of the company's next major girl group.
BLACKPINK officially debuted on August 8, 2016 with “BOOMBAYAH” and “WHISTLE.”
The group consisted of four members:
JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ and LISA.
BLACKPINK quickly developed a style built around strong visual concepts, hip-hop-influenced pop and performance.
JENNIE became particularly recognizable for moving between singing and rap while maintaining a distinctive stage presence.
“SOLO” Started JENNIE's Individual Career
JENNIE became the first BLACKPINK member to make an official solo debut.
Her single “SOLO” was released in November 2018.
The title was unusually direct, and so was the concept.
Instead of separating JENNIE completely from the image audiences knew through BLACKPINK, “SOLO” emphasized the confidence, fashion and performance style already associated with her.
For new fans, this song is still one of the easiest places to begin.
It captures the transition between JENNIE of BLACKPINK and JENNIE as an individual artist.
JENNIE Became More Than a K-pop Idol
Music is only one reason JENNIE became internationally recognizable.
Fashion became another major part of her public image.
Her relationship with global luxury brands and appearances at major fashion events helped place her in a space where K-pop, celebrity and international fashion increasingly overlap.
That matters when trying to understand JENNIE's influence.
She isn't simply an idol who occasionally works with fashion brands. Fashion became a significant part of how her individual identity developed outside BLACKPINK.
She also expanded into acting, appearing in the HBO series The Idol under the name Jennie Ruby Jane.
Why Did JENNIE Create ODD ATELIER?
A major change came in late 2023 when JENNIE established her own company, ODD ATELIER, often shortened to OA.
The move allowed her to manage her individual career separately while continuing to participate in BLACKPINK activities.
This distinction can be confusing for new fans.
JENNIE did not simply “leave BLACKPINK.”
Her solo activities and BLACKPINK activities operate through different arrangements.
That structure gave her greater control over the next stage of her individual career.
“Mantra” Introduced a New Solo Era
In October 2024, JENNIE released “Mantra.”
The song marked an important transition.
“SOLO” had introduced her as an individual performer years earlier, but “Mantra” arrived after the creation of ODD ATELIER and represented a much more independent stage of her career.
It also became the beginning of the road toward her first full-length solo album.
Ruby: JENNIE's First Full Studio Album
JENNIE released Ruby on March 7, 2025.
The 15-track album was released in collaboration with ODD ATELIER and Columbia Records.
Rather than building the entire project around one sound, Ruby moves across different styles and includes collaborations with several internationally known artists.
Featured artists include:
Dua Lipa
Doechii
Childish Gambino
Kali Uchis
Dominic Fike
FKJ
Songs such as “Mantra,” “like JENNIE,” “ExtraL,” “Love Hangover” and “Handlebars” show different sides of the project.
For someone who knows JENNIE only through BLACKPINK, Ruby is probably the most useful introduction to how she wants to present herself outside the group.
What Does “like JENNIE” Represent?
One of the most recognizable tracks from Ruby is “like JENNIE.”
Even the title tells you something about the album.
By this stage of her career, JENNIE wasn't simply trying to establish that she could release music without BLACKPINK. She already had years of international recognition behind her.
The bigger question was what a specifically JENNIE-centered project should sound and look like.
“like JENNIE” leans directly into that identity.
It's confident, performance-driven and self-referential—the kind of song that makes much more sense when viewed after the long gap between “SOLO” and Ruby.
5 JENNIE Songs for New Fans
You don't need to start with her entire discography.
These five tracks provide a useful introduction.
SOLO
Start here to understand the beginning of JENNIE's solo career.
Mantra
This marks the beginning of her newer independent era.
like JENNIE
One of the clearest expressions of the identity surrounding Ruby.
ExtraL
A collaboration with Doechii that shows a different side of JENNIE's solo sound.
Handlebars
Featuring Dua Lipa, this track provides another contrast within Ruby and shows how varied the album is.
Listen to them in roughly that order and the development of her solo career becomes easier to follow.
JENNIE as a BLACKPINK Member and Solo Artist
The most important thing for new fans to understand is that these aren't competing identities.
JENNIE remains a member of BLACKPINK while also developing her own music and business structure.
BLACKPINK gives her one creative environment.
Her solo career gives her another.
That's increasingly important as K-pop artists build careers that can extend well beyond the traditional group structure.
JENNIE is one of the clearest examples of that transition.
What Should New Fans Know About JENNIE?
It's easy to reduce JENNIE to a few labels.
BLACKPINK member.
Rapper.
Fashion icon.
Solo artist.
But her career becomes more interesting when viewed chronologically.
She spent years training before BLACKPINK debuted, became the group's first member to launch a solo career, expanded into global fashion and acting, established ODD ATELIER and eventually released a 15-track studio album under her own creative identity.
That progression explains JENNIE better than a list of personal trivia ever could.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JENNIE still a member of BLACKPINK?
Yes. JENNIE continues to be a member of BLACKPINK while pursuing separate solo activities.
When was JENNIE born?
She was born on January 16, 1996.
When did BLACKPINK debut?
BLACKPINK officially debuted on August 8, 2016.
What was JENNIE's first solo song?
Her official solo debut single was “SOLO,” released in 2018.
What is JENNIE's first full solo album?
Her first full-length studio album is Ruby, released on March 7, 2025.
What is ODD ATELIER?
ODD ATELIER, also known as OA, is the company JENNIE established for her individual activities.
Final Thoughts
JENNIE's career is easier to understand when you look beyond the usual celebrity profile.
She began as a YG trainee, debuted with BLACKPINK, became the group's first soloist, expanded into fashion and acting, created her own company and eventually released Ruby.
For new listeners, a simple path is:
SOLO → Mantra → like JENNIE → ExtraL → Handlebars
Those songs trace the change from JENNIE's first steps outside BLACKPINK to an artist building a much more independent identity of her own.
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