Jennie

Overview

Jennie Kim, known professionally as Jennie, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and actor who gained global recognition as a member of the group BLACKPINK after their 2016 debut. She launched her solo career in 2018 with the single "SOLO," becoming the first Korean female solo artist to top the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart. In 2023, she made her acting debut in the HBO series The Idol and contributed to its soundtrack with the song "One Of The Girls," a collaboration with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp. She followed this with the special single "You & Me," which was first performed during BLACKPINK's Born Pink World Tour. In 2024, she released the single "SPOT!" with Zico and "Mantra" under her new label, OA Entertainment/Columbia. Jennie has a significant online presence, with approximately 42.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 88 million followers on Instagram.

Early life and origins

Jennie Kim, known professionally as Jennie, began appearing on tracks by other artists in 2013, including Lee Hi's "Special" and G-Dragon's "black." She officially debuted in 2016 as a singer and rapper in the K-pop group BLACKPINK. In 2018, she launched her solo career with the single "SOLO." According to her official bio, the release made her the first Korean female solo artist to top the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart.

Career

Jennie's recording career began before her official debut, with features on the songs "Special" and "black" in 2013. She debuted as a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK in 2016. Her solo career launched on November 12, 2018, with the single "SOLO." According to her official biography, the release made her the first Korean female solo artist to top the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart.

In 2023, Jennie made her acting debut in the HBO series "The Idol," which also featured The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp. For the show's soundtrack, she collaborated with them on the song "One Of The Girls," released in June 2023. Later that year, on October 6, she released the special single "You & Me," a track she had previously performed during BLACKPINK's "BORN PINK" world tour.

Her collaborations continued in 2024 with the release of "Slow Motion" with Matt Champion in March and "SPOT!" with Zico in April. Under a new record deal with OA Entertainment and Columbia Records, Jennie released the single "Mantra" on October 10, 2024. The track is part of a series of planned releases for 2025, including the singles "Love Hangover" featuring Dominic Fike and "ExtraL" featuring Doechii, which will precede her full-length album "Ruby."

Style and influences

Jennie's musical style is primarily rooted in pop and K-pop, with elements of dance-pop and Korean dance music. As both a singer and rapper, her work spans various sonic palettes, with moods often described as confident, empowering, emotional, and romantic. Thematic elements in her music frequently touch on self-love and heartbreak, with a sound characterized as dancy and urban.

Her artistic scope has expanded through numerous collaborations with international artists. She has worked with co-writers such as The Weeknd, MIKE DEAN, Tayla Parx, and Thomas Wesley Pentz. Notable collaborations include "One Of The Girls" with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, "SPOT!" with ZICO, and "Slow Motion" with Matt Champion. Her album "Ruby" further demonstrates her versatility, featuring artists like Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, and Dominic Fike.

Recent highlights

Jennie's recent work includes several high-profile collaborations. In October 2024, she released the single "Mantra." Earlier in the year, she was featured on ZICO's track "SPOT!" in April and collaborated with Matt Champion on "Slow Motion" in March. In 2023, Jennie made her acting debut in the HBO series "The Idol" and contributed to its soundtrack with "One Of The Girls," a collaboration with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp that has since surpassed 2.2 billion Spotify streams. She also released the special single "You & Me" in October 2023. Her global reach is reflected in her digital presence, which includes approximately 42.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and around 88.6 million followers on Instagram.

Recognition and awards

Jennie has received honors for her solo music career. With the release of her 2018 single "Solo," she became the first Korean female solo artist to top the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart. Beyond music, Jennie is also recognized as a global fashion icon and one of the most influential female artists of the era.

Similar artists

Jennie's musical peers include her own group, BLACKPINK, and its members ROSÉ, LISA, and JISOO. Other comparable K-pop acts include TWICE, Jung Kook, j-hope, aespa, and LE SSERAFIM. In the Western pop landscape, similar artists include Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Doja Cat, and Sabrina Carpenter. The list also features artists such as Tyla, Latto, Doechii, and her "The Idol" co-star Lily-Rose Depp.