JENNIE Ruby
JENNIE's Ruby announces a confident solo identity that privileges charisma and bold production over vocal polish, and across professional reviews it mostly succeeds. Critics point to the record's standout moments - notably “like JENNIE”, “Handlebars (feat. Dua Lipa)” and “Damn Right (feat. Childish Gambino & Kali Uchis)” - as proof that Jennie has translated BLACKPINK-era toughness into a versatile pop-R&B statement. With a 77.75/100 consensus score from four professional reviews, the critical reception frames Ruby as an ambitious, sometimes uneven collection whose highs are distinctly memorable.
Reviewers consistently praise the album's production ambition and collaboration chemistry. Pitchfork highlights the metallic, baile-funk-meets-phonk pulse of “like JENNIE” and the sultry payoff of “Damn Right,” arguing that Jennie's presence carries weaker moments. Clash and NME admire how collaborations - especially “Handlebars” and “ExtraL (feat. Doechii)” - sharpen rather than overshadow her, while Rolling Stone singles out the duet-driven peaks as the clearest winners. Recurring themes across reviews include confident self-definition, East-West pop translation, R&B and hip-hop influences, and a sense of romantic recklessness that animates the best tracks.
Still, critics offer nuance: some reviews note uneven stretches where ambition outpaces payoff, and others emphasize vocal growth emerging on quieter, R&B-leaning cuts like “start a war” and “ZEN.” Taken together, the professional reviews suggest Ruby is worth attention for its standout songs and collaborative highs, positioning Jennie as a solo artist growing into a distinct, versatile voice in contemporary pop. Explore the detailed reviews below to see what critics say about the best songs on Ruby and where the record stakes its claim in her catalog.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
like JENNIE
3 mentions
"It is painfully obvious when hearing “like JENNIE” that the BLACKPINK members all needed a song like this"— Pitchfork
Damn Right (feat. Childish Gambino & Kali Uchis)
4 mentions
"Damn Right," which brings the chameleonicic Childish Gambino and the romantically astute Kali Uchis along for the ride, has the dreamy atmosphere of Uchis’ best songs"— Rolling Stone
Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)
2 mentions
"A smooth, intimate track, ‘ Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)’ brings out Jennie’s most R&B-influenced and organic vocal delivery yet."— Clash Music
Damn Right," which brings the chameleonicic Childish Gambino and the romantically astute Kali Uchis along for the ride, has the dreamy atmosphere of Uchis’ best songs
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Intro : JANE with FKJ
like JENNIE
start a war
Handlebars (feat. Dua Lipa)
with the IE (way up)
ExtraL (feat. Doechii)
Mantra
Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)
ZEN
Damn Right (feat. Childish Gambino & Kali Uchis)
Filter
Seoul City
Starlight
twin
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
JENNIE arrives more assured than before on Ruby, and the best songs - “Like JENNIE”, “Handlebars (feat. Dua Lipa)”, and “ExtraL (feat. Doechii)” - crystallize that shift. In Maria Letícia L. The collaborations sharpen Jennie rather than overshadow her, while quieter cuts like “twin” and “INTRO : JANE with FKJ” reveal a personal core beneath the gloss. Overall, the record positions Jennie as an artist expanding her palette rather than a member testing the waters.
Key Points
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The best song, “Like JENNIE”, is the album’s defining, self-referential anthem that crystallizes Jennie’s confidence.
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Ruby’s core strengths are confident genre-blending, strong collaborations, and moments of intimate, personal songwriting.
Themes
Critic's Take
JENNIE meets the gaze head-on on Ruby, and the best songs prove why she is more than a figurehead. Tracks like “like JENNIE” and “ZEN” show her seizing control, the former a playful flex and the latter a tension-fuelled powerhouse. Read as a whole, Ruby makes a persuasive case for Jennie as a fully realised solo artist.
Key Points
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“ZEN” is the best track because its tension, bristling production and Jennie’s charisma create an off-kilter, irresistible centerpiece.
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The album’s core strengths are confident self-assertion, purposeful collaborations, and a shift toward R&B-infused vocal showcases.
Themes
Critic's Take
Joshua Minsoo Kim’s review praises the album’s production ambition and knack for translating BLACKPINK’s tough-girl sound into something blistering and stylish. Even when tracks falter, Kim argues, JENNIE’s charisma carries the record, making these best tracks the ones that most plainly showcase that presence.
Key Points
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The best song, "like JENNIE", crystallizes JENNIE’s tough-girl persona with a convincing bilingual, baile-funk-phonk production.
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The album’s core strength is production ambition and JENNIE’s charisma, which often carries songs even when vocals or lyrics falter.
Themes
Critic's Take
Lesser highlights like “Mantra” and “Seoul City” keep the momentum, but it's the collaborations that most vividly stick, turning the best tracks on Ruby into showpieces. The result answers the question of the best songs on Ruby by pointing to the duet-driven peaks where Jennie fully commands pop-R&B's center stage.
Key Points
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Ruby's core strengths are its 2000s-2010s R&B-pop sensibilities, polished production, and Jennie's ability to shift mood and persona across short, vibrant tracks.
