JENNIE
Biography
Jennie Kim, known mononymously as Jennie, is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. She was born in Bundang, Seongnam, South Korea on January 16, 1996. At the age of eight, she moved to New Zealand and attended Waikowhai Intermediate School in Auckland. In 2010, she returned to South Korea and successfully auditioned for YG Entertainment, joining the label as a trainee.
Career
2016–2017: Debut with Blackpink
On August 8, 2016, Jennie debuted as a member of the girl group Blackpink, alongside Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa. The group released their debut single album "Square One," which featured the hit songs "Boombayah" and "Whistle." Jennie quickly became known for her role in the group's general duties and decision-making.
2018–2022: Solo Debut and Continued Success
In November 2018, Jennie made her solo debut with the single "Solo." The song was a commercial success, topping South Korea's Circle Digital Chart and the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart. The music video for "Solo" was the first by a Korean female soloist to surpass one billion views on YouTube. In the following years, Jennie continued to participate in Blackpink's activities, including the release of their first full album, "The Album," in 2020.
2023: Acting Debut and Founding Odd Atelier
In 2023, Jennie made her acting debut under the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane in the HBO television series "The Idol." Later that year, it was announced that Jennie and the other members of Blackpink had renewed their contracts for group activities. However, for her solo activities, Jennie established her own record label called Odd Atelier in November 2023. YG Entertainment later confirmed that the members' individual contracts were not renewed with them.
2024–present: New Music and Solo Album
In 2024, Jennie featured on Zico's single "Spot!", which became her second number-one single in South Korea. In September, she announced that she had signed with Columbia Records in partnership with her label Odd Atelier for her solo music. She released her single "Mantra" in October as the lead single from her upcoming debut studio album. Her debut studio album, titled "Ruby," is scheduled for release in 2025.