Rosé from BLACKPINK is releasing her first solo album on December 6th, making her the 3rd member of the group to have a solo career. BLACKPINK debuted in 2016 and became more and more successful over time. They released “DDU-DU DDU-DU” in 2018, and it is still their most-viewed song to this day with 2.2 billion views. As a group, many of their songs have hundreds of millions of views, if not one or two billion. They’ve proved to be an enormous success everywhere.
As of December 29th, 2023, the girls stopped working with YG Entertainment for their solo careers, but are still signed as a group. Since then, they have been silent with no recent music as a group as they’re all working on their solo careers; rumor has it that in 2025 the group will be back in action. Rosé was the second member to ever release a solo song in 2021 called “On the Ground” and later “Gone” which was her last. Her long-awaited new album is a huge deal since we’ve had no solo music from her for three years.
Since parting with YG Entertainment, Rosé signed with The Black Label and Atlantic Records for her solo career. A month ago, Rosé collaborated with Bruno Mars to create “APT.” APT means “apartment” and it is actually the name of a Korean drinking game. The song is really about them flirting throughout the game, if you couldn’t tell from “Kissy face, kissy face sent to your phone but, I’m trying to kiss your lips for real.” While in the studio with Bruno, she came up with the idea to teach him and the team some Korean drinking games and after playing, they wrote the song. Rosé had her doubts about the song wondering if it was the right move, but once she realized people liked it, she happily worked with Bruno and her producers to release it. The song was highly successful with 378 million views on YouTube and 9.1 million likes. It also reached number 1 on the charts in 19 countries.
Rosé opened up about the album sharing that it will be vulnerable for her since she uses it as a personal journal. She did an interview with Paper Magazine stating the album is about her “terrible twenties” to help people understand her as a person.” She took to Instagram on her 27th birthday when announcing the album, writing, “I cannot believe I am finally announcing my first album release to you all.” She continues, “With the support of my dear friends and family, my team, and of course my number ones, I am sat here today excited to announce the date of my album release. I have poured my blood and tears into this album. I cannot wait for you to listen to this little journal of mine. Rosie – is the name I allow my friends and family to call me. With this album, I hope you all feel that much closer to me.”
Later, she teased a song on the album named “Vampirehollie” and started a new IG account with the same name promoting the album, and herself as a solo artist. She also did an album unboxing on her TikTok account.
Rosé has already been successful with her music we have no doubts that her going solo will only elevate her success. Her excitement is matched by her waiting fans all interested in getting to know her as just “Rosé” and not “Rosé from BLACKPINK.” With Rosé already releasing songs such as “APT” ft. Bruno Mars, we are already getting a taste of the potential she has alone, and it is exceptional. We are so excited to hear the album and support Rosé as she takes on this new and exciting road and we’re all watching to see where it leads.
The Album review
The album immediately starts off with a banger with the first song being “Number One Girl” She’s incredibly relatable as she sings about wanting love and validation. She says in Paper Magazine that she “realized how vulnerable and addicted I was to this [online] world and that craving for feeling like I was loved and understood.” In her second verse, she says, “ Tell me that I’m that new thing, tell me that I’m relevant tell me that I got a big heart, then back it up with evidence I need it and I don’t know why” showing that vulnerability.
In “3am,” her first verse begins with: “I just saw a red flag gonna pretend I didn’t see that ‘cause is it really, really that bad? I need you really, really that bad.” This shows a willingness to look past all the flaws to make the relationship last. She says, “The world can roll their eyes, but there’s no use I just want it to be you.” This shows she doesn’t care what anyone else sees in their relationship, she’d be happy just being with them.
When we reach the fourth song, it becomes completely clear that she has been in a relationship that ended in heartbreak, but it was the best choice. In “Toxic Till the End,” the first verse says, “Call us what we are, toxic from the start can’t pretend that I was in the dark When you met my friends, didn’t even try with them I should’ve known right then.” The chorus says, “Back then when I was runnin’ out of your place I said, ‘I never wanna see your face’ I meant I couldn’t wait to see it again.” Showing her weakness in the relationship.
These are our top songs from the album but the rest of them are definitely worth listening to. For all of the heartbroken, toxic relationships, wanting out but wanting them, girls out there, this album is definitely for you. These songs are absolutely amazing, they hold so much emotion, and we do think she got the understanding she wanted with it. We are excited to see what she will do with the solo platform she’s been given and see her rise to the top.
