After years and years of K-Pop dominance, BLACKPINK decided to take a much-needed break in 2024. They released their chart-topping album BORN PINK near the end of 2022 and followed it up with a world tour for the next year or so, including an epic performance at Coachella in 2023. Following this tour, the group went on hiatus, with the members, Jennie, Lisa, Rosè, and Jisoo all focusing on solo music and acting venues. Over the last year or so, the members have all put out very good solo music. Lisa and Jennie dropped multiple enticing singles in 2024, while Rosè put out an album titled rosie. Jisoo has not missed out on the fun, though, as she recently released an EP Amortage(which I plan on covering for the blog soon as well). Out of all the solo music released by the BLACKPINK members so far, Lisa has probably had the most success. In 2021, she put out her first solo single, ‘LaLisa,’ which not only broke streaming and YouTube records but also helped her become the first K-Pop soloist to win a VMA. This massive amount of solo success continued into her releases in 2024. The lead single for her new album, Rockstar,’ ended up reaching number one on the Billboard HOT 100. The subsequent singles she released throughout the year did not quite reach the level of that track but were still very successful in their own right. After much anticipation, Lisa recently dropped her debut solo album, Alter Ego. This album is being praised for its sonic diversity. Lisa certainly shows she has no limits to her artistry on this record. It does lack a bit of cohesion, though, as the sonic theme of the record is pretty vast. Below, I wanted to talk about a few of my favorite songs from Alter Ego, and then give some overall thoughts on it to close things out. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from Lisa’s Alter Ego, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
BORN AGAIN FT. DOJA CAT AND RAYE
‘Born Again’ was the last single released in anticipation of this record, and Lisa saved the best for last. ‘Born Again’ has become one of my favorite songs from 2025 so far, and a constant part of my rotation recently. Frankly, everything about this song rules, and is pretty far from what I would expect from Lisa based on her past releases(and Doja Cat, for that matter). In fact, I saw on YouTube a demo solo version of this track by Raye, which does make sense because it sounds the most like a Raye song. ‘Born Again’ has a lively, captivating Disco sound that will get anyone dancing when it comes ok. Everything about this track screams Disco Balls and bright lights. The melody is super groovy and slick, with the riff that drives this one and the synths that complement it feeling like a blast from the past. As great as the instrumental is, the vocals take this song over the top. Every artist stands out and brings something to the table with their tone, range, and flow that differs from the others and makes this track pop. I don’t even want to single out one performance, because all three add to this track in an awesome way. ‘Born Again’ is a dance floor anthem that will probably keep getting bigger and bigger as the weather gets nicer.
NEW WOMAN FT. ROSALÌA
If ‘Born Again’ hadn’t been dropped as a single, then ‘New Woman’ with Rosalìa definitely would have been my favorite single from this project. When it dropped in August of 2024, it immediately became one of my songs of the summer. The best way to describe this one is that it feels like an ultramodern take on Boom-Bap music. The sheeny melody and bouncy R&B/Dance music tempo do scream 1990s. This one can bring a sense of nostalgia for those who like that style of music. There is an element of the mix and of the sound effects added to the melody that do make this track feel almost futuristic. Lisa gives some of her most dynamic vocals to date on ‘New Woman.’ Some of the higher notes she hits add a new element to her repertoire for sure. She also sings with a swagger and confidence on this track that I love and makes her feel like a true superstar. Rosalìa more than matches Lisa’s energy on ‘New Woman.’ Her vocals give the song a cool texture that stands out and makes it pop even more. ‘New Woman’ is a cool track that feels modern and nostalgic at the same time, and I feel like it was pretty underrated when it came out.
FXCK UP THE WORLD FEAT. FUTURE
Out of all the new tracks on this album from Lisa, ‘FXCK UP THE WORLD’ with Future is the one garnering the most attention, and it is not difficult to see why. For one, I doubt anyone would expect Lisa to be doing a song with Future. Some of the other features on this record do stand out for their unexpectedness as well(such as Rosalía and Megan Thee Stallion), but this one is obviously the most outside the box. With that being said, this is a banger where Lisa and Future actually mesh well. The instrumental has more of a Future sound than a Lisa sound, that is for sure. The beat is produced by ATL Jacob, and it has the kind of vicious and mean sound of one of the most gritty Future bangers. Lisa more than matches the raucous energy of this instrumental, and it is honestly pretty awesome to witness. Of course, Future does his thing as well, but Lisa totally stands out on this track and delivers a very dynamic performance. ‘FXCK UP THE WORLD’ is easily one of the boldest risks on this record for Lisa, and she absolutely kills it,
RAPUNZEL FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION
After how brash and intense the previous selection on this list is, I felt like it would be nice to highlight one of the lighter and sweeter sounding songs. ‘Rapunzel’ with Megan Thee Stallion fits that bill. This song has a bubbly Pop-Trap sound that honestly reminds me a lot of Doja Cat’s music(it is sort of ironic that Doja is featured on another track that strays far away from this sound). The melody for this track is simple yet effective, driven by bright synths with a very airy tone and feeling. The beat is upbeat and steady, containing the kind of pacing that will get anyone to bop their head. I wouldn’t say that either of the vocal performances on this track are necessarily exceptional, but they do fit the song and drive it along nicely. Megan and Lisa do show a good amount of chemistry on ‘Rapunzel,’ as their tones and vocal styles mesh pretty well. ‘Rapunzel’ is not the most complex or riveting song here, but it is pretty fun for what it is.
WHEN I’M WITH YOU FEAT. TYLA
‘When I’m With You,’ which features Tyla, is another track that sees Lisa go with a 1990s R&B approach. I kind of actually expected this one to lean towards the amapiano music Tyla is known for, but it makes sense Lisa went back to this sound considering how good ‘New Woman’ is. The melody for this one is pretty warm and pleasant, taking on a somewhat similar feeling to the song ‘Rapunzel.’ There is a bit of funkiness to this one, though, that leans into that R&B theme that the beat gives the track. Speaking of the beat, this song has a bouncy rhythm with a ton of spunk that makes it very fun. The vocals from Lisa are nice on this one, but Tyla does stand out. Her inviting tone and pitch fit the nature of the track very well, giving it that extra layer of sweetness that it needs. ‘When I’m With You’ is another track where Lisa shows an affinity for retro R&B and it pays off.
BADGRRRL
I wondered after listening to ‘FXCK UP THE WORLD’ if there would be anything else on this album that veers even close to that kind of hard Trap instrumental. Now, ‘BADGRRRL’ is not quite as dark and intense as the aforementioned track, but it is definitely the closest thing to it throughout the rest of the record. The melody for this track is very sparse and interesting. It has a very metallic tint to it that is groovy and melancholy but also has a bit of a charm to it. The beat for this track is extremely hard-hitting and also pretty glitchy. The drums that drive this one almost feel like a highly distorted version of the kind of beat that one would play on some bleachers. Lisa more than matches the high key energy of this instrumental. I really love how she constantly is switching her flow and tone, as it gives ‘BADGRRRL’ many interesting textures that really make it pop. ‘BADGRRRRL’ is an in-your-face Trap track where Lisa shows a tougher side to her artistry.
LIFESTYLE
I thought that ‘FXCK UP THE WORLD’ and ‘BADGRRRRL’ would definitely be the most intense songs on this record, but ‘Lifestyle’ somehow blows them out of the water in that regard. ‘Lifestyle’ is a song with a super cool sound that is honestly tough to pinpoint. The instrumental for this one is very complex and all over the place in the best way. This is a song that is like half Trap music, half Big Room House music. The beat during the verses is pretty intricate, and the beat during the hook is brash and massive. The synths that drive the melody for this one are just as audacious as the melody, and give this song a larger-than-life and in-your-face feeling. Lisa’s vocals on this track more than match the energy of the instrumental; the way she shout-sings the hook in particular makes ‘Lifestyle’ so fun and exciting. ‘Lifestyle’ is a sleeper hit and a favorite of mine from this record, and I could totally see this one taking off on TikTok or Instagram at some point later this year.
When Lisa’s solo album was announced last year, it came with quite a bit of anticipation. Lisa has always seemed like she has a ton of solo star power. She even proved this with her debut singles a few years ago. As great as she is with BLACKPINK, I have always wondered if she would thrive even more on her own. As the singles for Alter Ego rolled out, I wondered what direction this album was going to go. It seemed like there was no sonic theme and that Lisa was trying her hand at everything. After listening to Alter Ego, I still have that feeling. It seems like each song is different from the last, and there isn’t a huge connection within the music. There are some general lyrical themes like love and flexing and some styles of music do pop up a couple of different times on the record, but from song to song there is not a ton of cohesion. Maybe Alter Ego is literally a perfect name for this record, because every song almost shows a new side to Lisa. With that being said, there is a ton of music to love on this record. To be honest, there are a couple of songs I personally would not probably go back to necessarily, but I do not think there are any real throwaways or skips. Lisa shows so many sides to her artistry. She excels at not only the tough and more flamboyant elements, but also kills it on the softer sides to the record. The best thing about this album for me is how much diversity Lisa shows in her artistry, as it seems like she has no limits. No matter what the instrumental sounds like, she can always thrive with her vocals. She also meshes well with each feature. The features have a ton of variance as well, and it is cool to see Lisa adapt on each track. I have seen some criticisms of the record wanting a deeper theme or meaning, but I am okay with where this album goes in that regard. Alter Ego is meant to be fresh and fun. Overall, Alter Ego is not the most concise or riveting record you will hear, but it is more than adequate for what it is. This was a more than solid debut record for Lisa, and it sets her up for greatness in the future as she continues to grow.
EAST SIDE VIBES 