Lisa has just released her highly anticipated debut solo studio album, Alter Ego. Since their 2016 debut, Blackpink has become one of the world’s most popular girl groups, and the girls are now taking the chance to explore their individual styles. Each member has been making a splash on the music scene lately with their solo endeavors, and Lisa is no different. The Thai artist has had a big month with her acting debut as a part of The White Lotus season 3’s cast, and she’ll end the month with her debut album.
When Lisa first debuted with Blackpink, she was introduced as the K-pop group’s main dancer and rapper. However, she has definitely been proving her vocal chops over the years and manages to intertwine all three elements into her music. Her first solo drop was the single EP Lalisa in 2021, with both tracks “Lalisa” and “Money” being a big hit with fans. Alter Ego will be Lisa’s first release since establishing her own management company, Lloud, and her way of exploring different sounds.
Alter Ego explores five of Lisa’s inner personas: Roxi, Sunni, Kiki, Speedi, and Vixi. According to Lisa, Roxi is a rockstar, Sunni is a free-spirited French speaker, Kiki is a Y2K internet lover, Speedi is a sports car driver, and Vixi is considered a “villain.” Each alter ego encapsulates a different sound that corresponds with the various tracks on the album. The project also features a star-studded list of collaborators, from Future to Megan Thee Stallion. Lisa has been teasing Alter Ego since June 2024, and fans can finally listen to her highly anticipated debut studio album in full.
15
“Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)”
Track 8 – 2:35
The third single from Alter Ego is a sweet love song unlike anything Lisa has released. A nu-disco dance-pop track, the song interpolates Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me.” Originally written for singer Jessie Reyez’s second studio album, the song ultimately didn’t fit into her project, and it was eventually pitched to Lisa. The song ended up being a perfect fit for Lisa’s light vocals, and she has even been complimented by Sixpence None the Richer’s lead singer, Leigh Nash.
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Maintaining the story of the original song, “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” is perhaps one of Lisa’s most personal songs as it explores her love life through her Sunni alter ego. She sings about a “green-eyed French boy” who captured her heart, likely referring to her real-life billionaire boyfriend Frédéric Arnault. Though the song is an easy listen with a groovy bass, there isn’t enough distinction between it and its source material for it to be considered an interesting new take.
14
“Rapunzel” (Kiki Solo Version)
Track 15 – 2:19
With a dreamy and upbeat vibe, “Rapunzel” is an unexpectedly cute song from Lisa. Even though the lyrics feature profanities while Lisa raps about living life to the fullest, the repetition of “Hair down feeling like Rapunzel” is a catchy, feel-good melody. It’s a good track for the Kiki alter ego that fits her Y2K aesthetic, but it ultimately benefits from the Megan Thee Stallion feature.
13
“FXCK UP THE WORLD” (Feat. Future)
Track 6 – 3:04
A feature can make or break a song, and “FXCK UP THE WORLD” unfortunately doesn’t benefit from one. Though Future gives a solid performance as always, it’s not the smoothest transition from the chorus to his rap. The verse feels strangely out of place and ultimately doesn’t add much to the song, especially since Lisa’s solo version of the song features later on the tracklist and adds to the comparisons.
12
“BADGRRRL”
Track 10 – 2:12
The shortest track on the album still manages to pack a punch and is another instance of Lisa getting to show off her versatile rapping style. She performs over a beat that feels messy in the best way possible, with her melodic rap purposefully clashing with the instrumental. Though a fun listen and a good track to break up the two vocal-heavy songs that preceded it, “Badgrrrl” still falls slightly flat in the greater context of the album.
11
“Rapunzel” (Feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Track 7 – 2:45
Unlike Future’s feature on “FXCK UP THE WORLD,” Megan Thee Stallion’s verse fits right in on this track. Announcing her verse with her signature “Real hot girl sh*t,” Megan’s rap flows effortlessly and her voice blends unexpectedly well with the cuter style. It may not be the sound that fans expected when this collaboration was first announced, but it’s a feel-good track that’s easy to listen to. Instead of axing Lisa’s second verse from the solo version of “Rapunzel,” it is moved to the outro, which helps make this track feel complete.
10
“New Woman” (Feat. Rosalía)
Track 5 – 2:59
The second single from the album, “New Woman,” is the inspiration for the Kiki alter ego. With a relatively basic production and a steady electronic beat, the song does embody the Y2K aesthetic as it sounds like something that would play at a runway show from the early 2000s. Despite its simplicity, the song still manages to be musically interesting thanks to the second verse.
Having a big name like Rosalía as a collaborator did wonders for the track, as Rosalía’s slowed-down entrance in verse two keeps the otherwise straightforward song feeling fresh. For Lisa fans, this track is a treat, since it’s the perfect example of how she can seamlessly transition from vocals to rap. It’s in a great place on the tracklist, but on its own, the simplicity stops it from being outstanding.
9
“Elastigirl”
Track 3 – 2:57
As the first non-single on the Alter Ego tracklist, “Elastigirl” is a great choice. The cheeky lyrics are surely what listeners are going to notice first, with Lisa referring to herself as the hero Elastigirl from The Incredibles, while her lover is likened to the notoriously flexible Mr. Fantastic from The Fantastic Four. The lyrics might come off as cheesy to some, but the track benefits from the unique beat to make it an overall fun listen.
8
“Thunder”
Track 4 – 2:48
Lisa opens the song with a striking motif in a higher register than fans are used to hearing from her. Mentioning the titular “alter egos,” “Thunder” feels like Lisa’s message to her haters as she sings about breaking expectations and reaching new heights. Even with the heavy electronic influence, Lisa’s vocals in the chorus feel incredibly smooth. The post-chorus features her opening motif over a crashing beat, which truly sounds reminiscent of thunder.
7
“FXCK UP THE WORLD” (Vixi Solo Version)
Track 14 – 2:55
“FXCK UP THE WORLD” is the representative song of Lisa’s villain alter ego, Vixi, and fittingly so just from the title alone. The rap track is the alter ego’s middle finger to society that sounds like it could be an anthem for the notorious chaos-causing villain Harley Quinn. Although it’s nothing truly innovative, the hip-hop beat allows Lisa’s rap skills to truly shine. While Lisa has had some rap-heavy songs before, this is a grittier side of her that feels fresh.
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A music video for the solo version of “FXCK UP THE WORLD” was released alongside the album, and it does seem like a good track to feature so heavily. It marks the start of a new era for her as she tells listeners: “They want the old Lisa, then listen to my old sh*t.” Even though the music video doesn’t feature the version of the song with Future, Lisa’s second verse actually fits into the song better. However, even though it’s a good choice for a single, there are definitely some musically stronger songs on the album.
6
“Rockstar”
Track 2 – 2:18
“Rockstar” was the first single from Alter Ego and for good reason. The explosive track embodies Lisa’s previous sound while being a clear improvement from “Lalisa” and “Money.” The chorus rap is memorable with Lisa boldly declaring that she’ll “make your favorite singer want to rap.” There is also a clever sample of Tame Impala’s “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” at the end of the chorus that ties it all together.
The track is another example of Lisa being able to seamlessly transition between rap and vocals. The chorus rap shows off her more relaxed flow, which is why her second verse rap feels extra effective with how hard it goes. The booming electronic beat is catchy, though it admittedly gets a bit repetitive. The track could’ve done with a bridge of some sort just to keep things interesting until the end. “Rockstar” is clearly a song meant to be elevated by live performance, but it ultimately still stands strong enough on its own as a solid opening track.
5
“Born Again” (Feat. Doja Cat & RAYE)
Track 1 – 3:51
The final single to be released before Alter Ego’s full official release, Lisa saved her strongest song for last. It was definitely a surprise to see not one but two powerhouse artists featuring on the track, but they ended up producing one of the best collabs released in 2025 so far. “Born Again” was originally written by RAYE for one of her albums, but she wasn’t able to release it after she left her former company. Lisa ultimately ended up receiving the project and signed both RAYE and Doja Cat on to feature.
“Born Again” opens with Lisa’s effortless rap, and then she and Raye take turns tackling the chorus. Doja Cat follows up with a stellar verse that is reminiscent of her pop sound from the Hot Pink and Planet Her eras. Raye’s sultry voice shines in the bridge with a signature run, then the girls harmonize flawlessly in the outro. Even with two other powerhouse voices, Lisa still manages to hold her own on what is still very much her track. Each artist shines in their individual verses, then come together beautifully in a collaboration we didn’t know we needed.
4
“When I’m With You” (Feat. Tyla)
Track 9 – 2:52
Where “When I’m With You” stands out from the other collaborations on the album is how deeply intertwined Lisa and Tyla’s voices feel. The song instantly opens with the two going back and forth on the first verse like a call-and-response. Tyla is thoroughly integrated throughout the song instead of just having a verse to herself, and Lisa harmonizes with her beautifully.
Of course, Lisa still has her time to shine with her second-verse rap that feels like the most effortless of them all. Another track that leans into the dreamy vibe, “When I’m With You” truly encapsulates the feeling of being on Cloud 9 while with a loved one. From the seamless feature to the showcase of Lisa’s duality from singer to rapper, this song is an unexpected candidate for one of Lisa’s strongest tracks.
3
“Dream”
Track 13 – 3:43
An outstanding end to the album, “Dream” feels like Lisa’s most vulnerable and raw song to date. She sings about missing a lover and the bittersweet hope of meeting them once again in the future. Her yearning truly comes across in the melancholic instrumental that almost feels similar to Olivia Rodrigo’s “deja vu,” which is heavy on the lo-fi synth sound. Lisa flexed her versatile rapping style throughout Alter Ego, but “Dream” cements the fact that she is an incredibly strong vocalist too. The album needed to end on a quieter note like this, and it did not disappoint.
2
“Lifestyle”
Track 11 – 2:41
“Lifestyle” feels like Lisa’s ultimate flex, and rightfully so after almost a decade of hard work. Alter Ego has proved that she is great at transitioning between singing and rapping, but this track feels like the ultimate embodiment of it. Though the beat isn’t as in-your-face as some of the more hyped songs, the opening chant sets the tone and gets listeners riled up. Her second verse rap features her signature melodic rapping style and effortless flow.
The best part of “Lifestyle” is undoubtedly the chorus as Lisa circles back to the opening chant. She chants about fast cars, diamonds, and jet-setting across the globe, but the chorus then delves more into her vocals and closes out with an unexpected melodic riff. The track definitely risked feeling repetitive, but the addition of the post-chorus vocals is what keeps it feeling fresh throughout.
1
“Chill”
Track 12 – 2:39
While some albums open with a bang and end on a weaker note, Lisa manages to close out Alter Ego with some of her strongest work. The track opens once again with her signature melodic rap over what seems like a somewhat simple beat. However, as soon as the pre-chorus hits, fans know they’re going to be in for something special. Lisa’s best vocals of the album are featured on this track as she sounds heavenly in the pre-chorus, then flows into an excellent chorus that brings some rap back.
The bridge of “Chill” is where the song peaks in terms of both energy and musicality. Lisa sings over some haunting choir-like background vocals while an additional drum beat helps amp up the intensity. She sings her warning to her lover about getting too close, throwing in the witty line “Can’t read my face, just call me Mona Lisa.” “Chill” perfectly embodies the vibe of dancing around someone else’s feelings in what is Lisa’s best track off of Alter Ego.
