R (single album)

On 1 June 2020, it was announced that Rosé would make her solo debut in 2020, following the release of Blackpink's first Korean language full-length album. On 30 December 2020, in an interview with South Korean media outlet Osen, Rosé revealed that filming for her debut music video would begin in mid-January 2021. On 25 January 2021, a 33-second teaser titled "Coming Soon" was uploaded to Blackpink's official YouTube channel and featured Rosé singing an snippet of an unknown track. Rosé's label YG Entertainment disclosed that she had "completed all filming for her solo album title track's music video in mid-January", and the release will be "surely different from Blackpink's usual musical style". Soon thereafter, it was announced that Rosé will be showcasing the track featured in the teaser, later given the title "Gone", at Blackpink's first virtual concert, The Show, on 31 January 2021. On 2 March 2021, it was officially announced that Rosé will debut her highly anticipated solo project on 12 March, making her the second Blackpink member to release a solo work since Jennie's "Solo" in November 2018. The next day, new teaser poster unveiled the name of the lead single, "On the Ground", for the first time. The first music video teaser for "On The Ground" was released on 7 March. On 8 March, YG revealed the album track listing, which confirmed first-time songwriting contributions from Rosé on both tracks. On 9 March, the second music video teaser for the title track was published. ==Composition==

Musically, R is primarily a pop record with influences of synth-pop, dance-pop, electropop, EDM, alternative rock, soft rock, indie rock and rock elements. The second track, "Gone" is a soft rock and indie rock ballad underlaid with an electric guitar. Pertaining to a mellow vibe, the production of the song features a "stripped-back" sound and built around strummed guitar chords. The track is a heartfelt break-up song about someone who still has feelings for their ex who moved on. Rosé's smooth voice evokes a palpable, but relatable, sense of heartbreak. ==Conception and title==

According to a press statement, the album's title "symbolises not only the first letter of Rosé's name, but also a new beginning for her as a solo artist". "Many people call me by many names, so 'R' comes from the first letter of my names, and it represents my start of going solo," she stated during a global press conference. "On the Ground" is about a long and difficult journey to success and the pursuit of a dream. Rosé created the single's name herself and considers it to be the most successful line in all the songs that she has ever sung. It means that everything that Rosé needs is here, "on earth," and there is no need to rush somewhere to find this necessary. ==Release and promotion==

On 2 March 2021, YG Entertainment uploaded a teaser poster with the single album's name, also announcing the release date. The following day, Rosé teased the title of the album's lead single "On the Ground" on social media. On 14 March, the singer appeared on the show My Little Old Boy as a special guest. On 20 March 2021, Rosé appeared on the South Korean TV show Knowing Bros along with Hyeri from Girl's Day. The singer gave an interview to The Kelly Clarkson Show and Apple Music's New Music Daily hosted by Zane Lowe. She also appeared on the magazine cover of Vogue Australia's April issue. Singles "On the Ground" was released as the lead single of R, alongside the album itself, on 12 March 2021. Upon release, the music video surpassed 41.6 million views in 24 hours and broke the record of former labelmate Psy's "Gentleman" for the most viewed South Korean music video of a soloist in 24 hours. In the United States, the song debuted and peaked at number 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song by a Korean female soloist in the United States. It also debuted and peaked at number one on both the Global 200 and on Global Excl. U.S. charts, the first to do so in the charts' histories. "Gone" was released as the second single on 5 April 2021, alongside the release of its music video. The music video garnered over 15 million views in its first 24 hours. In the United States, the song debuted at number 15 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart. The song also debuted and peaked at number 29 on the Global 200 with 19.6 million streams and 25,000 downloads worldwide, and at number 17 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart. On 16 March 2021, Rosé performed the lead single on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On 18 March 2021, she performed "On the Ground" on Mnet's M Countdown, where she also ranked second place in the voting section of the show. The singer performed the song on Show! Music Core on 20 March. The song was performed again on Inkigayo on 21 March. On 27 March, Rosé performed the song on Show! Music Core. On 28 March, the singer performed "On the Ground" on Inkigayo. == Critical reception ==

R received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its emotional weight and Rosé's songwriting. Rhian Daly of NME, awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, describing the album as "a no-frills testament that proves a powerful voice and good songwriting don’t need to be big or ostentatious to shine." Writing for Beats Per Minute, JT Early gave the single album a positive review, stating that R is "a vulnerable and mature solo debut that demonstrates Rosé’s vocals and songwriting skills greatly." Seung Hoon Lee, a journalist for Osen, considered R as a successful debut and stated that Rosé's performance was more mature than on the Blackpink's debut album. ==Awards and nominations==

Rosé's debut single album surpassed 400,000 preorders within four days, making it the best-selling single album by a Korean female solo artist. By 15 March, R had surpassed half a million stock pre-orders. According to Korea's Hanteo Chart, the album sold 280,000 copies on the first day and 448,089 copies on the first week of release, setting the record for the highest first-week sales among female solo artists. On 23 April 2021, YG Entertainment announced that the single album sold 502,447 on Hanteo, making Rosé the first Korean female soloist to breach the half-million sales mark in 19 years. The physical edition debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart, whilst the kit debuted at number seven. The album also debuted at number three on the monthly Gaon Album Chart, selling 394,156 copies as well as 52,158 copies of the kit version in the month of March. In May 2021, R was certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for selling over 250,000 copies, and in November 2021 it was certified double platinum for selling over 500,000 copies. The album ranked at number 25 on the year-end Gaon Album Chart with 516,915 copies sold in 2021. In December 2023, it was certified triple platinum for selling over 750,000 copies. ==Track listing==

Credits adapted from album liner notes. Production • Rosé – vocals, creative director, songwriter (all tracks) • Teddy – creative director, songwriter (all tracks), producer (track 1) • Amy Allen – songwriter (track 1) • Jon Bellion – songwriter (track 1), producer (track 1) • Jorgen Odegard – songwriter (track 1), producer (track 1) • Raúl Cubina – songwriter (track 1) • Ojivolta – producer (track 1) • 24 – producer (all tracks) • Brian Lee – songwriter (track 2), producer (track 2) • J. Lauryn – songwriter (track 2) • Yongin Choi – recording engineer (all tracks) • Josh Gudwin – mix engineer (all tracks) • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer (all tracks) Design • Rosé; Hyona Park, Jeongyoon Yoon (Franchise); Hyo Jin Jeong, Sung Min Yook, Min Kyu Lee, Hee Won Moon, Min Ji Lee – design • Jae Hyun Choe, Jae Hoon Roh, Bin Seo – production coordinator • Heejune Kim, Jungwook Mook, Sunjae Shin, Khan, Jaewon Choi – photograph • Na Kyung Lee, Si Chun Kim, Yea Byul Jeon, Bo Yung Jung, Jin Kwang Yu – set design • Min Hee Park – stylist • Seon Yeong Lee – hair • Myung Sun Lee (Woosun) – make up • Eunkyung Park (Unistella) – nail • Young Shin Kim – florist Management • YG Entertainment – executive producer • Yea Deun Kim, Euna Ahn, Jiwan Seong – A&R • Yoohee Chung, Soon Mo Hwang, Hana Kim, Sejung Ku, Gyeo Re Shin, Seogyeong Shin, Meenseo Won, Minji Yang – artist strategy • Yoon Jeong Kim – publishing • Heon Pyo Park – head of artist management group • Heon Pyo Park, Byoung Young Lee, Se Ho Kim, Eun Gon Kim, Ho Sup Shin, Jong Seong Park, Sae Rom Lee, Seong In Je – artist management • Sung Jun Choi – chief operating officer • Seon Young Kang, Yu Jin Jung, Eun Yu Choi – music business • Bo Kyung Hwang – executive supervisor ==Charts==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==