BLACKPINK's Lisa Shuts Down Bangkok for Her New Solo Single, 'Rockstar'

It's finally here! After much hype leading up to its official release, K-pop mega star, Lisa Manoban is back with her brand new solo single, "Rockstar". The BLACKPINK member dropped the single today at 9AM KST along with its accompanying music video and they did not disappoint! Going back to her native roots, Lisa shot her visually captivating music video in Thailand, impressively shutting down one of the busiest streets, namely Bangkok's Chinatown in the Yaowarat district. According to reports, the star rented the bustling location and paid store owners in the area to make up for any disturbances caused during the hours she's filming. More impressive is how none of the shots were leaked as Lisa danced and strutted the streets of Yaowarat, showing just how beloved the star is by her fellow Thai people. 

Part of the reason many are rooting for her comeback is due to the fact that this Lisa's first solo track released outside of YG Entertainment. Instead, "Rockstar" is produced under her newly founded company LLOUD and RCA records as Lisa parted ways with the talent agency in terms of her solo activities and endeavours. Not to mention, it has been 3 years since Lisa's last solo project. In 2021, her solo EP, Lalisa under YG Entertainment went 3 times platinum, topping charts with her lead singles, "Lalisa" and "Money". The former track won the best K-pop category the MTV Video Music Awards and Europe Music Awards in 2022 too. Hence, fans are delighted to see the Rockstar back in her element!

In her latest single, "Rockstar," the BLACKPINK member showcases her versatile vocal prowess, effortlessly transitioning between singing and rapping. The track, co-written by Lisa and produced by San Homaee and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, evokes the essence of early 2000s Japanese hip-hop, seamlessly blended with contemporary R&B and hip-hop elements, particularly evident in the bridge and braggy but swaggy lyrics. 

Directed by Henry Scholfield, the music video is just as badass with its striking visual effects, transitions and choreography. Scholfield have worked on music videos of some of the biggest stars in the world including Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Rosalía and more. He captured the essence of Lisa's new "Rockstar" era flawlessly. The gritty neon-lit streets of Bangkok at night became the perfect back drop, creating a juxtaposition against the grungy glamour of Lisa's outfits — Resulting in a cyberpunk-esque vibe we can't get enough of. 

As of writing this article, the music video has already racked up over 10 million views in just 6 hours of its release, with over 2 million likes and trending at number one in YouTube for music. Safe to say, we aren't the only ones who can't get enough of Lisa's solo baddie era!