After more than three years, BLACKPINK officially returns with their mini album Expirationone of the most anticipated K-pop comebacks of the year. While the group impressed listeners with a more mature concept and bolder sonic direction, fans quickly turned their attention to a familiar problem: the unequal amount of singing and rapping parts given to each member. Within hours of release, BLINK began dissecting every second of their vocals and rapping, sparking divided reactions on social media.
Based on fan-gathered data from YouTube sources, the gap in row distribution appears wider this time than in several previous returns.
On the track “JUMP,” Jennie led with 32.2 seconds, followed by Rosé with 23.2 seconds, Lisa with 22.5 seconds and Jisoo with 20.6 seconds. The difference was noticeable but not drastic, and initial reactions remained relatively calm.
However, tensions increased after the release of the full album. ON “GO,” Jennie once again topped the leaderboard with 35.73 seconds, Rosé followed with 30.87 seconds, while Lisa had 16.33 seconds and Jisoo just 14.23 seconds, making the disparity more glaring.
The most talked about track, however, is “Me and mine.” Lisa commands about 54.7 seconds of the song, nearly half of its total length. In contrast, Jennie has 22.9 seconds, while both Jisoo and Rosé only appear for 9.6 seconds each. Many fans pointed out that the two lead singers seemed reduced to brief highlights rather than central performers.
The spotlight shifts again “Fxxxboy,” where Rosé takes the lead with 57.6 seconds, ahead of Jennie (40.1 seconds), Lisa (31.2 seconds) and Jisoo (29 seconds). Looking at the album as a whole, it seems like Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa rotate the main spotlight depending on the track, while Jisoo often ranks near the back of the queue in total time.
It’s no surprise that Jisoo has become the most talked about member The deadline publication. On various K-pop forums, some fans argue that he feels relatively “invisible”. In some songs, his total lines amount to less than half of the member with the most parts, prompting questions about the structure of the song and the assignment of roles within the album.
Some supporters believe that Jisoo’s deeper vocal tone may not have been fully utilized, especially since then Expiration leans heavily into the modern electronic pop and hip-hop genres often considered strong points for Jennie and Lisa. Meanwhile, Rosé’s emotional high notes naturally secure her more parts in vocal-driven songs.
Others defend the distribution, arguing that screen time and voice seconds don’t necessarily equate to importance. Jisoo often handles mood transitions or key visual moments in music videos, which can have a significant impact beyond just counting lines.
The debate over the unequal spotlight is not new to BLACKPINK. Throughout their careers, Jennie and Lisa have typically held strong positions in rapping and stage presence, Rosé anchoring the group vocally, and Jisoo contributing a distinctive tone and visual identity. Some netizens support this Expiration it simply reflects each member’s strengths rather than favoritism.
However, when one member sings nearly half a song while another appears for less than 10 seconds, controversy is almost inevitable. With expectations skyrocketing after the group’s long hiatus as a full quartet, the question of line distribution has once again fueled internal fan debates.
Despite the negative reaction, Expiration continues to demonstrate BLACKPINK’s global power. The album quickly topped international digital charts and generated huge buzz online. It also set a new milestone on Hanteo, selling 1,448,380 copies on the first day, making BLACKPINK the girl group with the highest first-day sales in Hanteo history.
Sources: K14
