K-pop fans, buckle up … BLACKPINK’s Jennie dropped her new single “Extra L” featuring Grammy-winning rapper Deutsche on February 21, 2025, and the internet is going crazy. Why?
There’s one verse in the song that has fans everywhere whispering, “This is for my girls with no sponsors; they have their own funding.” Could Jennie have dropped a subtle reference to NJZ (formerly known as NewJeans) amid all the drama she’s been going through with ADOR and HYBE? amongst the turmoil she’s been experiencing with HYBE and ADOR? I’ll go into the specifics, fan responses, and the significance of this.
The third single from Jennie’s first solo album, Ruby, which will be released on March 7, 2025, is “Extra L,” which perfectly combines her pop charm with Deutsche’s hip-hop taste.But trust me, it’s those lyrics that have me and apparently half the K-pop world entirely on my mind.
NJZ, who renamed themselves after cutting ties with ADOR in November 2024, are currently in a heated legal battle. Their parents have publicly criticized HYBE’s Bang Si Hyuk for alleged interference, and they currently operate independently, funding their own projects. So, when Jennie sings about “girls without sponsors,” it feels like she’s taking a direct, subtle look at NJZ’s situation. Coincidence? I’m not sure.
On X, the responses were raging. asking, “Did BLACKPINK’s Jennie give a nod to NJZ (NewJeans) in her new song?” The comments were insane. One fan .
@BLINKNJZStan said, “NJZ nod Jennie, you love our girls” with a bunch of heart emojis. As another user.
pointed out, “The dance in ‘Extra L’ vaguely reminds me of an old NewJeans video—Jennie is definitely expressing her love!” Another joked, “Jennie knew she had to honor her independent daughters NJZ, wait…” It’s all a fun and exciting mess to watch develop.
This isn’t the first time Jennie has shown support for NJZ either. I remember their sweet moment at 2NE1’s concert last year—fans were going crazy over how sweet she was.
And with NJZ set to headline ComplexCon Hong Kong in March 2025 under their new name, Jennie’s timing seems like a strong move. It’s like she’s quietly cheering them on as they fight for independence. Sites like Times Now and Koreaboo have also picked up on the story, and fans are eating it up with enthusiasm.
Of course, we don’t know for sure if this is a deliberate reference . Jennie hasn’t said anything yet. But that hasn’t stopped fans from dreaming big. “I need a Jennie x NJZ collab like yesterday,” one X user asked, and seriously, the same goes for me.
Whether it’s intentional or just a happy coincidence, “Extra L” has already become legendary for generating this much hype.
What do you think am I reading too much into it, or is this a K-pop bro moment we’ll talk about for years to come? Let me know!
