LISA attending Bulgari Studio in March 2024Cares
By Weidy Sosa
Full of hype beat songs and confidence, Alter Ego (RCA Records) is the debut hip-hop/pop solo album by Thai singer and rapper Lalisa Manoban, whose stage name is LISA. Primarily known as a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, LISA—like the other band members—has embarked on a solo career despite the group not officially disbanding. A blend of hip-hop and electropop, with some trap influences, Alter Ego celebrates LISA’s newfound freedom, reflects on her influence on K-pop industry, and her identity as an independent “new woman.” While Alter Ego is where LISA declares her independence from the K-pop industry, it heavily relies on its featured artists- -Doja Cat, RAYE, Future, Megan Thee Stallion, and Tyla-- as most of her solo tracks are forgettable.
For example, the leading track in the album, “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, reflects on leaving an old relationship due to her partner’s lack of effort. The song’s intro opens with a single piano key playing accompanied by LISA’s vocals, effectively introducing the religious and sexual themes that are explored, with lyrics such as: “I could've made you pray to / Jesus / Would've showed you to the / light (To the light) / Every single night,” which promises her partner they will nd enlightenment in intimacy with LISA. Overall, the instrumentals of the song are on the simple side, and its upbeat nature complements the empowering tone of the song. However, the excellence of the song is largely due to RAYE, whose vocal performance significantly elevates the piece. While primarily serving as a background singer, her distinctive tonal quality and emotional delivery added depth and resonance, which allowed for the vocals of the three artists to fuse seamlessly, giving the song a heavenly melody. These attributes set this song apart from others in the album and set unrealistic expectations for the rest of the album, as the following songs are not as unique.
The second track on the album, “Rockstar,” follows her signature style— fast-paced, with loud bass--and features her rapping. It is one of the five songs on the album that explores her alter egos, each of which is represented by a different musical style. These personae include a sweet romantic, a Y2K aesthetic and internet obsession, and a “baddie” with a villainous persona. “Rockstar” fits the album’s theme of confidence and empowerment with lyrics like “It's not hype, hype, baby, I'm a rockstar” and the “Every city that I go is my city,” all complemented by the prominent bass. LISA also references key moments that led to her fame, like saying, “Make your favorite singer wanna rap.” Alluding to a 2019 Coachella BLACKPINK performance of the song “WHISTLE,” where many referred to her as “the ponytail rapper,” which made the group skyrocket in fame. She also references her association with luxury brands, saying “Tight dress, LV sent it” meaning Louis Vuitton, a brand she is frequently seen wearing.
A handful of the songs follow a similar recipe, like “Elastigirl,” referencing Pixar’s fictional superhero from the film The Incredibles. In this track, LISA highlights her aesthetic flexibility accompanied by a beat that consists of –once again– a strong bass and drum combo, some percussion aspects, background vocals, and special effects. Continuing the energy, “Lifestyle” is a song about being free, unapologetically yourself, and LISA flaunting her success. With a repeating fast beat the song is reminiscent of trap. “FXCK UP THE WORLD” ft. Future also follows a similar theme, where LISA tells off her haters in what is arguably the most ‘hip-hop’ track in the album, full of special effects, and a jumpy melody.
Alter Ego was LISA’s chance to redefine her identity but instead she keeps performing the tough girl persona that she played in BLACKPINK. Many of the songs in the album are generic Hip-hop songs filled with cliché mottos said by renowned hip-hop artists like, “They want the old LISA, then listen to my old shit” as she sings in “FXCK UP THE WORLD.” Statements like this are usually made by artists with extensive discographies, but she doesn’t have one. One could argue that her BLACKPINK days count, but that keeps her tethered to the group she’s clearly trying to build a persona away from.
