After more than three years, BLACKPINK officially returned with their mini album Deadline, one of the most highly 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 issue: the unequal amount of singing and rap parts given to each member. Within hours of release, BLINKs began analyzing every second of vocals and rap, sparking divided reactions across social media.
Based on fan-compiled data from YouTube sources, the gap in line distribution this time appears wider than in several previous comebacks.
In the track “JUMP,” Jennie led with 32.2 seconds, followed by Rosé with 23.2 seconds, Lisa with 22.5 seconds, and Jisoo at 20.6 seconds. The difference was noticeable but not drastic, and early reactions remained relatively calm.
However, tensions escalated after the full album dropped. On “GO,” Jennie once again topped the chart 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 apparent.
The most talked-about track, however, is “Me And My.” Lisa commands approximately 54.7 seconds of the song nearly half of its total runtime. In contrast, Jennie has 22.9 seconds, while both Jisoo and Rosé appear for only 9.6 seconds each. Many fans pointed out that the two main vocalists seemed reduced to brief highlights rather than central performers.
The spotlight shifts again in “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 overall, it appears that Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa rotate the main spotlight depending on the track, while Jisoo frequently ranks near the bottom in total line time.
Unsurprisingly, Jisoo has become the most discussed member following Deadline’s release. On various K-pop forums, some fans argue that she feels comparatively “invisible.” In certain tracks, her total lines amount to less than half of the member with the most parts, prompting questions about song structure and role allocation within the album.
Some supporters believe Jisoo’s deeper vocal tone may not have been fully utilized, especially since Deadline leans heavily into modern electronic pop and hip-hop genres often considered strengths for Jennie and Lisa. Meanwhile, Rosé’s emotive high notes naturally secure her more parts in vocally driven tracks.
Others defend the distribution, arguing that screen time and vocal seconds do not necessarily equate to importance. Jisoo often handles mood transitions or key visual moments in music videos, which can carry significant impact beyond raw line count.
The debate over unequal spotlight is not new for BLACKPINK. Throughout their career, Jennie and Lisa have typically held strong positions in rap and stage presence, Rosé has anchored the group vocally, and Jisoo has contributed a distinctive tone and visual identity. Some netizens argue that Deadline simply reflects each member’s strengths rather than favoritism.
Still, when one member sings nearly half a song while another appears for under 10 seconds, controversy is almost inevitable. With expectations sky-high following the group’s long hiatus as a full quartet, the issue of line distribution has once again fueled internal fan debates.
Despite the backlash, Deadline continues to prove BLACKPINK’s global power. The album rapidly climbed international digital charts and generated massive online buzz. It also set a new milestone on Hanteo, selling 1,448,380 copies on its first day making BLACKPINK the girl group with the highest first-day sales in Hanteo history.
Sources: K14