Background: From Cosmetic Mogul to Musical Novice
Kylie Jenner has long been a dominant name in beauty and social media, but she has never before officially released a song — until now. Over the years, speculation swirled that she was the enigmatic vocalist behind Terror Jr’s 2016 track “3 Strikes,” used in a Kylie Cosmetics ad campaign. Though she denied involvement at the time, those rumors now appear to have served as a springboard to her true musical entry. Jenner’s “King Kylie” persona, popular during her early social-media years (roughly 2014–2016), is being resurrected as part of this debut.
Additionally, the song release is timed with the 10th anniversary of Kylie Cosmetics. A companion “King Kylie” collection is slated to launch on October 18, offering a nostalgic nod to her earlier brand era.
Details: The Debut, The Teaser, The Sound
“Fourth Strike” premiered via Jenner’s official YouTube and streaming platforms on the evening of October 13. The announcement had been teased earlier via her Instagram, where she shared the cover art and behind-the-scenes studio visuals. In her post, Jenner wrote:
“AHHHHHH!!!!!! FOURTH STRIKE!!! terror jr ft KING KYLIE!!!!! OUT NOW EVERYWHERE! … there was a little rumor 10 years ago that I was the one actually singing on 3 strikes! it wasn’t me (wish it was) so I had the idea to come together for fourth strike and it would actually be ME FEATURED!”
On the track, Terror Jr handle the first two verses and refrain, while Jenner joins on the bridge with breathy, whisperlike vocals and even rapping. Her final line in the song’s bridge remixes in a whisper: “King Kylie.” The single also features in a new Kylie Cosmetics promotional film titled “Glosses Part 2: King Kylie Returns.”
Musically, “Fourth Strike” leans into electro-pop with minimal instrumentation, giving space to vocals processed with effects. While the production is crisp and modern, much of the critical discourse centers on the level of vocal processing.
 |
| Terror Jr & King Kylie - Fourth Strike (Image source: YouTube) |
Reactions: Mixed Buzz on Social Media
Fan response has been immediate and starkly divided.
On the positive side, some celebrated Jenner’s bold step into music:
> “OMG!!!!! Beautiful voice!!! KING KYLIE IS BACK,” one fan wrote.
> Terror Jr themselves responded in the comments to Jenner’s Instagram post, saying, “Thanks for creating this with us. You sound so good on it!!”
But criticism has been vocal as well, particularly around the use of autotune and whether her vocals match the hype:
> On X (formerly Twitter): “How embarrassing King Autotune.”
> Another comment: “The vocals in the song are somehow much worse than I expected. Not even auto tune could save her.”
> On Reddit and forums, listeners have described the vocal production as “overprocessed,” while some urged her to stick to her cosmetics business.
> One harsh reaction published in Page Six said, “Please unrelease this.”
Critics have also noted the context: Jenner’s standing as a media personality and billionaire beauty mogul invites skepticism when she ventures into art forms outside her established domain.
Analysis & Impact: What This Means for Kylie (and the Industry)
Jenner’s leap into music is strategically tethered to her brand power. Rather than building from first principles, she is leveraging nostalgia (the King Kylie era) and existing hype to co-launch music and beauty together. The cross-promotion with her cosmetics line suggests this is as much marketing as it is artistry.
From a critical standpoint, some argue that the move underscores a growing trend: non-traditional artists entering the music space via social capital. But such ventures often invite harsher scrutiny, especially in vocal performance terms, as listeners compare against seasoned singers and vocalists.
Commercially, success will depend on streaming traction and listener retention rather than chart highs out of the gate. As of now, there is no public chart data confirming “Fourth Strike” placements on Billboard, Spotify, or Apple Music. But with Jenner’s platform, it’s likely the track will at least register in pop and viral playlists.
If “Fourth Strike” draws substantial streaming numbers or playlist momentum, it could validate future musical projects for Jenner. If not, it may be remembered as a momentary experiment. But either outcome could influence how artist launches are engineered in the era of celebrity crossovers.
Closing: What’s Next for King Kylie
For now, Jenner has stated only what’s already public: the King Kylie cosmetics collection drops October 18, continuing the visual era she’s reviving. As for further music, neither Jenner nor her team have confirmed follow-up singles, an album, or a tour.
That said, launching a musical identity at this moment is fertile territory: collaborations, remixes, or features might follow, especially if “Fourth Strike” gains momentum. If nothing else, the release marks a turning point — Kylie Jenner isn’t expecting to just be a face in music promotions anymore. She’s officially staking a claim as an artist.
Social Plugin