A hip hop track with hyperpop beats, it was written by Lisa, Brittany Amaradio, James Essien, Lucy Healey, Ryan Tedder and Sam Homaee while production was handled by the latter two.

The cyberpunk-themed video pays homage to Thai culture and features various locations in Bangkok including Yaowarat Road, which caused a surge in tourist activity in the region.

To promote the single, Lisa performed at the MTV Video Music Awards, the Global Citizen Festival and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Lisa departed from her label YG Entertainment for solo activities in December 2023 and subsequently established her own artist management company called Lloud in February 2024.

[5] Lisa posted a second TikTok video a week later of herself posing for photos on the beach in a white baby tee and black miniskirt while an instrumental track titled "Teaser" played over it.

[7][8] The song marked Lisa's first release under Lloud and RCA Records since her departure from YG Entertainment, and precedes her upcoming debut studio album.

[16] Lyrically, the song sees Lisa boastfully reaffirming her power as a rockstar, which she defined to Rolling Stone as "a globally known person who has a unique style, someone who is confident and ready to show it to the world.

Puah Ziwei of NME scored "Rockstar" three out of five stars, noting that while the track's "braggadocious" lyrics were "as played out as can be", Lisa's unique magnetism "elevat[ed] it beyond any of her solo work thus far".

[21] Similarly, Derrick Tan of Lifestyle Asia lauded the song as a "dance spectacle backed by an addictive bass" while noting the lyrics were not very poetic.

[14] IZM's Park Soojin criticized the monotony of the song's sound composition but praised "Rockstar" for its charm and synergy when combined with Lisa's performance.

[23] Writing for Elle India, Ekta Sinha named "Rockstar" the 10th best K-pop song of the year and Lisa’s best solo effort yet, describing it as an "exuberant tune" similar to her single album Lalisa with an added level of charisma.

[24] "Rockstar" debuted at number four on the Billboard Global 200 chart dated July 13, 2024, becoming Lisa's third top-ten hit after her 2021 singles "Lalisa" and "Money".

[48] Lisa reportedly paid ฿20,000 (US$540) to each shop owner on Yaowarat Road to close early in order to facilitate the shooting of the music video.

[51] The music video's aesthetic was described as "cyberpunk grunge", with the neon-lit streets of the Yaowarat district mirroring futuristic visuals typically associated with Japan.

[20][47] It begins with Lisa standing solo in the center of the brightly-lit street while wearing a "criss-cross bra top, star-shaped earrings, and black moto bottoms styled with layers of silver-stud belts."

She then switches scenes to a room with orange walls backdropped by dozens of dancers, now wearing a graphic black-and-white halter top with baggy jeans from Dion Lee’s fall 2024 runway show.

The video transitions back to the streets of Bangkok for the chorus, where Lisa dances in low-rise bottoms with a star-shaped black bandeau top, with shimmery eye makeup and blue streaks in her hair.

For the song's bridge and ending, Lisa debuts a new futuristic look from Dawei Studio and performs high-energy choreography while wearing a "silver foil corset top and matching parachute pants" in a monochrome white room.

Prathet Tankuranun, the chief technology officer at True Corporation, reported that the number of mobile users in the area increased by 15% compared to a week before the song was released.

[62] Music critics argued that "Rockstar" solidified "Lisa's status as an iconic figure in Thailand" through her embracing her image as a Thai singer.

By working with local production teams and staff for her music video, she showcased her Thai roots and set a guidepost for other K-pop stars on how to pursue successful solo careers by using authenticity to their advantage.

Her release of sped-up and slowed-down versions of "Rockstar" was also seen as keeping with international musical trends, making it easier for DJs to use them in remixes at clubs and parties.