KPOP: 10월 2011

K-Pop girl group 2NE1 haven’t even released a full-length studio album in Korea yet, but they’re already making plans to launch in America with the help of Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am.
Yang HyunSuk, the CEO of the girls label YG Entertainment, has announcedthat the group have been working with Will.i.am for a few months now, and recently recorded ten English-language songs with the producer over in Los Angeles and London.

“Through a close acquaintance we were given a chance to show Will.I.Am 2NE1′s music video and after seeing it, he said he wanted to produce for the girls’ American debut,” Yang HyunSuk said.

Don’t expect to see 2NE1 Stateside anytime soon, though. The girls won’t be hitting US shores until 2011, as they’re currently focused on the release of their first official studio album To Anyone (due September 9) in Korea, as well as expanding into Japan.

“Will.I.Am will be busy for his concert tour and Black Eyed Peas’ upcoming new album, therefore the debut will probably not happen within this year.”
“We will stay away from the idea of 2NE1 promoting long term and staying in America. The girls have received a lot of love from fans in Korea and we will not have 2NE1 neglect their activities in Korea,” Yang HyunSuk said.
“2NE1 will also be debuting in Japan next year,” Yang HyunSuk revealed. “Hence, we will need to come up with a plan for the girls to be able to promote at the same time in 3 countries.”

Great news for 2NE1 and K-Pop fans alike, but it seems that Yang HyunSuk has learned nothing from previous Korean acts who have tried to crack the States. BoA and Se7en were both complete commercial failures, and the epic Wonder Girls had to go on a huge tour with the Jonas Brothers and perform on the Wendy Williams show just to get their infectious hit “Nobody” to spend one solitary week on the Hot 100 at #76. If an Asian act is going to really conquer the States, then they’re going to need to focus 100% of their energies into the American market.
With Yang’s current plan, 2NE1 could flop, but it’ll still be great to get an English-language K-Pop album released internationally, so I won’t complain. Hopefully the girls focus all their energies on the international market for a while, because that’s the only way they will achieve true success.
If you’re unfamiliar with 2NE1, you can check out their completely bizarre hit “Follow Me” below.