K-Pop Crossover: Diplo Compares 2NE1's CL To Nicki Minaj

Although 2NE1 frontwoman Lee "CL" Chaerin did not make the cover of Time magazine, her name appeared in a recent interview thanks to American producer Diplo.

Last Wednesday, the magazine spoke with Diplo on his collaborations with pop stars like Justin and Madonna, and the 2NE1 rapper's name came up as one of his "most buzzed-about collaborators."

"K-pop is a weird term because K-pop has everything—rap records, it's very pop-sounding, there are really boy-band sounding records," said the 36-year-old DJ-producer.

"It's going to be [labeled] K-pop because she's doing it, so it's going to be coming from another place and there's going to be Korean lyrics. But for the most part it's eclectic. She's very rap-leaning, she's very fashion forward. She's like the Nicki Minaj of that world."

This is not the first time CL and Nicki Minaj have been linked together. Both 2NE1 and Minaj were featured in a global Adidas compaign in 2012. CL and Minaj also became friendly while attending New York Fashion Week the year after.

Earlier this month, CL released the music video to her collaboration single with Diplo, OG Maco and RiFF RAFF titled "Doctor Pepper." Originally released on May 22, "Doctor Pepper" was reportedly inspired by tension between Diplo and CL after the former missed a recording session.

"Diplo canceled a session on me and I was so mad at him," said CL to The Fader. "I was drinking a can of Doctor Pepper and wrote the song so I could go home as soon as possible. Diplo ended up loving it."

Diplo also previewed two songs he worked on with CL for her solo effort. One is called "Birthday" and includes Korean verses. The other, "One," is described as "real pop, teenage-graduation kind of fun kid record."

Earlier in the month, CL's Korean record label YG Entertainment confirmed that the rapper would film two music videos in August, signaling that her debut is inching closer and closer.

According to Billboard, the plan is for CL to release an EP through Diplo's record label Mad Decent, with a full-length album to follow.

Tags
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics