As from late June to early July, 2NE1 is planning to head on over to America! The rookies, along with their YG producers, will be in Los Angeles, California, working on their next album with producers from the legendary Interscope Records. Interscope Records is one of the top entertainment companies in the United States, boasting big-name artists such as Dr. Dre, the Pussycat Dolls, the Black Eyed Peas, and Lady Gaga.

Interscope's chairman, Jimmy Iovine, recently showed his admiration for 2NE1, and apparently shares a good friendship with Yang Hyun Suk, founder of YG Entertainment. The two have been exchanging music ideas and are apparently starting to collaborate, with 2NE1 hoping to churn out hits akin to Interscope's other hip-hop acts. This collision of cultures is undoubtedly intriguing, but just to clear up any misunderstanding, 2NE1 is only working on their album - not promoting themselves in the US.

But who knows where this collaboration of companies may lead (along with other Korea-US joint projects like the Wonder Girls & The Jonas Brothers)? The potential is endless. DBSK & Justin Timberlake? Lee Hyori & Beyonce? Epik High & Kanye?

I'm just happy that the US music industry's first close interaction with a Korean artist isn't a SHINee or SNSD type group (even though I'm a fan of them), as their concepts don't really blend with the American music atmosphere, and would only lead to cultural confusion and a bad US impression of the Korean music industry. Start off with an image like 2NE1, lessen the culture shock, and ease American music powers into our world of K-Pop. That seems like the safest and least chaotic course of action, which will lead to less inane arguments about the merits of Xiah Junsu and Justin Timberlake, and more collaborations like the one YG and Interscope have planned.

credits: allkpop + together2ne1