2NE1 exclusive portrait.
Last year it was announced that will.i.am and 2NE1 would team up. Rumors and reports swirled that the Black Eyed Peas frontman would produce the K-pop girl group's English debut album. (It was also reported that the foursome would be featured on Will's "#willpower" solo album.)
To date, the only fruits of the teaming was a clip of their collaboration track "Take The World On" used in a commercial for Intel.
Today, the full version of "Take The World On" comes to light possibly indicating what can be expected from the East meets West partnership.
The song is a spacey, progressive house record that sees will.i.am stepping up his usual minimal dance approach. The girls each take section with their vocals being altered at different times. While Wonder Girls saw their vocals heavily autotuned on their Akon collaboration "Like Money," most likely to hide any mispronunciations, the altered vocals on this house song feel appropriate.
Hey, if Britney Spears can do it on "Scream & Shout" why can't 2NE1 do it on their will.i.am collab?
Billboard talked to 2NE1's leader, CL, who said it was likely the song her group recorded with will.i.am for "#willpower" will make the final tracklisting. There is no word on whether "Take On The World" will make the cut.