K-Pop Double Take is a weekly review column highlighting recent releases that have yet to receive the attention we feel they deserve.
CL has a message for her American fans--hello bitches.
On the 2NE1 vocalist's US debut (officially referred to as a "pre-release street single" as it's in both Korean and English) released Nov. 21, CL sets her sights on her competition across the Pacific. The result is a a warning shot across the bow of Western popular music. Having recently signed with Psy and Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun, CL is clearly looking to crossover in ways that other Asian acts haven't been able to.
The first hint that "Hello Bitches" is meant to gun for universal appeal is the production, which is, in a word, humongous. The machine gun triplets and regal synths heavily recall the work of American beatmaker Lex Luger, whose production on tracks like "H.A.M." by Kanye West and Jay Z has become the gold standard for door-kicking aggression.
"Hello Bitches" is the creation of Teddy Park, a veteran of Korea's rap scene and the mastermind behind the music on 2NE1's self-titled first EP in 2009. CL and Teddy's take on Lex Luger is arguably as strong as Lex's take on Lex Luger. It's a gauntlet-throwing provocation, and it works.
The lyrics criss-cross between Korean and English, with global references thrown in for good measure. CL seems to be globe-trotting throughout the whole song, making casual mentions of Dubai, Macau, and Tokyo.
"Someone's gonna stop me?" she asks. "Who?"
By singing in English and Korean, but seeming to touch down on every continent in between, CL is positioning herself as a truely global phenomenon. If she's going to make a run at American audiences, why stop there? She's clearly looking for fame that transcends national borders.
"Got these Asian girls dancing on the couches," CL sneers. "And they singing every word like they was at the karaoke."
The suggestion that 2NE1's frontwoman has other people singing her song, whatever the language may be, displays more than just confidence. The goal seems to be something much more massive almost like mind control, in a way.
While she might have to sharpen her sword to take on the lyrical dexterity of someone like, say, Nicki Minaj, CL's "Hello Bitches" lets the world know that there is a new contender for the crown.
Watch the music video for CL's debut US single "Hello Bitches" RIGHT HERE
Jeff Tobias is a composer, musician and writer currently living in Brooklyn, New York. As of late, he has been studying arcane systems of tuning and working on his jump shot.
