CL’s Next Steps - Pollstar News

Lee “CL” Chaerin is the main rapper in the Korean girl group 2NE1, and in recent months has been prepping for a solo debut in the United States with the release of an album specifically for the American market.

Photo: facebook.com/ItsLeeChaerin?

Lee Chae Rin

To that end she appeared at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami the weekend of March 28 alongside artists such asP. Diddy, Skrillex and Justin Bieber.

CL had already collaborated with Skrillex on the latter’s single, “Dirty Vibe,” and the American DJ-producer has had a hand in her debut album along with Diplo. Back in Korea, however, CL’s solo activities have made fans anxious about the fate of 2NE1, which has been in limbo. Kpop fansite KpopStarz says that once her album is released, CL will rejoin 2NE1, which will resume activities “in the second half of the year.”

CL has already renewed her management contract with YG Entertainment, even before the other members of the group. All current contracts are valid until 2016, and it’s assumed that CL took the unusual move to “secure her solo activities,” which were planned by YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk, who has envisioned CL as an overseas artist ever since she joined the company years ago.