US Government Wants will.i.am to Recruit American Students to Study in China

He’s an in-demand producer, chart-topping artist, and multimedia entrepreneur — and now will.i.am can add “cultural ambassador” to his list of job descriptions.

Responding to a request from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Black Eyed Pea has agreed to lead a benefit concert in Beijing, with the goal of encouraging more American students to study in China.

While studying may not be the first thing you think of when you think of the man partially responsible for songs like ‘My Humps,’ it wasn’t just name recognition that led the U.S. government to ask will.i.am to be a part of this project. He also runs the Peapod Foundation, a charity that benefits the youth of Los Angeles.

“Kids from underserved communities rarely have the opportunity to study and travel abroad, and we want to change that,” said the State Department in a press release. “We must make sure that American students have the cultural awareness and skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.”

The concert, which is being organized by the government in conjunction with Americans Promoting Study Abroad, is currently seeking approval from the Chinese government, with plans for a performance before the end of the year.

[PopCrush]