Andrew E. back in the spotlight
While Gilas Pilipinas was doing its remarkable run at the World Cup months ago, veteran rapper Andrew E was making his sprint back to center stage.
He did this by providing the hook, anchored on the line “Singhutin Mo, Baby” for a TVC promoting Exped socks.
The TVC and the infectious song it carries were in heavy rotation during those highly- watched basketball matches, and brought back the familiar face and distinctive musical style of a rapper who created waves in the ‘90s with the hits “Humanap Ka Ng Panget,” “Andrew Ford Medina and “Wag Kang Gamol.”
Comeback project
Andrew E., now back from a four-year break, recently launched a major musical project since his 2010-released “Clubzilla” won “Album of the Year” at the PMPC (Philippine Movie Press Club) Awards. He teamed up with the company behind the Exped brand (which is also behind the household name Darlington) that helped him produce an album with the now-popular jingle.
“First time ko gumawa ng isang album na base sa direction ng isang produkto. I’ve never done this for it’s always based on a program or utos ng label. I’m thankful to have been tapped by Boss William Tan (top honcho of the Dowi Hosiery Mills which owns both Exped and Darlington).”
The album, care of Andrew’s Dongalo Wreckords and filled with club music pieces he wrote and arranged, comes with a free copy of the CD as bonus for buying P1,000 worth of Exped items.
King of double meanings
People often think the intriguing line “Singhutin Mo, Baby” a describes a less-wholesome person.
"Well it might sound and look like I am pertaining to another thing. But it's just mainly the guarantee na kahit singhutin pa natin ang medyas... guaranteed na walang amoy!" Andrew E clarifies.
The rapper, who is performing at the Fusion music festival set at MOA Concert Grounds next year, recalls that his reputation for double meanings grew by accident.
“I was a DJ in Euphoria,” he noted. “I decided to report what’s happening on the dance floor and from there came out ‘Andrew Ford Medina.’ Nakita ko na nag-click kaya gumawa ako ulit ng mga ganun. But if you look at it again, my songs are mostly wholesome in nature, like ‘Humanap Ka Ng Panget’ and ‘Ganyan.’”
Radical rapper
Andrew can now express his thoughts for the younger generation in a deeper way.
“I’m glad that ngayon ang mga rapper pwede na gumawa ng lyrics na nanggaling sa puso nila.”
As an example, he singled out the millennial rap hit “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla”
from the group Daktang Lason.
“Nakakatakot sabihin ‘yun before but that song made it sound that it’s okay.”
Forgotten friendship
If there’s one thing Andrew E feels bad about, it’s the friction arising from the way his style differs from that of his “kumpare” (godson of his eldest child Fordy), the late Francis Magalona.
“Sa mga hindi po nakakaalam,” he stated, almost with a sigh, “kami ni Francis M. ay magkumpare. Wala pang album ang kumpare ko, tinutulungan ko na siya at ang proof ay ang Christmas hip-hop record niya na ginawa namin nung 1988. That’s two years ahead before ‘Mga Kababayan’ came out.”
To prove that he and the late rapper are friends, not rivals, Andrew E stressed, “If I may be allowed to say this, hindi narerecognize ng karamihan ang mga ginawa naming collaborations ni Francis M. For some reason wala kaming chance makapagsalita about it.”
Two song collaborations fans and critics can check are “Kaligtasan” and “Saranggola Ni Pepe.”
The latter even sees Francis M. saying, “Francis M. and Andrew E. We’re best friends, you know what I’m saying.”
