For the first time in 34 years, Filipino rapper Andrew E. will hold a major concert at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City on Dec. 11.

Dubbed "1 For Your Mind," Andrew's concert will be produced by Ticket1 and headed by Jonathan Wee. No further details have been shared about the highly anticipated show. But the popular Pinoy rapper recalled how Jonathan convinced him to stage his dream concert.

"Ang deciding factor talaga is the welcoming arm of Ticket1 under Jonathan Wee and his family. Yun ang nakapag-convince talaga sa akin. With their excitement, nakita ko yung mirror of excitement in their faces.

"So, for me, how can I not be captured by that? Ito lang ang nakapag-offer sa akin with all freedom to perform at a concert. It's a grand offer. Never ako na-offer ng ganito. So sa kanila ako nag-sign," Andrew said during  an interview at Okada Manila recently.

Andrew, 56, said it took him and the producer two dinners and one coffee to push through with the show.

"Marami na sa akin nag-offer na they will produce my concert. "I trust I am in good hands, and they will take care of me."

"I believe ang mga manonood dito ay yung mga taong lumaki sa mga kanta ko. Pero I think marami ang manonood na curious sa akin kung paano ba ako mag-perform sa concert," he said.

'Banyo Queen'

Andrew is a certified hitmaker. The King of Dirty Rap debuted "Humanap Ka Ng Panget" in 1990, and the hits kept coming: Wag Kang Gamol, Andrew Ford Medina, Alabang Girls, Shoot Shoot, and more.

But there's one song he wrote that has an interesting backstory.

"I wrote the song Banyo Queen at the point in my life, and I was so lonely. Hanggang ngayon ginagawa pa ring party mood song ang 'Banyo Queen.' 

"Sa sobrang saya nila, hindi nila alam na ginawa ko yung song noon sa sobrang lungkot ko. That was 1998. I was single and a nobody. I was alone in a country like Japan that needs to be entertained. Kasi malungkot din sa Japan.

"I wrote it in December. So kumakain ako that time sa Charleston and Sons na No. 1 pasta house sa Roponggi. Lumabas muna ako sa parking lot kung saan may isang old person around 75 up who was picking cardboard on the streets.

"Yung mahirap na mama na yun na Japanese, gumagawa siya ng bahay out of cardboard to keep him warm. Tinabihan ko siya at meron siyang hawak na transistor radio. 

"Then habang namumulot siya ng binuksan niya ang radyo niya. Tumugtog yung kanta na Stand By Me. So noong narinig ko yung kanta, para bang kahit na ano ang mangyari, kahit na malungkot pa, huwag kang lalayo sa akin.

"So parang ang sinasabai ng sitwasyon, yung radyo huwag syang lalayo sa old man. Tinulungan ko siya magbuhat ng cardboard and then bumalik na ako sa pasta house.

"I told myself, I will create the happiest song of my career. So ginawa ko yung song sa pasta house sa Japan. Kung papakinggan mo yung Banyo Queen, hindi mo mararamdaman yung lungkot kasi binaligtad ko na yung sitwasyon. My goal is patugtugin mo lang ang kantang ito at liligaya ka," said Andrew.

Big achievement

Andrew mentioned that he still wants to accomplish numerous things, including staging a major concert, a priority on his bucket list.

"Hanggang ngayon hind pa ako nakakatikim ng major concert. This is a big achievement for me. This means more to me than anything. 

"You will see more than my best in this concert. It's been in my pocket for three decades waiting to come out para ma-entertain sila.

My source of happiness these days is my family. That's why I continue to work hard and try to achieve more for my family."

Andrew married Mylene Espiritu in March 2000. They have three children who are also talented musicians.

A new breed of artists

Andrew shared some insights about the challenges that the new generation faces in today's world.

"I see them on TikTok and Facebook. I hear them on Spotify. In terms of style, each is his own. I don't have anything to say. I wish them good luck.

"Natutunan ko ito a long time ago. Noong wala pa ang social media, imagine mo at that time, meron lang six months (ang longevity ng artists) with the help of television and magazines, or tri-media in general. Six months lang ang tinatagal ng mga artists. Every six months nagpapalit ng mga artists. Nagpapalit ang mga Pilipino ng flavor every six months.

"Pero ngayon much faster dahil sa social media. Ngayon one week. Kapag lumapas ka ng one week, then asahan mo na kailangan mong lumapas ng one month. Kapag one month naman, dapat malampasan mo yan ng two months, six months, then one year. At kapag nalampasan mo yan ng one year, tanggap ka na ng mga Pilipino. 

"You have to battle that achievement. So good luck to everyone. And make sure na yung mga nakikinig sa'yo at yung mga nagda download sa'yo, suklian mo ng kabutihan. Bigyan mo sila ng fan-based love. Kapag hindi nila naramdaman yan, in one week, out ka na.

"Iba iba ngayon ang society. May Gen Z, Gen X, Gen Y, K-pop, J-pop, LGBTQ, may pang lalaki, pang babae, you have to capture them. If you can't capture them, you need to capture some. If you can't capture some, you must capture your main base. If you cannot capture them, return to the first one: show love for the people who appreciate you. Yun ang magtatagal sa'yo," Andrew said.

Asked for advice on achieving longevity in showbiz, Andrew replied: "Stay humble. Everybody loves a humble person."