Filipino rap icon Andrew E. is now in preparation for his much-anticipated comeback concert after an incredible 34-year wait.

"We are on the verge of brainstorming. Right now, we are trying to complete the team (for my concert). We are currently injecting the ideas properly and listening to suggestions of our team if there are any," said Andrew E. when asked about preparations for his much-awaited concert, at a recent grand press conference at Okada Manila.

Thirty-four years on, Andrew E expressed gratitude for remaining relevant in the entertainment industry.

“‘Tinatanong nila ako, Andrew, anong pakiramdam mo na hanggang ngayon, may nakakakilala pa rin sa iyo? Thirty-four years ka na sa industry. Yung mga kanta mo, hindi naman plinay sa radio," the Pinoy rapper said. 

(They ask me, Andrew, how do you feel that even now, someone still knows you? You have been in the industry for thirty-four years. Your songs are not played on the radio.)

Andrew E. added: “Tama. May point siya. Tapos wala ka namang teleserye. Tama rin siya. Wala ka namang noontime show na kasama ka and, you know, every day napapanood ng mga tao."

(That's right. He has a point. You don't have a teleserye. He was right, too. You don't have a noontime show with you, and, you know, people watch it every day.)

“Tama rin siya. Pero how come, Andrew, people still know you? Yung mga matanda, yung mga bata, at yung mas bata-bata pa. Isa lang po ang isinagot ko, Alam niyo kung bakit? Sabi ko, kasi, sa sobrang ordinaryong hitsura ko, the whole Philippines is loyal to me."

(He's right, too. But how come, Andrew, people still know you? The old, the children, and the younger ones. I only answered one thing: do you happen to know why? I said because I look so ordinary, the Philippines is loyal to me.)

“They are so loyal to me. Kasi, sa mga kanta ko, feeling nila, hindi ko sila iniwan. Along the way, lumalaki sila, pinapatugtog pa rin nila ang mga kanta ko. So ang feeling nila, para nila akong kapatid.

(They are so loyal to me. Because, with my songs, they feel, I never left them. Along the way, as they grow up, they still play my songs. So they feel like I'm their brother.)

“Para nila akong kapitbahay. Para nila akong kamag-anak. Na lumalaki sila, kasama nila ako. So, nung tumanda sila, nung lumaki sila, still they appreciate me. And plus, ini-introduce naman nila ako sa mga bata, yung mga anak nila, mga pamangkin nila, you know.

(I am like their neighbor. I am like a relative to them. That they are growing up with me. So, when they got older, when they grew up, they still appreciated me. And, they introduced me to the children, their children, their nephews, you know.)

Ticket sales

Andrew E., 57, is set to stage a major concert called "1 For Your Mind" at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City on Dec. 11. The show will be produced by Ticket1 and headed by Jonathan Wee. Tickets are selling fast.

"We are happy with the mood and the groove of the ticket sales. Hindi natin maaalis na may timing ang mga Pilipino sa pagbili ng tickets. Ang mabilis gumalaw yung mga matataas na level ng tickets," he said.

Andrew E. mentioned that he finds it special when his fans post photos of their tickets on social media."

This is something new to me. Kasi noon kapag bumili ka ng (concert) ticket mo, itatago mo lang. Now nakikita mo na ang reception ng tao once they bought tickets. Pino-post nila at tina-tag nila ako. I feel so happy. Doon pa lang panalo na ako."

Special treat to fans

The "Aussie, Aussie (O Sige)" singer said that the concert was also special to him because of his three children who will perform during the show.

“My kids are gonna perform together with me, and that’s a very beautiful treat for everyone. Kasi, ipapakita namin dito iyong talent ng mga anak ko na hindi gaanong nakikita pa ng mga tao, and siguro kagugulatan nila because one of my kids happens to be just like 12 years old. Pero kung mag-rap, mas magaling pa sa akin. So, that’s a treat. That’s a treat for everyone. And 100 percent, it’s gonna have some good fun for the entertaining crowd," said Andrew E., who is married to Mylene Espiritu.

On his advice to his kids pursuing showbiz, Andrew E. said: "Wala naman silang high-end hopes in what they're doing. Hindi naman sila katulad ko na, 'Someday, somehow gusto kong maging sikat na rapper,.' Wala naman silang ganun."

He added: "They just want to do it on their own. They're just happy (doing it). They have a passion for rapping kasi doon sila liumaki sa akin at yun din ang pinalaki ko sa kanila. So siguro nagugustuhan nila yung ganun klaseng music. Nahawa na sila sa akin day and night kapag may practice ako sa bahay. Along the way I didn't know they have that kind of talent too."

New music

Andrew E. 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.

The last single released by Andrew E. was "Masa Rap Si" in 2022 available on Spotify. The rapper said he is scheduled to release another song this year."Namimili na lang ako ng buwan. It's called 'Senyorita.' Pag narinig ng mga tao ito, sasabihin nila double meaning na naman.Yes! Doon na kasi ako nakilala, Maybe it will come our around this time," he added.

Reacting to the current music scene, Andrew E. said: "Very abundant ang music scene natin. Energetic sila in terms of inspiring other people. They have a good community. And I'm hoping na makagawa rin sila ng mga songs for the masa. Kasi yung hip-hop community, ang ginagawa lang nilang (songs) are for their community. So sila ang may appreciation nun. Hindi pa sila lumalabas doon sa outside community para ma-appreciate sila ng mga tao na hindi mahilig sa hip-hop. Yun ang aking assessment. So I challenge them na gumawa ng kanta that will cater to other people who do not appreciate rap. I've been doing that."

(Our music scene is very abundant. They are energetic in terms of inspiring other people. They have a good community. And I'm hoping that they can also make songs for the masses. The hip-hop community does songs for their community. So, they don't go out to be appreciated by people who don't like hip-hop. So, I challenge them to do a song that will cater to other people who don't appreciate rap. I've been doing that.)

Gawad Amerika 2024

Andrew E. will also receive the 2024 Philippine Rap Icon from Gawad Amerika 2024 which will be held at the Beverly Garland Hotel in North Hollywood, California, USA on Nov. 23.

z"Hopefully, I can go there and receive the award. So yon, then, inasmuch inano ko sa social media, na prino-nounce ko na merong imbitasyon sa akin for that kind of award-giving body," said the OPM icon, when asked if he would attend the event. 

“Yeah, yeah. Hopefully, yeah. Kasi unang-una, nagtayo po ako ng US company sa Amerika, in L.A., sa Glendale."