No other rapper in local showbiz history has had a career as enduring or as successful as Andrew E’s. Purists will protest that he is not really a true blue rapper. Admittedly he did diversify and went into other things like becoming a comedian in the movies. His rap is really a novelty sort anchored on albums like Bastos Daw! and double entendre lyrics like Mali Vodka. He also seldom, if ever went into social commentary, which is what rap music is supposed to do.
Still it is a fact that Andrew has had a lot of blockbusters at the box-office and played leading man to the likes of Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano. He still fires up gigs with his energetic performances and has made and continues to record a lot of hits. Most recent was Ikaw (Humanap Ka ng Panget Part 2), a rehash of his big selling debut, which is included in the album Clean, which also produced the hit Mali Vodka. And he has been in this game for nearly 20 years.
It also cannot be denied that his contributions to the development and I must say existence of the rap genre hereabouts cannot be underestimated. Andrew takes aspiring rappers under his wing, launches their careers and then provides them with exposure.
However, marriage and the birth of two kids have prompted Andrew to further diversify in his lifestyle. So aside from his usual stints as an entertainer, he now has his own clothing line, Dongalo sportswear and he has also put up his own radio station. And because, he is Andrew, whose way of thinking is as quick and as unique as his rap, his radio station is not your usual one.
I do not know if it can be called Filipino radio because the broadcast emanates from Holland, but the truth is Andrew E has actually brought Internet radio to the Philippines. You will not find it on your radio dial. To listen in, what you have to do is go on the Net and then search for Dongalo Power Radio. Click it on and you get the broadcast of the first and only Internet radio in the country.
An all-music station, Dongalo radio is beamed live with Europe’s 3.5 Terabyte Streaming Technology. That means more bytes than many of us can ever imagine. It is currently on the web eight hours a day but will soon go into 24 hours.
As can only be expected with Andrew at the helm, Dongalo Power Radio plays lots of rap and hip-hop. Take a look at the site’s list of most requested tunes: Master by MCM Dakila; Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang by Gagong Rapper Krew; Hip Hop ang Hilig Ko by A-syan; Sino Ba? By Sawaku; Ikembot Mo by MYFP; Sexy Mama by Janno Gibbs featuring Andrew E; and Pabulusok by Khen Magat feat. Cruzzito Uno.
Incidentally, Andrew himself goes on board every Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. To listen on-line, go to Dongalo Power Radio. Call +63906-978-6180 if you want to put in your requests.
A website for OPM
Still on local music in the Net. Now in operation is Musiklokal.com, a website dedicated to promoting Original Pilipino Music (OPM) on-line, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The site’s keywords are accessibility and diversity. Accessibility because it seeks to make music accessible to all. That means easy access for the web surfer, the industry player or just anybody from everywhere who is interested in a piece of local music.
There is also diversity because it is Musiklokal’s goal to feature all types of sounds from Pinoy talents. And when I say all, that also includes the old or new that might otherwise go unnoticed, unpromoted and soon forgotten. Musiklokal does not sell sounds but the exposure it provides to everybody is invaluable.
Therefore those involved with the music industry or aspiring to be involved, are invited to create their own profiles to upload music, images, videos and other info like bios, skeds of events, lyrics or messages to fans. The business-minded can also avail of the classified ads since Musiklokal now accepts announcements. Want to sell your old sound equipment? Post it on Musiklokal for quick results.