Filipino rap stars to take Lloyd by storm!

Filipino rap star Andrew E, left, is seen shaking hands with new president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during an election victory celebration performance in May. The popular star will entertain hundreds of Filipino-Canadians at the WLS Centre in Lloyd on Sept. 24. File Photo

 

Andrew E is in Lloyd, Andrew E is in Lloyd!

That’s what Filipino-Canadian fans are shouting from rooftops this week in advance of the famous rapper’s one-night concert at the Lloydminster WLS Convention Centre this Saturday night.

The number-one rap star in the Philippines arrived in Lloydminster Wednesday night to perform with Filipino artists Salbakuta, Kruzzada, Sixth Threat, and Fuzbuzlow.

It’s a dream come true for Lloydminster resident Dowsan Antonio, who heads up Maple Lloyd Productions Ltd. with three other partners to bring concert artists from the Philippines to the city.

“Right now, we have at least 300 people attending this concert. We have more people coming here as well,” said Antonio.

The Lloyd concert is officially called the Bagong Filipinas Tagalong Rap Festival and is the kick-off event for Maple Lloyd.

“We’re so excited with the event. We’ve been planning this for the last two months already,” said Antonio.

He says fans will be flocking here from Edmonton, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Battleford, Provost, Wainwright, Saskatoon and Regina.

Antonio says Andrew E gained fame with a live performance to celebrate the election victory of Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vice-president, Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio Read this past May.

Lloydminster is also the second stop in the Andrew E Canada Tour 2022, organized by Maple Lloyd in partnership with Maple Shine Promotions Ltd. in Calgary.

“There’s only three cities they approved for shows, Lloydminster which is a small city, Calgary and Surrey, B.C. We’re so blessed,” said Antonio.

“We have a number of supporters of the new president in Lloydminster and surrounding area, so they chose us as well.”

Maple Lloyd plans to host two or three events a year featuring local or invited artists from the Philippines.

Antonio works with the Saskatchewan Health Authority as a consultant for Primary Health Care and formed Maple Lloyd after spearheading most of the social activities in the city for Filipino-Canadians in the past few years.

“We just wanted to make sure we will be able to bring a number of activities that will showcase our talent to gather our Filipino-Canadians in Lloyd,” he explained.

“If we earn something from this, fine, but right now, we are just breaking even with expenses.”

He says Maple Lloyd will be hosting Andrew E during his visit and noted there will be a lot of restaurants offering lunch and supper. 

“We will be visiting those restaurants,” he said.

Highlanders Store and Services is also selling general admission tickets, while supplies last.

Special platinum and VIP tickets with photos op are sold out.

Andrew E is short for Andrew Ford Valentino Espiritu, who is known as the godfather of Filipino rap and the founder of Broadlive USA and Philippines. 

He is also a movie actor/comedian, avid toy enthusiast and collector. 

Andrew E is best known in the Philippines for his 1990 debut hit single, “Humanap Ka Ng Panget.” The artist won a rap album of the year award for his album, Clubzilla at the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for Music. 

In mid-1997, he founded an independent rap label named Dongalo Wreckords to discover and produce new rap talents, including the rap group Salbakuta, with their best-selling debut single “S2upid Luv.” That led to a film starring Andrew E.

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Geoff Lee
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