Andy Cooper Returns with "The Man" & "L.I.S.T.E.N." Music Video from Extremely L.I.S.T.E.N.able New Album (Unique Records)

Andy "The Undertaker" Cooper (CREDIT: Miff Morris)

Andy Cooper is an actual factual skilled (never) ill-willed hyper-fast rhyming emcee originally hailing from North Carolina, who now calls Long Beach, California home. Although, it appears as though Cooper has an extremely dedicated following Overseas, rather than here in The States; known primarily for his work with European artists The Allergies, DJ Format, Baronski, Shawn Lee, DJ Yoda, Marc Hype & DJ Suspect, The Funk League, Djar One, Smoove (Smoove & Turrell,) and more. However, Andy Cooper is, likely, best know amongst Underground Hip-Hop heads for his work with Rap troupe Ugly Duckling formed in 1993 with friends "Dizzy" Dustin McFarland & Rodney Pleasant AKA DJ Young Einstein. Trusty fans of The Witzard may be familiar with Cooper's solo work, more specifically, "The Perfect Definition" from his 2018 album, The Layered Effect, released on Rocafort Records. As you may recall, we ran a remix contest/comp. which yielded phenomenal submissions from the likes of Naturetone (Places&Spaces,) Djar One, broken machine films presents... Dros, Mike East, UncleRussie, and Getro.

Now, Andy Cooper has returned once more with news of his third proper solo album, L.I.S.T.E.N. to be properly released on Unique Records. "L.I.S.T.E.N." stands for Lyrical Innovation Supplying The Ear's Need and the album's announcement was accompanied by the release of its lead-off single, "The Man" co-produced by Andy Cooper & DJ Moneyshot of The Allergies. "The Man" B/W L.I.S.T.E.N. track "Fly Tonite" has, additionally, been released on a super-limited edition 7-inch on Our Label Records/ORIGU. Just this past September 4th, which just so happened to be Bandcamp Friday, Ugly Duckling & Unique Records unleashed a 20-minute mixtape dubbed Listen to L.I.S.T.E.N. featuring Frank Sinatra, Big Daddy Kane, Beastie Boys, Ray Charles, Dave Chappelle, and, of course, our main man Andy Cooper. Plus, as recently as yesterday, Ugly Duckling quietly uploaded a music video for yet another L.I.S.T.E.N. single, title track "L.I.S.T.E.N." to their YouTube channel. "L.I.S.T.E.N." is, according to its YouTube Description, "a wacky, color-infused nod to Children's Workshop broadcasts of the 1970's and 80's," as directed by Daniel Ruzcko.

It boasts cameos throughout from Joe Byrd as DJ Jo Jo Byrd "In The Hand" from KRAP FM Radio & Eskimo Joe, Alina Tran as The Soda Can Geisha & Crouching Tiger Hidden Hot Dog, Mario Miranda as Prince Markie Dee, Liz Taylor as herself, Sarah Milenburg as The Little Tramp & Disgruntled Dodger Fan, Tina Cooper as Sgt. Silly & Sally May Summersbee, Jon Said as Diego "Disco" Santori, Skier with No Equipment & The Count of HB, Tyrone Hardwick as Bobby "Sore Back" Simms, Frankie Miranda as The Fox, Daniel Ruzcko as Danny Van Roosh, Gio Miranda as Lionel Messy, AndyPuppet as The Immortal AP, Nell as Confused Kitten #1, and Juneau as Competing Vocalist. We recently received a press release, which exclaims, "For fans of the classic Hip-Hop approach to sound and lyricism, L.I.S.T.E.N. is a can't-miss for any collection, delivered by a veteran, who possesses every trick in the book." Andy Cooper's L.I.S.T.E.N. is out digitally 9/25 on Unique Records with a physical release dropping 12/11. "The Man" B/W "Fly Tonight" is now available on 7-inch, via Our Label Records/ORIGU.

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of...

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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