Unlike most rap vocalists, Ugly Duckling's Andy Cooper has rarely worked outside of his band but, recently, he decided to record a ten-song LP to explore his abilities as an MC and producer. 'Room to Breathe:The Free LP' features a highly creative Hip-Hop veteran showcasing his mastery of fundamental rap skill while, at the same time, daringly pushing the boundaries of lyrical possibility. Andy also holds down things on the beat, using his years of experience as Ugly Duckling co-producer to combine classic, sample-rich sound with a more rugged and modern sensibility. Obviously, projects come and go faster than I can finish this sentence but 'Room To Breathe: The Free LP' is truly worth digesting because it challenges the standard Hip-Hop formulas on the market. Rather than jumping on the latest trend or standing firm on Old-School principles, Andy utilizes all the resources of experience,technology and a relentlessly imaginative mind to offer something traditional, yet exciting and relevant.
Any listener who is an authentic connoisseur of Rap Music will be both stimulated and energized by this release which is truly, and literally, a gift to weary Hip-Hop fans who have just about given up on the genre. 'Room To Breathe' is the product of Andy Cooper's thousands of hours of dedicated toil in studios and on stages, he's now welcoming you to taste the fruits of his labor! Enjoy the ride!
Andy Cooper is an accomplished songwriter, performer, producer and arranger who hails from and resides in Long Beach, California. After graduating from Poly high school in the mid-1990's, Andy helped form and produce the Hip-Hop trio Ugly Duckling which, over the span of 20 years, released six albums while frequently touring the globe, their success has taken them to over 30 countries. Now, he's releasing his debut solo effort 'Room To Breathe-The Free LP'(26.02.2016, Unique Records / Groove Attack) which features ten, high-powered tracks built on traditional Hip-Hop and Funk sound.
The album showcases a skilled vocalist and beat-maker working at the top-level with a new angle on his music. Cooper reflects, "Being a member of a group like Ugly Duckling is an honor and privilege but stepping out on my own has been really exciting because of the freedom to explore and push the limits of my ability." From the scorching battle-rap 'Bring It To Me' to the super-groovy, care-free rhyming on 'Room to Breathe' (the song) to the half-tempo track 'Number One' where Andy raps at the speed of light, Cooper consistently brings the heavy artillery for Classic Rap fans.a1 Bring It To Me 4:03 a2 Number One 2:45 a3 All On My Snoopy 0:26 a4 Do The Charlie Brown 2:48 a5 Room To Breathe 3:49 a6 A Tale Of Freedom 0:09 a7 Chasing The Funk 3:49 b1 Unlikely Assassin 3:29 b2 Blind Faith 3:29 b3 Doing This For Years 1:00 b4 Thanks & Goodnight 4:09 b5 Ashes To Ashes 3:14 b6 Bring It To Me (The Allergies Remix) 3:53
