Filipino rapper Andrew E. has spoken out about the long-standing plagiarism allegations linking his 1990 hit ‘Humanap Ka ng Panget’ to the 1988 American rap track ‘Find An Ugly Woman’ by Cash Money & Marvelous.
In an interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ aired on November 18, 2024, the artist offered his perspective on the controversy.
Andrew E. acknowledged the parallels between the two songs but questioned the validity of the accusations.
“My contention was, the accusation was not authentic,” he explained. “Hindi ako ina-accuse ng tao na kinopya ko yung kanta kasi hindi naman talaga sila nag-a-accuse. Why? Kasi kung nag-a-accuse sila na kinopya ko ‘yon, e, bakit hindi mo in-accuse yung kanta na ‘yon na kinopya rin sa 1963 song?”
Andrew E. referred to ‘If You Wanna Be Happy,’ a 1963 song by Jimmy Soul, as a possible source of inspiration for ‘Find An Ugly Woman.’
Andrew E.’s argument underscores the broader lineage of the music. ‘If You Wanna Be Happy’ itself was inspired by ‘Ugly Woman,’ a 1933 calypso track by Trinidadian musician Roaring Lion (Rafael de Leon). This deeper history suggests that themes and styles in music often evolve through reinterpretation and adaptation.
In a separate interview in June 2022, Andrew E. elaborated on the concept behind ‘Humanap Ka ng Panget.’ He said the song was a response to societal biases and sought to uplift people with insecurities about their appearance.
“Nararamdaman ko po kasi na eighty percent ng Pilipino ay pangit,” he said candidly. “Yung 80 percent na rejection ng Pilipino na ‘yon ay ramdam na ramdam ko, kaya ito ang aming iginaganti sa sinumang magsasabi na pangit kami. Ang kagandahan ay nasa puso yan.”
Both “Humanap Ka ng Panget” and “Find An Ugly Woman” share comedic themes about finding unconventional beauty, sparking debates over originality. Adding intrigue, Andrew E.’s debut album Andrew E. Rhyme + Andrew = Party came out in January 1990, two years after the release of “Find An Ugly Woman” as part of Cash Money & Marvelous’ Where’s the Party At album.
Despite these similarities, no legal actions were filed, leaving the issue to public interpretation.
‘Humanap Ka ng Panget’ not only became a massive hit but also led to a 1991 movie of the same name produced by Viva Films. The song propelled Andrew E. to the forefront of the Philippine hip-hop scene, cementing his place as an icon in local entertainment.
