There’s something about achieving fame that makes people think they should extend their talents to music. (How else can we explain Shaquille O’Neal‘s dalliance with rap? Or Lindsay Lohan‘s short-lived pop career?)
Apparently, not even chefs are immune. A few months ago, José Andrés posted his debut track, an auto-tuned rap about immigration reform overlaid on Eminen’s “Guts Over Fear” with the production quality of a cassette tape zapped in the microwave. (Sample lyrics: Hello Mr. President, hello Donald Trump, are you ready to pass finally immigration reform? American needs you. America wants you to pass immigration reform.)
Yo! I made a rap song in #AutoRap by #Smule, and it's awesome. Listen to it here: https://t.co/JX5Kv3MJGi @realDonaldTrump
— Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres) April 13, 2017
Little did we know that was just the beginning. Today, Andrés posted another song on Twitter about making bouillabaisse with Eric Ripert. It’s surprisingly catchy!
Yo! I made a rap song in #AutoRap by #Smule, and it's awesome. Listen to it here: https://t.co/a5ths8Y6kH
— Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres) July 20, 2017
The recordings are made with a music-making/autorap app called Smule (which, by the way, costs $7.99 per week or $99.99 per year if you want the “all access pass” that, yes, Andrés has).
It only took some digging (read: two clicks) to discover that Andrés has publicly posted almost a dozen raps, including one about the Washington Wizards winning to the tune of Dr. Dre’s Still D.R.E. and another with a fellow chef reciting a recipe over the beats of Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” A Spanish performance is mashed with 50 Cent’s In Da Club.
We’ve contacted Andrés about his blossoming music career but apparently he’s too busy making bouillabaisse with Eric Ripert. We can’t wait for Ripert’s clap-back track “Making Spaghetti Bolognese with José Andrés.”
Making spaghetti bolognese "Spanish style"w @chefjoseandres chorizo,Iberico ham,pimentons …Jose you nailed it:super delicious 😋 pic.twitter.com/nBLJ72fxd3
— Eric Ripert (@ericripert) July 17, 2017
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
