It’s hard to believe that Eric Andre is only now sinking his teeth into music videos.
The master of chaos-comedy has conquered plenty of creative terrain from his icononclastic Adult Swim show to his 2021 epic prank film Bad Trip. Now he’s taking his hectic cinematic style to music videos, crafting one for Maryland rapper .idk.’s rap-rock heater, “C.O.P.,” a standout track from January’s e.t.d.s. A Mixtape by .idk.
The two artists were already fans of each other: .idk. names Bad Trip as “one of the greatest films [he’s] ever seen.” Meanwhile Andre says he was instantly inspired by “C.O.P.,” which he describes as part of his personal favorite micro-genre: “rap you can have a moshpit to.”
After discussing the song’s supercharged theatricality, they settled on an animated video inspired by the violent absurdism of Grand Theft Auto. Filled with explosions, pig and teddy bear cops, zombie soldiers, and a nonstop chase, the video evokes the song’s cinematic thrill. .idk., who was first incarcerated at 17, shares that the music video shows “what the things I was doing [felt] like in my [teenage] mind.”
“I didn't understand the severity of it until I got older,” .idk. says.
The FADER called Eric Andre and .idk. five days ahead of the music video release for a quick chat on the inspiration behind their new video and what it was like to bring it to life.
Still from "C.O.P." music video by .idk.
The FADER: How did you both initially connect?
.idk.: I was watching Bad Trip for the fourth time and I was just like, "Is this real? This is the craziest shit ever." I was like, I just want to meet this guy and be able to talk to him and understand his mind, because this is one of the greatest films I've ever seen. I asked [my team], “Do I know anybody that knows him?” Somebody hit me back like, "We spoke to someone from his team. Is there a song you would want to do a music video for?" I was like, "Oh shit.” It went from just trying to meet the guy to potentially doing a video. I sent the song "C.O.P." over and then next thing you know, my first time hanging with him was to discuss the music video.
Eric Andre: I don't think I even knew that was the origin story. I've been drinking since I was 13 years old, so my brain's mush.
I've been directing commercials and I told my representation that I want to do more music videos. I love music videos. I think they’re actually the best medium for a director, not a feature-length film, because in a music video, you can do whatever you want and you can express your creativity as this “Champagne Supernova.” .idk.’s music is my favorite type of music. I was an instant fan. I just saw him live the other night and he's about to blow up. I just know he’s like on a rocketship to the moon, so I'm just glad we got to collaborate before the rocketship goes all the way to Neptune. One of my producing partners’ wife [Masha Batsii] is an effects wizard. We had only a limited time to shoot and we shot some live-action stuff and then Masha made the Grand Theft Auto-esque graphics behind it.
Still from "C.O.P." music video by .idk.
Can you say more about the GTA motif?
Andre: We were sharing music videos that we liked at first, and he shared with me one that had good chase scenes in it. Kathryn Bigelow is the master of chase scenes, [so] I started watching Point Break. The music, the lyrics, and the subject matter were cinematic in and of themselves, so that directly informed exactly what the music video wanted to be. Especially now with everything that’s going on in the country and the world, [the video] just felt like very much of the zeitgeist.
.idk.: My story is so real, and at times maybe even dark or grim. This video articulates that very well, but because it's animated, it makes it less serious. It adds a little bit of levity. Me being arrested at seventeen […] This is a great depiction of the mindset of a teenage boy that is out doing things, committing crimes, running from the police […] It reflects that irony.
Eric, I know you have a new record as Blarf coming out too. Did you take anything from this experience with IDK that you're applying to your own musical project?
Andre: Fucking confidence, man. I'm like, "Fuck, it took me two decades to get half of his confidence that he had the other night [at his show]." I'm like, "Shit, I need to sprinkle a little bit of that fucking dust on me!" When I was watching him the other night, I was like, "This guy's a star."
I asked myself, "What makes a star?" It's just authenticity and confidence. It doesn't matter if the audience doesn't relate to every single thing an artist does, but they just want you to present your creative material authentically. I've been so inspired by his artistry. When did I first see you perform? Was it at SOBs?
.idk.: Yeah, in December [2025, celebrating] DMX.
Andre: Yo, I love that you had a magician come out and open for you the other night! I was like, I can't believe no one’s thought to do that! That was so random and so entertaining. Your show was great, man. I can't wait, I want to see you live more often.
.idk.: Thank you. I appreciate that, brother. Thank you so much for that.
Andre: 100%. Not blowing smoke.
Thumbnail credot:
.idk. by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Dior Homme
Eric Andre by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for iHeartPodcasts
