Who Created Rush E? The Story Behind the Viral Song

Who Created “Rush E”?

If you have spent any time online over the past few years, you have almost certainly heard the chaotic, breakneck notes of “Rush E”. It is one of the most famous internet meme songs of the modern era, famous for being completely impossible for a human being to play normally on a piano.

So, who is actually behind this viral musical phenomenon?

The Creators: Sheet Music Boss

“Rush E” was created by Sheet Music Boss, an Australian YouTube duo and independent music production channel consisting of composers Andrew Wrangell and Samuel Dickenson.

Based in Brisbane, Australia, the duo launched their channel in February 2017 to share piano tutorials, ranging from pop songs and video game soundtracks to intense, complex classical-style arrangements. Over time, they leaned heavily into writing original, over-the-top compositions designed specifically to push digital sheet music software (and human imagination) to absolute extremes.

The Meme Origins: From “Rush B” to “Rush E”

The story of “Rush E” actually begins with an earlier internet meme.

1. The Letter “B” and Counter-Strike: Sheet Music Boss originally posted a simple tutorial video focusing purely on the musical note B, capitalizing on internet humor surrounding the letter. Fans in the comments began joking about making it “sound Russian,” referencing the popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gaming meme where players yell instructions to “Rush B”. This led the duo to create “Rush B,” a track heavy on the note B with a dramatic Russian folk flair.
2. The Birth of “Rush E”: Following the success of that concept, the duo decided to build a spiritual successor centered around the letter E. The timing aligned with the peak of the deep-fried “E” meme—a surreal internet joke combining Markiplier’s face with Lord Farquaad from Shrek (often referred to as Lord Marquaad).

Andrew and Samuel wove that absurd internet culture into a fast-paced piano composition, embedding the visual and auditory spirit of the “E” meme directly into the music.

How it Took Over the Internet

When Sheet Music Boss published “Rush E” on YouTube, it exploded into a massive viral trend for a few specific reasons:

• The “Black MIDI” Style: The track features tens of thousands of notes packed so densely into the digital sheet music (Synthesia) that the falling notes look like a solid black wall.
• Human vs. Machine: Because the song requires playing hundreds of notes per second across dozens of overlapping chords, it is physically impossible for a single pianist with two hands to play it accurately.
• The Challenge Culture: The internet loves a challenge. Soon after its release, professional pianists, content creators, and self-playing robot pianos began posting challenge videos, trying to figure out how to arrange, transcribe, or perform elements of “Rush E”.

What started as a silly joke between two Australian composers turned into a defining piece of internet music history, proving that meme culture can successfully merge with complex musical composition.