Who Created Rush E? The Origin of the Viral Piano Meme

The Minds Behind the Madness: Who Created “Rush E”?

If you have spent any time on YouTube, TikTok, or gaming forums over the last few years, chances are you have heard “Rush E.” Famous for its blindingly fast notes, impossible hand stretches, and the iconic deep-fried “E” vocal sample, the track became a legendary internet meme. But who is actually responsible for creating this viral piano monster?

Meet Sheet Music Boss

“Rush E” was created by Sheet Music Boss, an independent Australian YouTube duo and MIDI composition channel. The masterminds behind the project are Andrew Wrangell and Samuel Dickenson, both composers based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Both musicians studied composition at university, where they met. They launched Sheet Music Boss to share piano tutorials, original arrangements, and video game music adaptations, eventually expanding into hyper-difficult, meme-inspired pieces.

The Origins of “Rush E”

The creation of “Rush E” was a deliberate nod to internet culture and gaming history:

• The Predecessor (“Rush B”): Before “Rush E,” Sheet Music Boss created a piece called “Rush B,” which played on the classic Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gaming meme where players endlessly shout instructions to “rush B”.
• The “E” Meme: Looking for a follow-up, Andrew and Samuel tapped into the surrealist “E” internet meme, which featured the face of YouTuber Markiplier photoshopped onto Lord Farquaad from Shrek.
• Musical Style: The piece was intentionally composed to feature heavy Russian classical music motifs while weaving the booming meme sound effect into key structural sections.

How It Became a Global Phenomenon

When Sheet Music Boss uploaded “Rush E” as a piano tutorial, they didn’t anticipate just how massive it would become. Because the sheet music featured thousands of notes written at speeds physically impossible for a single human pair of hands to play, it instantly captured the internet’s imagination.

• The Challenge Culture: Pianists and creators around the world began attempting to play it using unorthodox methods—such as using computer keyboards, multiple people, or automated robotic setups.
• Meme Evolution: Parodies, animations, and high-difficulty covers flooded social media platforms, cementing “Rush E” as a cornerstone of modern internet culture.

Today, Andrew Wrangell and Samuel Dickenson continue to produce music through Sheet Music Boss, but “Rush E” remains their crowning viral achievement—proving that a mix of classical composition chops and internet humor can make unexpected musical history.