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

If you have spent any time on YouTube, TikTok, or gaming spaces, there is a strong chance you have crossed paths with “Rush E”. Known as the ultimate internet piano boss battle, the piece is famous for its frantic rhythm, escalating absurdity, and a visual sheet-music animation that looks like an avalanche of notes cascading down an impossible waterfall.

So, who is the creative mastermind behind this viral phenomenon?

Meet Sheet Music Boss

“Rush E” was created by Sheet Music Boss, an Australian YouTube piano duo and MIDI composition channel consisting of Andrew Wrangell and Samuel Dickenson.

The duo met while studying composition at university and launched their channel to share creative piano tutorials, video game covers, and original arrangements. While they built a steady following through traditional learning tools, they accidentally captured lightning in a bottle when they decided to blend classical composition with absurd internet humor.

• Andrew Wrangell: Composed the piece and handled the initial musical arrangement.
• Samuel Dickenson: Produced the audio, managed the engineering, and spearheaded the intricate sheet-music engraving and video editing.

The Origin Story: From Counter-Strike to the “E” Meme

The creation of “Rush E” didn’t happen in a vacuum—it was the evolution of an ongoing joke rooted deeply in internet subculture.

1. The “Rush B” Precedent: Sheet Music Boss previously created a piece called Rush B, inspired by the popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gaming meme where players aggressively coordinate to “Rush B” on the map. That track made heavy, playful use of the musical note B.
2. The Rise of the Letter “E”: When brainstorming a follow-up, the internet was heavily saturated with the deep-fried “E” meme—a surreal, heavily distorted mashup of YouTuber Markiplier’s face and Lord Farquaad from Shrek.
3. Synthesizing the Joke: Andrew Wrangell decided to build a piece centered entirely around the note E, weaving the chaotic, meme-heavy energy directly into a relentless melody.

From a MIDI Joke to a Global Phenomenon

When Sheet Music Boss uploaded “Rush E,” they had no idea it would completely break the internet. Several factors fueled its rocket-like ascent:

• The “Impossible” Difficulty: The original MIDI version features overlapping chords and speeds that are physically impossible for a single human pianist to play with just two hands.
• The Visual Spectacle: The scrolling tutorial video mesmerized viewers, turning an ordinary listening experience into a hypnotic visual puzzle.
• The Internet Takeover: Major internet personalities, professional pianists, and content creators (including streamer Penguinz0 and science creator Mark Rober) began reacting to or attempting versions of the song, cementing its place in pop culture.

While talented real-world pianists eventually rose to the challenge—rearranging the track into cleverly adapted, human-playable versions—the chaotic original masterpiece by Andrew Wrangell and Samuel Dickenson remains the definitive standard.

Today, “Rush E” stands as a modern classic of meme music, proving that a clever concept and brilliant composition can turn a single musical note into a global viral sensation.