A versatile composer, he is unable to be pinned down to any one genre of music. As a producer he has created work for companies such as WWF, US Bank and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet; as a songwriter and performer he has toured 6 countries. Last fall he worked with Emily Haines of Metric to create a music and video installation piece at The Four Seasons Centre in Toronto.
Huang developed a near-cult following in his early twenties as the creative force behind Songs To Wear Pants To, an online musical comedy project that invites anyone to send him instructions for songs - of which he's created over 600 since 2004.
More recently he has become a well-known YouTube personality, his self-produced content and grassroots approach garnering him over 6 million views in the past year alone. With more by-request musical exploits, dialogues created from user submissions, and eccentric, time-intense pieces - watch him create a beat with 1000 pairs of jeans! - his work continues to hit a sweet spot between sound, picture and audience interaction.
Crass Brass
Andrew Huang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And just blast masses
Scratch wax
I pack smashed glasses
If you need a little needle in the stack
Ask
Hashtagging it, fastcash
Till I’m blue label
I turn tables I rap vast
You want plat status well yak yak
You trash bags are falling ass flat
I make mad dashes, slash gashes
Bat masterfully, cap matches
Hat backwards
Head light years ahead
I make tracks like rash classics
Flashbacks of brash splashes with rat packs
Grass stashes
Mashed ash
Last laughs inside a gas mask
But I passed class
And I’m a class act
Taskmaster and I snap flak
Thrash chaps
I could run the game
Halfback
Moving dollars like nasdaq
Underscored it with a laugh track
But I’m past that, trapped cats
They had golden grills and I spat plaque
And those wack acts
The newjack rats
They couldn’t hack that, sat tapped
And that’s that I don’t lack tack
I paint with words
Basquiat
Bask in the light of this flash rap
My place we get bass jacked
Matter of fact that’s a shake shack
Way back in my habitat has been boom bap, kick clap
Stacks of wax on that slipmat
Lashing sass the adat assassin
No slack pals it’s like that
I make track wildest like that
Back in
I make clean schemes, sweet beats
It’s the bees knees I sweep feet
Believe me
Playing nice scenes to these rice queens
That’s a meet and greet
Lean machine I mean routines
And stream like a speed demon on a caffeine bean
Heat the screens sheen
I don’t need sleep
Why would I I’m living these dreams chief
Tango to fandango
This slang got sugar like a mango
Bang shows with no bango
I slam those and it’s rammed, joe
Twang honed like a banjo
Produced with an ear like van gogh
I lay it all out commando
But I still stay fly like lando
With this brass
The lyrics to Andrew Huang's song Crass Brass are a showcase of Huang's ability to rap quickly and smoothly over a funky brass instrumental. The opening line "I bring this crass brass and just blast masses" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Huang raps about his skills as a DJ and producer. He brags about his ability to scratch records ("scratch wax"), create beats ("pack smashed glasses"), and find dope samples ("grass stashes").
Huang also references his ability to make money in the music industry ("fastcash till I'm blue label fat cask"), as well as his talent as a rapper ("I turn tables I rap vast"). He takes shots at other rappers who haven't been able to achieve the same level of success ("you trash bags are falling ass flat") and boasts about his own skills on the mic ("I make tracks like rash classics").
Line by Line Meaning
I bring this crass brass
I come with bold, unrefined brass music
And just blast masses
And play it loudly for crowds of people
Scratch wax
Manipulate vinyl records
I pack smashed glasses
I carry broken glasses as a sign of my wild party lifestyle
If you need a little needle in the stack
If you want a specific song on the record
Ask
Just ask and I'll help you find it
Hashtagging it, fastcash
Posting about it on social media to make quick money
Till I’m blue label
Until I'm at the top of the industry
Fat cask
Drinking from a large barrel or keg of alcohol
I turn tables I rap vast
I am skilled at both DJing and rapping
You want plat status well yak yak
If you want success, you'll have to work hard for it
You trash bags are falling ass flat
You inferior artists will fail
I make mad dashes, slash gashes
I move quickly and violently
Bat masterfully, cap matches
I swing a baseball bat skillfully and light matches with my cap
Hat backwards
I wear my cap with the brim facing backwards
Head light years ahead
My ideas and creativity are far beyond the current time
I make tracks like rash classics
I create music that is bold and timeless
Flashbacks of brash splashes with rat packs
I have memories of wild parties and the people I partied with
Grass stashes
I hide drugs in the grass
Mashed ash
I mix ashes with something else, often for smoking
Last laughs inside a gas mask
I am the one still laughing while others are trapped and suffocating
But I passed class
But I have succeeded despite my unconventional lifestyle
And I’m a class act
And I am a respectable and admirable person
Taskmaster and I snap flak
I am a diligent worker and easily handle criticism
Thrash chaps
I dominate my competition
I could run the game
I could be at the top of the industry
Halfback
I could dominate in football as well
Moving dollars like nasdaq
I am making money at a rapid pace
Underscored it with a laugh track
My success is something to be laughed at, as it seems too good to be true
But I’m past that, trapped cats
But now I am beyond that stage of my life where I was trapped in a certain way of living
They had golden grills and I spat plaque
Other rappers had expensive dental work, but I spit my rhymes fiercely
And those wack acts
And those terrible performers
The newjack rats
The inexperienced and untalented artists
They couldn’t hack that, sat tapped
They couldn't handle the pressure and fell behind
And that’s that I don’t lack tack
And that's the end of that, as I have strong skills and determination
I paint with words
I use my words to create vivid pictures and emotions
Basquiat
Like the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, I am an unconventional creative genius
Bask in the light of this flash rap
I am basking in the glory of my successful rap
My place we get bass jacked
In my area, we take our music seriously and amplify the bass
Matter of fact that’s a shake shack
In fact, it's so loud that it shakes the entire building
Way back in my habitat has been boom bap, kick clap
Music with a strong, classic hip-hop sound has been a part of my life since I was young
Stacks of wax on that slipmat
I have a large collection of vinyl records that I use to DJ
Lashing sass the adat assassin
I confidently and skillfully attack my enemies with words
No slack pals it’s like that
I don't let anyone slack off and I continue to push forward
I make track wildest like that
I create music that is bold and daring like no one else can
Contributed by Elizabeth Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Boyinaband
ahhh that rhyme scheme goes on for ages, so good.
darn tootin
boyinaband
None Like Joshua
So dope!
mrdistracted42
It always makes me so happy when musicians can use brass in a genre that it's not typically used for (rap, rock, techno/dubstep). this was impressive. I kinda want just an instrumental version.
ASdeclassified
It's very rare that I look at someone else and think, "I wish I had their level of style and creativity." Keep it up man.
soydairy
starting the new yr off with one of my faves to this day. hope ur doing well andrew
rcripps008
even when your songs aren't my favourite, your videos are always entertaining! Thanks.
Love The Rhythm
this is BEAST man! Soon as I get the cash I'm gonna buy your album! :D
Jake Bullington
amazing editing. awesome trumpet. you have yet to disappoint!
mooments
This song grew on me so quickly from listening to Lip Bomb! Love it, and a brilliant video too!