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.
Funk Rags
Andrew Huang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta remember
Oh, you started up somewhere
You gotta remember
Yo, i miss when cats used to rap sorta cheesy
Didn't stress out, we could all take it easy
Didn't shoot Glocks, no beefs with 2Pac
And played it, breakin' in the afternoon sun
Created fresh sounds out of records that they spun
And a new movement was begun
No need to get faded, we just do it for the fun
Now the style's updated
Been shaping it a ton while I tape it
And now I feel I might have really made it
But you know it's never done
An emcee's work is lifelong
Speaking from the heart, making art through tight songs
Peace to the peeps who get it twisted - python!
Look, i just do it for the love!
Come on!
Oh, you started up somewhere
You gotta remember
Aww, here's a little story about a little boy
Never very quiet, he was always making noise
Tapping on the piano, and playing with his voice
Didn't have drums so he'd be banging on his toys
Rhythmic and jittery like all of the time
Just 3 years old and he started to rhyme
Learned new words and added them to his verse
Poor mom and dad never stopped him when he'd rehearse
Long car rides sitting in the backseat
Getting these rhymes worked out like an athlete
And at the start, well they didn't sound that sweet
But pre-school freestyles? that's a mad feat
And it continued, he kept on practicing
Rhymed through his whole vocab and back again
Everyone kinda thought this kid was strange
Well it was obviously me and not too much has changed
Cause
Oh, you started up somewhere
You gotta remember
In Andrew Huang's "Funk Rags," the lyrics revolve around remembering how things used to be and appreciating the journey that led to where he is now. The opening lines, "Oh, you started up somewhere, you gotta remember," serves as a reminder to himself and his audience. He reminisces about a time where rap was not so serious, and everyone could take it easy. He talks about how music used to be made without the need for the latest technology or equipment, just a crew and a boombox. He remembers how new movements were started by breaking fresh sounds out of records that they spun, and it was all for the fun.
Huang then goes on to tell a story of a little boy who loved making noise, tapping on the piano, and banging on his toys to make rhythmic sounds. He started rhyming at just three years old and would learn new words and add them to his verse. Despite his poor-sounding freestyles, he kept practicing and rhyming through his whole vocab and back again. The story ends with the boy growing up to become Andrew Huang, and though everyone thought he was strange, he has not lost his love for the craft and continues to create music for the love of it.
Overall, the song is an ode to the roots of hip-hop and how it has evolved through time while still keeping the love for the craft alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you started up somewhere
Remember where it all began
You gotta remember
Never forget your roots
Yo, i miss when cats used to rap sorta cheesy
Nostalgia for old-school hip hop
Didn't stress out, we could all take it easy
No drama or violence, just good vibes
Didn't shoot Glocks, no beefs with 2Pac
No gun violence, no beefs with other rappers
Just struttin' down the street with a crew and a boom box
Walking around with friends and music
And played it, breakin' in the afternoon sun
Listening to music and hanging out in the sun
Created fresh sounds out of records that they spun
DJs making new music from old records
And a new movement was begun
The start of a new era in hip hop
No need to get faded, we just do it for the fun
No need for drugs, just having fun making music
Now the style's updated
Hip hop has evolved
Been shaping it a ton while I tape it
Working hard on creating music
And now I feel I might have really made it
Feeling like he's achieved success
But you know it's never done
Always more work to be done
An emcee's work is lifelong
Being a rapper is a lifelong commitment
Speaking from the heart, making art through tight songs
Creating music with passion and skill
Peace to the peeps who get it twisted - python!
Shoutout to fans who misunderstand his lyrics
Look, i just do it for the love!
Making music for the passion, not for fame or money
Aww, here's a little story about a little boy
Personal backstory of the artist
Never very quiet, he was always making noise
Always enjoyed creating music
Tapping on the piano, and playing with his voice
Experimenting with music and vocals
Didn't have drums so he'd be banging on his toys
Using everyday objects to make music
Rhythmic and jittery like all of the time
Naturally inclined to music
Just 3 years old and he started to rhyme
Starting to create music at a young age
Learned new words and added them to his verse
Expanding vocabulary and improving lyricism
Poor mom and dad never stopped him when he'd rehearse
Supportive parents encouraged his music
Long car rides sitting in the backseat
Spending time in the car practicing music
Getting these rhymes worked out like an athlete
Working hard to improve his skills
And at the start, well they didn't sound that sweet
Struggling in the beginning, but improving over time
But pre-school freestyles? that's a mad feat
Impressive to be able to freestyle at such a young age
And it continued, he kept on practicing
Continuing to work on music
Rhymed through his whole vocab and back again
Mastering his vocabulary and lyricism
Everyone kinda thought this kid was strange
Being misunderstood by others
Well it was obviously me and not too much has changed
Reflecting on his past and how he hasn't changed much
Contributed by Anna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pro Wrestling Eclipse (Videos By Matthew Dykstra)
this video was awesome had to add it to my YT Mix Tape playlist so I can listen to it again.. Well done.. Shoutout From Oshawa
Jess Goff
I love this, the flow is so wonderful, it had me entranced.
Greyson M.
Ahhhhhh oh my god. I have a deep-seated love for rap in my heart, and your music helps me forget that bad rap exists.
Tia Thomas
This is really great Andrew! I love this :)
Dayna Wiebe
I LOVE YOUR MUSIC :D keep on rockin!
doubletom
This reminded of me of many things. First verse rapping was like Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Will Smith) Second verse really reminded me of the rapping style of Anthony Kiedis (of Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the chorus brang Lenny Kravitz into my mind. Nevertheless, good job :)
Jon Berglind
the peach fuzz really added to this i love it
EvoRulz
This has to be one of my favorites so far, in depth story so gooooood wew 0_0 <3
Julia Mak
I must say I never listened to rap much until you. Well, you have already introduced me to multiple genres, some I hadn't even heard of before, so why not one more? You are kind of a musical brand for me now, like this musical comfort zone and within this safety net I can sample a bunch of music through you :)
Marbits
Your falcetto sounds so nice when it's layered in harmony like that! X)