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.
Sand Shifter
Andrew Huang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold as gelato
Script with more sway than a model's hips
You can't follow it
Full throttle flipped in your auto
I move like a hollow tip shot from the Apollo
Breathe and swallow to maintain
Grotto to the lab cook cane for apostles
Break new ground, My kicks clobber the cobble
I tip my hat to the insight innovators
Finding new ways to crash the flight simulator
This is ground control to major Tom
We don't know the name of the place you've gone
So ride low, Piece out how your goodbyes go
Ready to squeeze like ladies and size O
On top of the oil drums, now that's heavy
Flow so wet I could break the levee
Still slim but my digital tape blasts amass
So much cash I'm up a new weight class. You ready?
The lyrics of the song “Sand Shifter” by Andrew Huang feature clever wordplay and intricate rhyme schemes, showcasing the rapper’s lyrical prowess. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the contrasting imagery of “cool as bottles” and “cold as gelato” showcasing the rapper’s ability to turn mundane items into something more impactful. The next few lines feature more wordplay, comparing the sway of the rapper’s script to a model’s hips, and declaring that his style is too difficult to follow. He then shifts gears, boasting about his speed and precision, comparing himself to a bullet and referencing the Apollo space program.
The chorus of the song is simple and catchy, with the repetition of “Sand shifter” creating a hypnotic effect. The second verse continues with the same level of wordplay and clever rhyming, with lines like “Grotto to the lab cook cane for apostles” showcasing the rapper’s ability to fit complex phrases into his flow. The verse then shifts to a more aggressive tone, with the rapper declaring his superiority over other rappers and boasting about how much money he has earned. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, followed by a call to action for the listener to “get ready” for what is to come.
Overall, “Sand Shifter” is a masterclass in lyrical agility and wordplay, showcasing Andrew Huang’s skills as a rapper and highlighting the creativity that can be found in the genre of hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
Cool as bottles
I am cool and composed, like a chilled bottle
Cold as gelato
My demeanor is icy and distant, like a frozen Italian dessert
Script with more sway than a model's hips
My words are powerful and influential, like the hips of a fashion model
You can't follow it
My script is so complex and sophisticated that it cannot be easily understood or replicated
Full throttle flipped in your auto
I am driving at high speeds, pushing my car to the limits
I move like a hollow tip shot from the Apollo
My movements are swift and precise, like a bullet fired from the Apollo spacecraft's hollow-point ammunition
Breathe and swallow to maintain
I am focused and diligent, breathing and swallowing regularly to stay composed
Grotto to the lab cook cane for apostles
I am in a secluded, private space, cooking up something valuable for my followers
Snares set to catch kids who dawdle
I have traps set to catch those who lag behind or procrastinate
Break new ground, My kicks clobber the cobble
I am exploring uncharted territory, my shoes loudly impacting the uneven cobblestone streets
I tip my hat to the insight innovators
I acknowledge those who have made breakthroughs and developed new ideas
Finding new ways to crash the flight simulator
These innovators are testing boundaries and pushing limits, like a flight simulator being deliberately crashed
This is ground control to major Tom
I am metaphorically making contact with a daring, adventurous individual like the titular astronaut from David Bowie's song
We don't know the name of the place you've gone
This individual's destination is unknown and mysterious
So ride low, Piece out how your goodbyes go
Be cautious and subtle, consider how you will say goodbye
Ready to squeeze like ladies and size O
I am prepared to act firmly or aggressively, like a woman wearing a size O clothing item that is too tight
On top of the oil drums, now that's heavy
I am standing on top of large, heavy metal drums, which is an impressive feat
Flow so wet I could break the levee
My rap flow is powerful and uncontrollable, like floodwaters that could rupture a levee
Still slim but my digital tape blasts amass
Despite my lean build, I am becoming increasingly successful and famous through my digital music releases
So much cash I'm up a new weight class. You ready?
I have acquired great financial wealth and now belong in a higher echelon of society, asking if others are prepared to match my success
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NevTheDeranged
At some point in the future, Andrew will have produced more tracks than all other artists combined, and the weight of his genius will cause all media to collapse in upon itself to form a new star. It will be called... the Pantsularity.
Mike P
bach did it already
leafling
Oh man, I really like this. The aesthetic of the video + the song...it fits so well!
Kiana Arnott-Job
i loved this within the first 3 seconds. you are definitely doing something right.
George Liberato
Cant get enough of that beat.
gidron123
lip bomb is an amazing album nice work andrew
Bonnie Adams
wow that beat was sick.. i wouldn't say straight hip hop, i cant really put my finger on it... what genre would you call that??
Katiekat
This sounds awesome!!!!!!!
2341dhff
I usually never comment on anything, but this beat is the beat of my all time favourite hip-hop-track of a germany rap-artist Torch - "Ich habe geschrieben"(You can listen to an example on amazon). I am not sure, if they took the beat somewhere else or you took it from them. I don't assume you listen to german (oldschool) hip-hop. ;) So my question is: Where did you take it? Because i couldn't find any information on the instrumental. And before you think this is criticism, it is not. :)
Lizard King
As a fangirl I must say... best. Zoom out. Ever.