Genelec and Mephis Reigns debuted in 2000. For the few heads lucky enough to hear the self-released EP Lemme Make Love to You, it was obvious that these two were on the right track....
Teetering on the brink of ... well, whatever fate awaits ridiculously talented underground hip-hop artists.The duo released their debut full Length, Scorpion Circles, in late 2002 to considerable acclaim in the underground hip-hop community. With dark production heavily drenched with strings and moody Middle Eastern flavors etched from Genelec himself (on his computer, no less), the debut shed enormous light on the promising MC's from Santa Cruz, CA.These two come off as smooth, and admirably assured, on every track they bless. The duo passes the mic back and forth seamlessly, trading fast-paced flows with an infectious exuberance.
Also in 2002 the group lent one of their defining tracks "Sunwheel" to the Boiling Point distributed (FRESHCHEST) compilation "Boom Bap For Neanderthals." Appearing along such notable underground heavyweights such as, Cunninlynguists, PackFm, Tonedeff, Napsndreads, Louis Logic, iCON the Mic King, Vast Aire, Supastition, and Mac Lethal to name a few.
The duo's name and affiliations might suggest some sort of hyper-underground, abstract space-rap, but the truth is that Genelec & Memphis Reigns deliver some of the most rowdy beats in recent memory, brimming with high-speed, tag-team battle rhymes more akin to early Wu or Killarmy than to "MC Sensitive Thesaurus-Rocker." They craft tracks strapped with a seemingly endless supply of furious drum breaks, densely layered samples, and intricate but fierce lyrics custom-made for hard-core heads and jaded critics alike.
Though mostly unknown outside of Northern Cali ,the internet and various underground circles, with rhymes and beats like this, it's apparent why these guys were able to make a lasting impression on underground hip-hop
Genelec and Memphis split soon after Scorpion Circles ,going there separate ways, after graduating from UC Santa Cruz. Genelec moved to New York and Memphis Reigns is currently in Afghanistan serving in the US Army. Genelec reportedly is a full time film producer out of NY.
