While the beats are in most cases pure scorpion poison, the lyrics are sometimes too advanced for their own good, resulting in an antidote, taking away much of the harm. That can be a short summery of Genelec & Memphis Reigns debut "Scorpion Circles". A recording that profits much from the exquisite production work from Genelec, that's behind the lyrical strength of him and Reign. And the musical side of this project is not only executed very well, with inviting a dope DJ to do some scratching when fitting, not only putting much mind into the drums, the samples, as well as the general feel, but throughout the record we also get an Asiatic and oriental feel, that is surprisingly rare in the whole art of rap.

Now the feel's not on all the tracks, but interestingly enough on most of the best ones (that then at the same time are also usually the more calmer songs). So for example on the (more or less) arguably best track on this album "Sunwheel", that opts for a sample previously used by Smif-N-Wessun. The sample is played longer, as well as there's an Indian sitar and drum added, making this beat hard to resist. Lyrically we are asked to "listen to these visions become real", while the sadness is overshadowing the complete feel, as the two confirm: "we're slipping into rhythm and livin' among the ills". But on here it's already obvious that the advanced and skillful flows of the two are at times a hindrance to get the message across. As the double rhymes and stylistic flashiness makes what could be simpler, more strenuous to listen to. The perfectly matched scratching by Gamma Ray then however rounds out this track to be straight up dope.

When the flow isn't as offbeat, then it goes an early nineties way, as on "Sakura", where we seem to be positioned on a comet that passes by our world, with the visions being of science and sometimes +fiction results. The beat is separated into two parts, with the first depending on an orchestration, while the second again welcomes an Asian vibe. At the same time we also get very poetic songs, like "Offerings", that is remotely sad, but confidentially content as well. And lyrically we are listening to some reflections on religious ideologies, what then for a long part doesn't need a chorus to set the verses apart.

At the same time this doesn't fail to include the braggadocios, as well as the saying clever things that no one said before tracks. Hence that can be found on the opening "Firebombz", on "Move" and more blatantly on "Elephantightus". Stylistically tracks like "Organisms" then further include different vibes, and with cuts like "Scorpion Chircles" or "Give & Take" the look back into the early 90s is also musically achieved. On "Chicken Soup" Genelec then manages to pull together a beat that's very much of the Cali-College Rock style, without even getting out the trashing guitars. But there seems a similar root Genelec was digging out when doing dope offering.

So in general there's little to complain about, apart from as mentioned, that this while stylistic excellent, it's maybe too good, resulting in this not being as expressive as it could have been. That however is addressed by Memphis Reign on "Organisms", where he states "my mission does not consist of writing verses on the topic / I don't give a fuck if I'm the only person really jockin' it / I'm confident when I talk the talk you know I walk it / I'm doing it for the love, take a look inside my wallet". What leaves us empty handed with any response, hence we shall take "Scorpion Circles" for what it is, and that is a good record.