Reptilian Club Boyz

Reptilian Club Boyz, also known as RCB or Blood Rayne Boys, was an American Internet rap collective based in Tennessee. Formed by rappers Hi-C and Diamondsonmydick in 2016, they have been credited as influential in the 2020s underground rap scene and development of the hexD genre.

History

In 2016, the Reptilian Club Boyz collective was founded by Nashville rapper and producer Hi-C and Virginia rapper Diamondsonmydick. The group was a Tennessee-based collective of producers and rappers. The collective released singles in 2017 such as "prettyboydemongang anthem SURFS UP WHITE BOY ROCK N**** SWAGG" which marked their evolution from cloud rap to the early surge style. The group were managed by rapper Marcy Mane from 2019 to 2021. The Fader described the group as an "Internet rap collective".

Reptilian Club Boyz released its debut mixtape, Reptilian Shrine, in 2017.[citation needed] Its last mixtape, #RockOutGang, released on March 15, 2020, shortly before the collective's disbandment in 2021.

Musical style and artistry

According to music journalist Kieran Press-Reynolds, writing for Complex, "Reptilian Club Boyz sprinkled their original tunes with a panoply of pretty digital effects—lots of stuff from the video game Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow."

Members

In 2018, Cartier God, Draco Murcielago (also known as Draco Montana / GxTHCHYLD), FileFantasy, 48run0, LazyGod, and Matty Vanilla joined the collective. In 2019, Lil Mai, Marjorie -W.C. Sinclair (also known as Evanora Unlimited / Housepett), Truly Based, and sadparappa joined. In 2020, Blxxdy, Lil Shine, PLAYWITHGUNS, Stunny, and vulp3sv3lox (Vulpixxx) joined. FileFantasy departed in 2019, and Draco Murcielago departed in 2020. In 2021, Flansie and KRXXK joined. Members with unknown join years were Jugg6k and Lil Kawaii, who were both active until 2021.

Hi-C

Christian Shaw (born January 31, 1998),[citation needed] known professionally as Hi-C, is an American rapper and record producer. Hi-C co-founded the collective Reptilian Club Boyz in 2016. The nickname "High C" was given by Shaw's then-boss, who thought he was high all the time. Shaw then adopted the nickname as his stage name.

In 2023, The Fader reviewed Hi-C's album L3Ft 4 D3ad and noted him as "a key force in the development of HexD music". Shaw has been noted as an influence on rappers Xaviersobased and preme4l. He has also collaborated with Xaviersobased, MikeBrokeAsf, rockstarcliff, selfmadesav, Lil Yawh, WiFiGawd, Gods Wisdom, Cooper B. Handy, and former Reptilian Club Boyz member Cartier'God.

Influence

Writing for Pitchfork, music critic Kieran Press-Reynolds noted Lithuanian rapper Yabujin as taking from the "decayed glimmer" of Reptilian Club Boyz. American rapper Xaviersobased credited the "tempo changes" in his music on tracks like "crisp dubs" as inspired by the work of Reptilian Club Boyz. Press-Reynolds later noted the group as being at a new vanguard in the early 2020s underground, which was "splintering" from digicore and hexD.

In June 2019, a collection of Reptilian Club Boyz's songs were compiled into a mix with the use of bitcrushing effects and released as Rare RCB hexD.mp3 by artist Stacy Minajj under the alias tomoe_theundy1ng. The mix has been credited with crystallizing the "surge" scene.

Discography

Mixtapes

EPs

Singles

External links

• discography at Discogs