For many Memphis rap fans. At one point and time we were very interested in the topic of Memphis Rap Sigils. Whether we believed in the rituals or not. I personally came across this urban legend not too long after I discovered the genre on Youtube in 2017. I was like many others, in that I was deeply fascinated by this topic. And researched as much as I could to see if this tale was true or not. I watched tons of Youtube videos and read blogs on this topic. All with the intention of finding out if Memphis rappers had truly killed people and put their souls onto tape.
To provide some insight, back in about 2017. A user made a 4Chan post talking about something they called Memphis Rap sigils. The user claimed that multiple Memphis Rap tapes were recorded with the souls of the victims the artist had killed. With these original tapes being listed as 1. Maniac – World of A Psycho 2. Psycho – The Return of Psycho 3. Ten Wanted Men – Wanted Dead Or Alive 4. Children of The Corn – The Single 5. Lil Ramsey – Goin Undacova 6. H.O.H. – Livin’ In A Casket 7. N.O.D. 8. Mr. Tinimaine.
The user claims that listening to any of these tapes in their original cassette format. Will cause not only cause serious illness and a feeling of uneasiness. But will also allegedly curse whoever owns or listens to this recording in it’s original cassette format. Such a claim does not have kind of evidence to support this. In fact, the person who had made this claim likely did not own any of these original tapes himself and never experienced these side effects firsthand. Meaning these rumors had essentially never existed before 2017. I personally own 7 of the 8 original tapes considered to be haunted. And the only changes I’ve noted since getting them, is my ability or perhaps inability to stop purchasing Memphis tapes.
To answer the question as to whether this urban legend is true or not. However intriguing it may sound. As far as my limited knowledge goes, it is definitely not possible to record something like people’s souls onto a cassette tape. Once this post was created however, it didn’t take long for the story to gain traction online. The tapes listed as “cursed” quickly became some of the most popular albums from the genre. The rumors of these tapes being cursed helped to get many more people into the music. The entire situation however is perhaps another example of how influential the internet can be at times. When it should of been an example of just how creepy some of the production & atmosphere is on some of these old-school Memphis tapes.
