Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor Shares How He Turns Everyday Sounds Into Hits
Producer Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor recently offered a glimpse into his creative process, crafting a demo from a random sound for his TikTok fanbase.
When asked how he finds musical inspiration, McGregor explained during a drive, “Every day, mi just look fi things to inspire me—listen to conversations, or listen to random sounds, or anything that can spark an idea. That’s how I keep my creative energy flowing.”
Later, McGregor’s attention was diverted to a beeping sound emanating from the car, prompting his spontaneous remark, “Like da sound deh, need fi sample that.”
Extracting the sound and infusing it with melodies and vocals, he swiftly produced a complete demo. Excitedly, he shared, “So obviously me never plan this but this is why me love music, how crazy it is that one likkle sound turn in a all a dis.”
He demonstrated his process in another series of clips, but this time he was inspired by Yanique Curvy Diva.
And as expected, the fans erupted in admiration. “Reason why you name genius man general inna this,” proclaimed one TikTok user, capturing the sentiment echoed by many across various platforms.
Another user added, “I know the point of the video is the sound but unuh hear dem lyrics yah? Even the melody genius.”
Reposting the video to X, McGregor continued to garner praise. “Literally a genius,” lamented one X user.
Users even name-dropped artists who they thought could possibly fit on McGregor’s newly minted demo. “Agent Sasco, Chronic Law, Shane-O, Deep Jahi, Romain Virgo, Laden, Masicka. Dem man need fi deh pan dah riddim yah.”
In another clip, McGregor offered valuable advice to aspiring musicians: “Stay inspired and aware; inspiration can come from anywhere.”
With a career spanning over two decades, the 34-year-old McGregor, who is the son of legendary Reggae artist Freddie McGregor, has collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres from reggae and dancehall to hip-hop and pop. He wrote and recorded his first song at the age of five, a Dancehall track titled School Done Rule on the Skettel riddim, and by age seven was already skilled in multiple instruments. His first hit riddim, titled Cartoon, was released in 2004 while he was still a schoolboy.
In 2020, Stephen was featured on Apple Music’s ‘Behind the Boards,’ a playlist series celebrating the work of some of the world’s biggest names in music production, such as Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West.
The playlist featured 29 songs that the Kingston native produced, including Mavado’s Weh Dem A Do, which McGregor co-wrote at the age of 15, Damian Marley’s Slave Mill from the 2018 Reggae Grammy-winning Stony Hill album, Drake’s Controlla, Shakira’s Amarillo from her El Dorado album, which won Best Latin Pop Grammy Album, Sean Paul’s Press it up, Now that I’ve Got Your Love and So Fine from his 2009 album Imperial Blaze, French Montana’s Writing on the Wall with Cardi B and Post Malone, Ne-Yo and Shenseea’s Major Moves, from the Jamaican movie Sprinter, and John Legend’s Bigger Love and Don’t Walk Away with Koffee, from his Grammy-winning Bigger Love album.
McGregor’s production repertoire also includes Vybz Kartel’s 18-track album titled The Teacher’s Back, and the Red Bull and Guinness, Power Cut, Street Swag, and Peppa riddims. Some of the other Dancehall hit songs produced by Di Genius include Come into My Room by Mavado and Stacious, Cyaan Friend Again by himself, From Morning by Chino, and Strike Force by Govana.
His latest venture is Whiskey Blue, a song by American country singer Tanner Adell released on April 12.