Hey man, that was me that spammed ya last month, I apologize, I never do shit like that, I had a super crazy month last month, lost my mom and had to be the grown up amongst a bunch of ungrateful siblings if ya know what I mean. I was so moved by the song, I just copy and pasted "Hi Ren" into some reactions of a handful of my favorite reactors figuring eventually you guys would start seeing the thumbnail and check it out..lol. As far as your comments at the break, don't sweat it man, if people can't handle the truth, F-em, this ain't a song you pop in riding around in the whip, I watched Stevie Knight react to it first time I saw it, took another view or two before it hit me. But even if you thought it was garbage at the end, Is exactly why I keep coming back to your channel, I don't need confirmation bias of something I know I like. My two favorite types of reactions are ones that are genuine excitement/emotional when you can tell there's no way they're faking, the other is when someone genuinely doesn't care for a song that's making the rounds, and gives a proper, intelligent, synopsis afterward. That's why you're the man, and I know I'll always get a real reaction with you, don't ever apologize for that brother, that's what make's you top tier in my book. I was going to tell you about his other music, but my man @Proud.America58 left an extremely nice break down of Ren's catalogue and I agree with every single one of his suggestions if you move forward checking out more of Ren's music. (Yes he can rap rap, it's almost scary how well). Sorry again for the spam, great reaction and commentary, Cheers!! ✌️💚
Hey Sorry For your Loss, I too Lost someone who was close to me not to long ago so I understand. As far as the people who can’t handle a difference of opinion I’m learning to deal with that and thanks for making me aware of this song it was a dope experience. Be well and thanks for your support and kind words fam. 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Shut up you lost your mom too? Fuggin sucks the hole left in the heart right? 36 day's ago the pain is still there, still heavy. As I write this I'm crying right now. Sorry for the vent. Ren is amazing and so is Chinchilla they're helping me get out of the funk I'm feeling for sure. Big Ups ❤️
The thing that really bakes my noodle is… this is a live performance! Not lip synced, no multiple takes, nothing. Just a man, with his guitar, his voice & one hell of a powerful message.
It seems silly that everyone is okay with 50 million love songs and 50 million party songs, but there can only be a limited amount of songs about mental health. Then it becomes “We’ve heard it all before”.
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech"). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet. The pig character represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made this work of art? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
Just an FYI regarding the pig character. On his twitch livestream on Mar 29, Ren said he is never going to divulge what the pig represents to him. He thinks it is best to leave it up to the viewer.
Thank you for aging that about the pig. I saw that twitch comment of him saying that he is t saying what the pig represents..it up to us to see it as we think it means!!
I don't see it as an overpowering last ditch effort, like you interpret it. My interpretation would be: In the beginning good Ren is kind of calm and collected, coming from the time he took for himself. And he starts arguing with his bad side. First in a calm manner and backed with arguments, but the more he fights his bad side, the stronger that side gets. And the good Ren gets more and more desperate fighting even harder and more emotional, until the bad side is overwhelmingly strong. Then comes kind of a cut and he starts again with mentioning that he has taken some time for himself, means some time has passed since then. And now he is even stronger, confident for the first time and even accepts his bad side: "I stand here beside you today", "I'll stand in your fire", "immortal like you", "coin with two different sides". This is also reflected by the last Uh-Singing part where the lights flicker, which they only did, when the bad side was in charge, up unto that point. I see the first part, as him trying to win the battle, and the last part is him getting older and realizing it was a dance all along, so he could not win that battle. And that is how he ended there. So the monologue at the end, kind of explains what happened between the evil part getting to the Newsflash part and the hope part.
Ren is the real deal. He became seriously ill in 2010, but was misdiagnosed for 6 or 7 years. The meds he was given just made him worse, so that he was often stuck in his bed for up to 23 hours a day. In 2016 he was finally correctly diagnosed with Lyme Disease and he received stem cell transplants which improved his health. However, the years of incorrect treatment have left him with a badly damaged immune system and some brain damage. He is currently getting specialist treatment in Canada where he is likely to be for at least 6 months
His story is pretty intense, he is transparent, he is raw, he is real, he is Ren. Saw him on his Twitch after the premiere of Illest of our Time and he was overwhelmed by love he was receiving. None of his music is anything that I would normally listen to, but all of it has struck me at the core. Appreciate your reaction and hope you will continue on the journey that is Ren (bringing us with you of course). Peace.
Your initial reaction about following the trend of 'oh I'm sick' and jumping on that bandwagon is a fair comment, and I think Ren KNEW that when he not only name-dropped Eminem and plan b, but took the story way past that and brought a new angle and direction that really do give this song a totally new feel and something that is unique in today's music. A great reaction vid!!
@aliciawatson8417 and he uses his musical talent to keep you from looking away. You are his for 9 minutes. Captivated whether from shock or Awe, he owns you for that 9 minutes. And yes as vulnerable as he comes off he dares you not to see yourself.
this is new to me too (i’m old) i love this video. i love that he’s normalizing mental illness. he’s bright and so young and sarcastic and critical and self reflective
I had a similar reaction to yours when i first heard this, in that i wasn't impressed by the first couple of minutes, but by the end i was in tears because the lyrics and genius of it had hit me and resonated with me, i totally get people who don't understand it, maybe you need to have gone through some hard time to empathise with what Ren is saying, but for me it totally hit home.
Lucky for us, The Beatles went ahead and made all those love songs, even though others had done it before. Mental health is a topic with plenty of room for different perspectives, from different artists.
Ah yeah, you nailed it near the end - a great piece of art. That's the thing about this, it isn't just another mental health diatribe. Ren shows some very considerable skills here, and the more you look into his catalogue, the more amazing it gets. You can't label him by this performance (and it is a performance, done live, and what you see here is a single take - though it may have taken him 3 or 4 tries until he was happy with it). He has covered many genres, many styles. Worth a deeper look, but I am a bit surprised to see this on your channel as I had you down as being more on a retro journey, and Ren is very much a 'now' figure.
Like he says, no one wants to hear another song about how much he hates himself, trust me. I've never listened to Eminem nor Plan B but can't get enough of this some for some reason
I don't watch reactions to validate my own feelings. I watch them to experience that first time seeing/hearing a song all over again. And for me with Hi Ren, my first listen left me confused, impressed, intrigued, a little off balance... but feeling as if something inside had been cracked open and needed to be explored. It's a journey. A very personal journey. I appreciate your reaction and your sum up at the end.
It's not just mental illness. He has Lyme disease, but for years and years nobody diagnosed it correctly, and since the symptoms are chronic fatigue and whatnot, doctors just thought he was depressed and gave him pills after pills since they weren't working (obviously), but though they weren't healing his "depression", they were still potent meds, which eventually triggered psychosis. He is now in Canada at one of the best clinic to repair all the damages done to his brain and nerve system, which will take at least till the summer, that's what he's been told, but I think the mental illness produced by very strong mind medicines that he did not need will stay with him, which justify his anger towards the medical program. Made him miserable for half of his life, just making him feel worse, convinced that his mind was making him sick (if you'll listen to Sick Boi that's a major line), but it was literally a tick bite. And even though he went through all of that, he sends out positive messages, which mean everything to me. I "only" have depression, he's been bed ridden for like 6 years, if he can recover from that and say he'll be stronger, then I'll fight harder too. Ren is the gift that I didn't know I deserved, but am so thankful to have found. He makes me want to battle more, he makes me strong when I feel like giving up. I am so thankful he exists.
Ya want Rap... he Kills it there too! Hunger, Losing It, illest of our time, Sick Boi... etc... Storytelling... Jenny and Screech (Full!) is a MASTERPIECE... Period! Singing... Chaulk Outlines shows his singing abilities!
Thankful you heard the whole thing and thanks for making the differentiations between who sings about stuff versus those who sing a song about their own reality.
It’s makes a difference when people just make songs just to make it especially about an issue that is so Important it waters it down, but this song was really special
Some Sympathy for Shadow Ren: When he said “Man it’s just like that. I’m inside you you twat!” and when he called bullshit on “Music is all about the creative process…” I about pissed myself.
Sidenote: Someone pointed out to me that Ren casts a shadow both to the left and right. The left side is a darker shadow and right side is a lighter shadow.
@MC kalCM I admire him so much dude. I know myself. I would've thrown in the towel. The fact that he persevered and kept writing some of the most unique music I've ever heard is a testament to how tough he is.
Ren got Lyme disease at 16 and misdiagnosed for 8 years. He's still suffering today and in Canada getting treatment now. All the time music kept him going and his talent is finally getting recognition 🙏 Hated Rap but seeing Ren that's changed 😄👍 his bars are 🔥 and suck you in to a story. Seen Rock reactors all getting his music and people talking about health and more. He genuinely appreciates all Reactors and no copyright shit as he's independent. His rabbit hole is sooo good.
Ren is an extremely talented performer, artist and composer. He makes the song realistic simply because he has lived this. He was bitten by a tick and developed Lyme disease. It was misdiagnosed and he went through hell and back as he struggled to find an answer. Check out “sick boi” next before you drop into the Ren rabbit hole much further.
Also he can actually play an instrument whilst performing the song. So props for that as well as it all being a one take video. Most artists can’t perform half as well live as this guy does.
You are a beautiful man. You heard the Music for the Music, but paused when you had 'heard the lyrics before'. You listened harder, found a deeper truth, shared it. Thank you. Life knocks: how we answer the knock depends on who we think is at our door.
Good reaction man. You show good humility in accepting that you were wrong initially, although I think we all accept that this is a difficult song to react to by pausing and commentating (not that I'm saying this is wrong, just saying that you can lose a bit of connection with the song). Most of us who sat and watched it in it's entirety without pausing went through a mix of emotions ranging from 'cool', 'oh, it's rap', 'WTF is this', then just sitting mesmerised with the mouth hanging open. I think only when you take it as a whole, as a piece of musical art, can you realise how unique and great it is - more than just a song, but a unifying call to all those who can relate to it. And for sure, the 'RENaissance' has bonded a whole group of fans who are genuinely humble and nice people with barely a bad word to say, even to reactors who don't get it and it's nice to see. Subscribed anyway, keep keeping it real.
Going into the video knowing his story and what he went through, it just caused a deeper feeling to the video. Going through my mental illnesses I really connected to this video. I believe that based on his other work, he is a generational talent. And I believe he lives and breathes music in all of its forms. I also appreciate your take on this as well. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the emotion of something and don't analyze it fully. So it's great to see you watch it as a whole and then come to your conclusion.
If anyone still reading these comments, search for Ren reaction to getting to number one album in UK! So real and humble and special (he wanted to sit w few close friends and hear on the radio if he got to number one w album "Sick Boi". So deserving and did it w no label, no ads or promos while most of the past year in Canada in clinic going through crazy long treatments for his autoimmunity disease....very special thing to witness, TRULY!!
Ren can rap his ass off too. And with his band The Big Push they do a live cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff/Road to Zion and Hip Hop) the Hip Hop song is from the Dead Prez. It's amazing how Ren sounds so similar to Bob on that song. Great reaction. People realize that not every song or every artist is going to appeal to everybody period but you got the bigger picture at the end when he said that poem period and it's true we have to remember that we are human beings. Even though me and you look different from each other, we're still human and we still have emotions and we're not each other's enemy like the politicians and media make it seem. We need each other more than we need any government, media, and celebrities who tell us what to do and how to think. They all push division because of divided people isn't easier controlled people. Much love and respect!
He was misdiagnosed with Lymes Disease for years. They treated him for a mental illness and he now has to do a daily regiment of a literal handful of pills, cognitive therapy to restructure the pathways in his brain and a chemical cocktail. He has to go to Canada to do this, which is why some of his videos, almost all live, are shot there. The dude is a genius and a superb story teller
All of the videos that he has released so far were actually filmed over in the UK. He had a ton of music that was all ready to release when he went to Canada. He knew he was going to be there for at least 6 months and he was prepared. I don't know that he's filmed anything in Canada yet. His most recent release, Illest Of Our Time, was filmed about a year ago in the UK. He talked about it in a community post.
I appreciate your honesty. I Freaked when I reacted to it a few weeks ago. It was stuck in my head, and I started watching others reacting to it as well. THEN, I found "The Tale of Jenny & Screech" + Violet's Tale (FULL) It;s a trilogy and Ren is probably the best Storyteller I have ever heard! If you like Performance art, from pure, raw talent, you should react to that next. Be sure to listen carefully to all 3 parts. He is an anomaly. Multi-talented. Wishing you continued success on your channel! I have fallen down the Ren rabbit hole, and haven't been disappointed yet! Cheers! Jennifer/The Speak Easy Lounge
First artist that has ever broke me! And not in a bad way but mentally showered me why I struggle sometimes! Wrote a poem long ago called the devil on my shoulder and this is it put to music!
Great stuff thanks. Everything about this masterpiece is outstanding, even the lighting casting two shadows…mind blown! This needs to be part of every high school curriculum.
Yes, he was sick . He was misdiagnosed for 8 years, getting treatments for things he didn't have, and he had to deal with the side effects from those. In the meantime, the real disease, Lyme disease was running rampant and untreated the whole time. Thus causing irreversible damage. Thank you for keeping an open mind all the way to the end .
Being sick and still chasing his dreams is a wonderful thing to show the world and I'm such a hard core fan of his so his story is something that moves me. I hope you check his story out.❤
Not all music is for everybody. I love the song but that is only my opinion. I believe you would like his cover (With the band, The Big Push) of I shot the sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip hop.
Already knowing the song and seeing this video a million times I forgot exactly what it was like the first time. So when you first stopped it my bias kicked in and I was a little mad lol even though music tate is zn opinion and obviously we don't have to share the same ones....but my bias couldn't help being a little thrown off lol. However way hinges it through with you and seeing and feeling he chsnge happening lol wasxawesome brother. Enjoyable and good reaction csn appreciate your thoughts. It only gets better brother kept down the ra bit hole...it takes you everywhere he does not have a genre HE IS through genre
I like a lot that you refer to the end as being a poem. You got it right, although I myself saw it as a kinda resume... an analysis. But it is more. It truely is a poem. Thank vou for the help to this insight. Greetz from Germany (if what i wrote sounds clumsy, this is the reason)!
Ren is currently in Canada receiving treatments for the effect of his misdiagnosed Lyme disease. He's the real thing man.can do literally every style!!man is a true Creative genius.thanks for the honest reaction.🎶✌
Yoooooo!!!! I really wonder why would you call it garbage without the final comment, Ren actually showcased all elements of classical music composing along with fucking huge bars, he created its own but with the guitar including a smashing rhythm, I'm I wrong??? just trying to understand here!!!
@@watchbizmatik Fortunately it doesn't matter whether you were impressed with it musically. Hundreds of millions of people listen to music and your opinion on any particular song is a tiny insignificant drop in the bucket.
So, he has Lyme disease. He didn't have mental illness UNTIL doctors misdiagnosed him over and over while he was physically wasting away. The doctors failed to do their jobs properly, and because they failed they decided he must have some type of mental illness that made him believe he had an illness that did not exist. They put him on heavy anti-psychotics and other psychiatric drugs for years and it brought mental illness upon him. Luckily, today he has been properly diagnosed and is receiving the treatment he should have received on day one. But only after exposing this thing that doctors do to people when THEY aren't doing THIER jobs correctly. We all know someone who has been told their illness is "all in their heads".
Man you got to check out The Big Push and I shot the sheriff/ Road to zion/ hip hop. Ren's band and does Bob Marley proud. Ren writes, sings, plays and produces all his own music. Rap to Rock to Reggae is awesome and no song disappoints. Lyrics sooo good 👍 Subbed 🙏👍
When your song make grown people cry..people say they can RELATE to it and encouraged to know they are not alone..THATS IT..that's what ARTIST are supposed to do,I get alot of what your saying but when you effect millions emotionally?you did your job..period,there is not much else to be said Good reaction bro
I really enjoyed your reaction. It was similar to mine when I first saw it and then the more times I thought about it and the more I listened the more. I really understood. This man has been blessed with loads of talent.
The difference between Ren and these other artists that sing about split personalities and mental health, Ren actually has suffered with his mental health for years. He now uses music to combat this.
0 I'm glad you had something valuable to say. At the end where you were able to make it a relatable point covered you with some grace. It's my first time watching you, and I get that it's a reaction video, but you decided to trash a man's talent halfway through the song. Even if you're tired of the topic or the concept, he still did it damn well..
Rap is interesting to me only in that it uses the play of words to create interesting messaging. But you stated that the POEM at the end is what ties it all together. I would have to say, you are 100% correct and the only person so far to call it poetic. It is a poem. It is a statement that ties the work toegether. It is beautiful.
This song is not derivative just because it’s canceling a classic topic. He did it his own way and absolutely killed it. Neither NF or Eminem could have done this.
Ren's a true talent. He talks about struggles with mental and physical health in a lot of his work, as someone who still goes through it and is speaking up about how much damage he suffered as a result of having his physical disease misdiagnosed as being mental. He goes into more depth on that in his track Sick Boi, but that's not all he talks about.
Know what you mean player, it's now a balance with go along to get along OR you don't agree with something and I'm not responsible for how you feel. I like your reactions and your perspective on the art piece at hand. I don't watch reactors who are going to think the exact same way I do. I watch them because they may see something I didn't or simply enjoy something I thought was pretty cool. End of social transaction. Keep it up brother 🙏
Great reaction! I'm glad you didn't break it down to a bunch of little pieces and looked at as a whole complete work of Art. Be interested to see your reaction to his Trilogy which I feel should be reacted to in the same way. Not as three separate stories but as a triptych painting....
Filmed live... 3 camera angles 4 tries but 1 take for the track itself and a second for rens monolog at the end.. This song isn't meant to be sad tho hun... and it's not exactly about mental illness. Ren contracted Lyme disease and spent the first 7yrs of that time misdiagnosed as bipolar and put on psych meds unnecessarily which inadvertently caused psychosis... spending 23hrs a day for the better part of your twenties is a lot of time in one's head. The pain of not being able to make music... a path he had thought he'd finally made it to getting signed by Sony only to get dropped by them just as quick when he got to sick to work. Fighting literally for his need to make music the rope he clung to... He's only 33 and has lived a much different hell then the mess the rest made in his mind. Yet says at least it won't have been for nothing if it means he can reach people with his music ... Personally Ren is the type of gift to music we haven't had in far too long ... Honestly I think you'll love a lot of his tracks for the message they hold ... some simply bc the kid has word play for days and makes it look eezee ❤❤❤ That and his guitar playing ..... dammnnn lol🔥🔥🔥 from busking with Sam or his band the big push to his old school fatboyslim retakes to the storytelling masterpieces there's just something about him that's almost scary real ❤❤
I get what you menat - sometimes a movie has something stupid in it, like a stunt, and just because a character in the movie may call it as such, it's still stupid. In a similar vein, sometimes an artist will do something in the style of, or use the lyrics of, another artist and just because they reference them, it doesn't mean they're not copying the original - but sometimes that self awareness is what makes the spin on the original that much more significant. Here, Ren named them to make a point, and it worked.
Hey man, that was me that spammed ya last month, I apologize, I never do shit like that, I had a super crazy month last month, lost my mom and had to be the grown up amongst a bunch of ungrateful siblings if ya know what I mean. I was so moved by the song, I just copy and pasted "Hi Ren" into some reactions of a handful of my favorite reactors figuring eventually you guys would start seeing the thumbnail and check it out..lol.
As far as your comments at the break, don't sweat it man, if people can't handle the truth, F-em, this ain't a song you pop in riding around in the whip, I watched Stevie Knight react to it first time I saw it, took another view or two before it hit me. But even if you thought it was garbage at the end, Is exactly why I keep coming back to your channel, I don't need confirmation bias of something I know I like. My two favorite types of reactions are ones that are genuine excitement/emotional when you can tell there's no way they're faking, the other is when someone genuinely doesn't care for a song that's making the rounds, and gives a proper, intelligent, synopsis afterward. That's why you're the man, and I know I'll always get a real reaction with you, don't ever apologize for that brother, that's what make's you top tier in my book.
I was going to tell you about his other music, but my man @Proud.America58 left an extremely nice break down of Ren's catalogue and I agree with every single one of his suggestions if you move forward checking out more of Ren's music. (Yes he can rap rap, it's almost scary how well). Sorry again for the spam, great reaction and commentary, Cheers!! ✌️💚
Hey Sorry For your Loss, I too Lost someone who was close to me not to long ago so I understand. As far as the people who can’t handle a difference of opinion I’m learning to deal with that and thanks for making me aware of this song it was a dope experience. Be well and thanks for your support and kind words fam. 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Shut up you lost your mom too? Fuggin sucks the hole left in the heart right? 36 day's ago the pain is still there, still heavy. As I write this I'm crying right now. Sorry for the vent. Ren is amazing and so is Chinchilla they're helping me get out of the funk I'm feeling for sure. Big Ups ❤️
I get it, been doing the same, this song blew my mind
The thing that really bakes my noodle is… this is a live performance! Not lip synced, no multiple takes, nothing. Just a man, with his guitar, his voice & one hell of a powerful message.
Please for the love of God tell me what the powerful message is. Please.
@@MikeRavia-xp5igyou can’t interpret the message?? I’m sure you must be joking.
It seems silly that everyone is okay with 50 million love songs and 50 million party songs, but there can only be a limited amount of songs about mental health. Then it becomes “We’ve heard it all before”.
Hip hop is the same way. It’s been the same 4 songs for the last 30 years but 🤷🏼♂️. God forbid you criticize. It speaks to people 🤦♂️
Well you missed the whole point and I’m not going to explain so good for you.
Lol what? 🤦🏿♂️ 😂😂😂
@@IanElkins I just like to argue🤷🏼♂️
You are completely right brother
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech"). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet.
The pig character represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made this work of art? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
Just an FYI regarding the pig character. On his twitch livestream on Mar 29, Ren said he is never going to divulge what the pig represents to him. He thinks it is best to leave it up to the viewer.
Thank you for aging that about the pig. I saw that twitch comment of him saying that he is t saying what the pig represents..it up to us to see it as we think it means!!
I don't see it as an overpowering last ditch effort, like you interpret it. My interpretation would be: In the beginning good Ren is kind of calm and collected, coming from the time he took for himself. And he starts arguing with his bad side. First in a calm manner and backed with arguments, but the more he fights his bad side, the stronger that side gets. And the good Ren gets more and more desperate fighting even harder and more emotional, until the bad side is overwhelmingly strong.
Then comes kind of a cut and he starts again with mentioning that he has taken some time for himself, means some time has passed since then. And now he is even stronger, confident for the first time and even accepts his bad side: "I stand here beside you today", "I'll stand in your fire", "immortal like you", "coin with two different sides". This is also reflected by the last Uh-Singing part where the lights flicker, which they only did, when the bad side was in charge, up unto that point.
I see the first part, as him trying to win the battle, and the last part is him getting older and realizing it was a dance all along, so he could not win that battle. And that is how he ended there. So the monologue at the end, kind of explains what happened between the evil part getting to the Newsflash part and the hope part.
Ren is the real deal. He became seriously ill in 2010, but was misdiagnosed for 6 or 7 years. The meds he was given just made him worse, so that he was often stuck in his bed for up to 23 hours a day. In 2016 he was finally correctly diagnosed with Lyme Disease and he received stem cell transplants which improved his health. However, the years of incorrect treatment have left him with a badly damaged immune system and some brain damage. He is currently getting specialist treatment in Canada where he is likely to be for at least 6 months
I feel it's a masterpiece even without the speech at the end.
Lol okay
Definitely…..most are just robotic and dumbed down too much, if it doesn’t sound mainstream and on the telly they don’t get it.
His story is pretty intense, he is transparent, he is raw, he is real, he is Ren. Saw him on his Twitch after the premiere of Illest of our Time and he was overwhelmed by love he was receiving. None of his music is anything that I would normally listen to, but all of it has struck me at the core. Appreciate your reaction and hope you will continue on the journey that is Ren (bringing us with you of course). Peace.
Your initial reaction about following the trend of 'oh I'm sick' and jumping on that bandwagon is a fair comment, and I think Ren KNEW that when he not only name-dropped Eminem and plan b, but took the story way past that and brought a new angle and direction that really do give this song a totally new feel and something that is unique in today's music. A great reaction vid!!
Thanks
Personally. I think what he did here was held up a mirror to the entire world and he got everyone to look into it.
for me, it was already solidified once he arose from the wheelchair
Yes!! He DARES you not to see yourself and FEEL
@aliciawatson8417 and he uses his musical talent to keep you from looking away. You are his for 9 minutes. Captivated whether from shock or Awe, he owns you for that 9 minutes. And yes as vulnerable as he comes off he dares you not to see yourself.
this is new to me too (i’m old) i love this video. i love that he’s normalizing mental illness. he’s bright and so young and sarcastic and critical and self reflective
I had a similar reaction to yours when i first heard this, in that i wasn't impressed by the first couple of minutes, but by the end i was in tears because the lyrics and genius of it had hit me and resonated with me, i totally get people who don't understand it, maybe you need to have gone through some hard time to empathise with what Ren is saying, but for me it totally hit home.
Lucky for us, The Beatles went ahead and made all those love songs, even though others had done it before. Mental health is a topic with plenty of room for different perspectives, from different artists.
Ah yeah, you nailed it near the end - a great piece of art. That's the thing about this, it isn't just another mental health diatribe. Ren shows some very considerable skills here, and the more you look into his catalogue, the more amazing it gets. You can't label him by this performance (and it is a performance, done live, and what you see here is a single take - though it may have taken him 3 or 4 tries until he was happy with it). He has covered many genres, many styles. Worth a deeper look, but I am a bit surprised to see this on your channel as I had you down as being more on a retro journey, and Ren is very much a 'now' figure.
Like he says, no one wants to hear another song about how much he hates himself, trust me. I've never listened to Eminem nor Plan B but can't get enough of this some for some reason
I don't watch reactions to validate my own feelings. I watch them to experience that first time seeing/hearing a song all over again. And for me with Hi Ren, my first listen left me confused, impressed, intrigued, a little off balance... but feeling as if something inside had been cracked open and needed to be explored.
It's a journey. A very personal journey. I appreciate your reaction and your sum up at the end.
I love this comment. You said it perfectly.
It's not just mental illness. He has Lyme disease, but for years and years nobody diagnosed it correctly, and since the symptoms are chronic fatigue and whatnot, doctors just thought he was depressed and gave him pills after pills since they weren't working (obviously), but though they weren't healing his "depression", they were still potent meds, which eventually triggered psychosis. He is now in Canada at one of the best clinic to repair all the damages done to his brain and nerve system, which will take at least till the summer, that's what he's been told, but I think the mental illness produced by very strong mind medicines that he did not need will stay with him, which justify his anger towards the medical program. Made him miserable for half of his life, just making him feel worse, convinced that his mind was making him sick (if you'll listen to Sick Boi that's a major line), but it was literally a tick bite. And even though he went through all of that, he sends out positive messages, which mean everything to me. I "only" have depression, he's been bed ridden for like 6 years, if he can recover from that and say he'll be stronger, then I'll fight harder too. Ren is the gift that I didn't know I deserved, but am so thankful to have found. He makes me want to battle more, he makes me strong when I feel like giving up. I am so thankful he exists.
Ya want Rap... he Kills it there too! Hunger, Losing It, illest of our time, Sick Boi... etc...
Storytelling... Jenny and Screech (Full!) is a MASTERPIECE... Period!
Singing... Chaulk Outlines shows his singing abilities!
Thankful you heard the whole thing and thanks for making the differentiations between who sings about stuff versus those who sing a song about their own reality.
It’s makes a difference when people just make songs just to make it especially about an issue that is so Important it waters it down, but this song was really special
The difference is ren lyrically is outstanding. His use of the English language to stitch these masterpieces together is magical.
Well said!
Every word he spoke was his truth. He's actually gone through it, and still is. He's not promoting his music, he's promoting awareness. Just saying.
Some Sympathy for Shadow Ren: When he said “Man it’s just like that. I’m inside you you twat!” and when he called bullshit on “Music is all about the creative process…” I about pissed myself.
I recently found Rens music n honestly I’m hooked! The art, the rap, the raw talent, it’s amazing!
One take. Live. Playing guitar. Nah no one else does this.
Sidenote: Someone pointed out to me that Ren casts a shadow both to the left and right. The left side is a darker shadow and right side is a lighter shadow.
Look at his back story. You can't imagine what this kid has been through.
TRUTH!
@MC kalCM I admire him so much dude. I know myself. I would've thrown in the towel. The fact that he persevered and kept writing some of the most unique music I've ever heard is a testament to how tough he is.
Ren got Lyme disease at 16 and misdiagnosed for 8 years. He's still suffering today and in Canada getting treatment now. All the time music kept him going and his talent is finally getting recognition 🙏 Hated Rap but seeing Ren that's changed 😄👍 his bars are 🔥 and suck you in to a story.
Seen Rock reactors all getting his music and people talking about health and more. He genuinely appreciates all Reactors and no copyright shit as he's independent. His rabbit hole is sooo good.
Did you notice the art of it all? the setting, when the lights flicker? The flick back and forth? just amazing to me, just wow.
Your skepticism made this reaction special.
Thank you
Ren is an extremely talented performer, artist and composer. He makes the song realistic simply because he has lived this. He was bitten by a tick and developed Lyme disease. It was misdiagnosed and he went through hell and back as he struggled to find an answer. Check out “sick boi” next before you drop into the Ren rabbit hole much further.
No. He sucks.
This isn't a song this is a masterpiece 🤯
Great reaction and what a song. Shredded the neck of that guitar with nylon.
My first time here. Really appreciated your authenticity and insight. Nice job. Much love xxx
Em is a rapper ren is a musician there is a difference
I’ve heard this many times. It’s a prayer to himself and the world.
Most things have been done, but when it's done right, it sounds new and innovative.
Also he can actually play an instrument whilst performing the song. So props for that as well as it all being a one take video. Most artists can’t perform half as well live as this guy does.
You are a beautiful man.
You heard the Music for the Music, but paused when you had 'heard the lyrics before'.
You listened harder, found a deeper truth, shared it. Thank you.
Life knocks: how we answer the knock depends on who we think is at our door.
Thank you
Good reaction man. You show good humility in accepting that you were wrong initially, although I think we all accept that this is a difficult song to react to by pausing and commentating (not that I'm saying this is wrong, just saying that you can lose a bit of connection with the song). Most of us who sat and watched it in it's entirety without pausing went through a mix of emotions ranging from 'cool', 'oh, it's rap', 'WTF is this', then just sitting mesmerised with the mouth hanging open. I think only when you take it as a whole, as a piece of musical art, can you realise how unique and great it is - more than just a song, but a unifying call to all those who can relate to it. And for sure, the 'RENaissance' has bonded a whole group of fans who are genuinely humble and nice people with barely a bad word to say, even to reactors who don't get it and it's nice to see. Subscribed anyway, keep keeping it real.
Thank you
Going into the video knowing his story and what he went through, it just caused a deeper feeling to the video. Going through my mental illnesses I really connected to this video. I believe that based on his other work, he is a generational talent. And I believe he lives and breathes music in all of its forms. I also appreciate your take on this as well. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the emotion of something and don't analyze it fully. So it's great to see you watch it as a whole and then come to your conclusion.
If anyone still reading these comments, search for Ren reaction to getting to number one album in UK! So real and humble and special (he wanted to sit w few close friends and hear on the radio if he got to number one w album "Sick Boi". So deserving and did it w no label, no ads or promos while most of the past year in Canada in clinic going through crazy long treatments for his autoimmunity disease....very special thing to witness, TRULY!!
Ren can rap his ass off too. And with his band The Big Push they do a live cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff/Road to Zion and Hip Hop) the Hip Hop song is from the Dead Prez. It's amazing how Ren sounds so similar to Bob on that song.
Great reaction. People realize that not every song or every artist is going to appeal to everybody period but you got the bigger picture at the end when he said that poem period and it's true we have to remember that we are human beings. Even though me and you look different from each other, we're still human and we still have emotions and we're not each other's enemy like the politicians and media make it seem. We need each other more than we need any government, media, and celebrities who tell us what to do and how to think. They all push division because of divided people isn't easier controlled people. Much love and respect!
He was misdiagnosed with Lymes Disease for years. They treated him for a mental illness and he now has to do a daily regiment of a literal handful of pills, cognitive therapy to restructure the pathways in his brain and a chemical cocktail. He has to go to Canada to do this, which is why some of his videos, almost all live, are shot there. The dude is a genius and a superb story teller
All of the videos that he has released so far were actually filmed over in the UK. He had a ton of music that was all ready to release when he went to Canada. He knew he was going to be there for at least 6 months and he was prepared. I don't know that he's filmed anything in Canada yet. His most recent release, Illest Of Our Time, was filmed about a year ago in the UK. He talked about it in a community post.
I appreciate your honesty. I Freaked when I reacted to it a few weeks ago. It was stuck in my head, and I started watching others reacting to it as well. THEN, I found "The Tale of Jenny & Screech" + Violet's Tale (FULL) It;s a trilogy and Ren is probably the best Storyteller I have ever heard! If you like Performance art, from pure, raw talent, you should react to that next. Be sure to listen carefully to all 3 parts. He is an anomaly. Multi-talented. Wishing you continued success on your channel! I have fallen down the Ren rabbit hole, and haven't been disappointed yet! Cheers!
Jennifer/The Speak Easy Lounge
Thanks I will check out more
Really good and fair reaction, Biz! I enjoyed it. I think you’ll be really impressed with this young man’s talent!
First artist that has ever broke me! And not in a bad way but mentally showered me why I struggle sometimes! Wrote a poem long ago called the devil on my shoulder and this is it put to music!
Great stuff thanks.
Everything about this masterpiece is outstanding, even the lighting casting two shadows…mind blown!
This needs to be part of every high school curriculum.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It's been done a lot... not this genre... people starting their own reaction channels. It's been done to death.
NPC 😂
Yes, he was sick . He was misdiagnosed for 8 years, getting treatments for things he didn't have, and he had to deal with the side effects from those. In the meantime, the real disease, Lyme disease was running rampant and untreated the whole time. Thus causing irreversible damage. Thank you for keeping an open mind all the way to the end .
I like that you were true when you said it was stupid, but even more true when you changed and admitted that it was actual FIRE in the end.
Thank you. So glad you did this
Being sick and still chasing his dreams is a wonderful thing to show the world and I'm such a hard core fan of his so his story is something that moves me. I hope you check his story out.❤
Not all music is for everybody. I love the song but that is only my opinion. I believe you would like his cover (With the band, The Big Push) of I shot the sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip hop.
As someone who has been at war with his own brain for years, this song hit me hard.
nice reaction, thanks
I’m happy for your turn around on this and naming it a piece of art rather than a song.
Thank You for Reacting/Reviewing it! I'm pretty sure I was the guy who spammed "Ren - Hi Ren" lol CHEERS!
I love Ren, The Hunger is a great one so is Chalk Outlines... he's amazing
This was live and four takes to get the one we're watching now.
Closeups added to the end. He does one take videos so well.
That’s dope
Already knowing the song and seeing this video a million times I forgot exactly what it was like the first time. So when you first stopped it my bias kicked in and I was a little mad lol even though music tate is zn opinion and obviously we don't have to share the same ones....but my bias couldn't help being a little thrown off lol. However way hinges it through with you and seeing and feeling he chsnge happening lol wasxawesome brother. Enjoyable and good reaction csn appreciate your thoughts. It only gets better brother kept down the ra bit hole...it takes you everywhere he does not have a genre HE IS through genre
Sorry horrible spelling lol new phone I'm using haha
Thanks
I like a lot that you refer to the end as being a poem. You got it right, although I myself saw it as a kinda resume... an analysis. But it is more. It truely is a poem. Thank vou for the help to this insight. Greetz from Germany (if what i wrote sounds clumsy, this is the reason)!
Anyone willing to give an artist a listen, really is a gift. It's time and any fan should appreciate that
Thank you for this comment
Ren is currently in Canada receiving treatments for the effect of his misdiagnosed Lyme disease. He's the real thing man.can do literally every style!!man is a true Creative genius.thanks for the honest reaction.🎶✌
Ren is a genius. Such a wonderful guy and everything he creates is a masterpiece. ❤❤ Thank you for your reaction 😊
🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙏🏿
Yoooooo!!!! I really wonder why would you call it garbage without the final comment, Ren actually showcased all elements of classical music composing along with fucking huge bars, he created its own but with the guitar including a smashing rhythm, I'm I wrong???
just trying to understand here!!!
Thats not what I said, and I made my point very clear if thats what you got out of it than you didnt watch the video.
@@watchbizmatik Fortunately it doesn't matter whether you were impressed with it musically. Hundreds of millions of people listen to music and your opinion on any particular song is a tiny insignificant drop in the bucket.
So, he has Lyme disease. He didn't have mental illness UNTIL doctors misdiagnosed him over and over while he was physically wasting away. The doctors failed to do their jobs properly, and because they failed they decided he must have some type of mental illness that made him believe he had an illness that did not exist. They put him on heavy anti-psychotics and other psychiatric drugs for years and it brought mental illness upon him.
Luckily, today he has been properly diagnosed and is receiving the treatment he should have received on day one. But only after exposing this thing that doctors do to people when THEY aren't doing THIER jobs correctly. We all know someone who has been told their illness is "all in their heads".
Man you got to check out The Big Push and I shot the sheriff/ Road to zion/ hip hop. Ren's band and does Bob Marley proud.
Ren writes, sings, plays and produces all his own music.
Rap to Rock to Reggae is awesome and no song disappoints.
Lyrics sooo good 👍
Subbed 🙏👍
Phenomenal reaction brother little pauses and able to bring it all back in the final moments❤ rens a top 5 artist for me I love his art
I Great introspection. melody gets to you. Definitely going on my playlist.
When your song make grown people cry..people say they can RELATE to it and encouraged to know they are not alone..THATS IT..that's what ARTIST are supposed to do,I get alot of what your saying but when you effect millions emotionally?you did your job..period,there is not much else to be said
Good reaction bro
Appreciated your honesty bro..... I knew as you went with the flow, you would get it 😊❤
🙏🏿🙏🏿
Very grounded and honest reaction, thanks💞
Thank you
Also realize he's doing this LIVE.
You had six hundred and sixty six thumbs up and that made me laugh. I'm your 667th. This is devilish brilliance anyways. Love Ren.
🤣🤣🤣 oh wow
I’m so happy that you saw there was way more to this than just a repeat of another song. 😊
D*** I thought it was me!!. I've been telling a lot of new youtubers to check this out!....... That tool, APC and prosofer!
I really enjoyed your reaction. It was similar to mine when I first saw it and then the more times I thought about it and the more I listened the more. I really understood. This man has been blessed with loads of talent.
Thanks
Ren isn't like the other people who pride themselves as victims😭
The difference between Ren and these other artists that sing about split personalities and mental health, Ren actually has suffered with his mental health for years. He now uses music to combat this.
glad you came around.
0 I'm glad you had something valuable to say. At the end where you were able to make it a relatable point covered you with some grace.
It's my first time watching you, and I get that it's a reaction video, but you decided to trash a man's talent halfway through the song. Even if you're tired of the topic or the concept, he still did it damn well..
Rap is interesting to me only in that it uses the play of words to create interesting messaging. But you stated that the POEM at the end is what ties it all together. I would have to say, you are 100% correct and the only person so far to call it poetic. It is a poem. It is a statement that ties the work toegether. It is beautiful.
Glad you gave this a chance. I find him to be brilliant.
I appreciate your reaction.
This song is not derivative just because it’s canceling a classic topic. He did it his own way and absolutely killed it. Neither NF or Eminem could have done this.
Ren's a true talent.
He talks about struggles with mental and physical health in a lot of his work, as someone who still goes through it and is speaking up about how much damage he suffered as a result of having his physical disease misdiagnosed as being mental. He goes into more depth on that in his track Sick Boi, but that's not all he talks about.
Know what you mean player, it's now a balance with go along to get along OR you don't agree with something and I'm not responsible for how you feel. I like your reactions and your perspective on the art piece at hand. I don't watch reactors who are going to think the exact same way I do. I watch them because they may see something I didn't or simply enjoy something I thought was pretty cool. End of social transaction. Keep it up brother 🙏
Nice reaction...
Thanks 🙏🏿
Great reaction!
I'm glad you didn't break it down to a bunch of little pieces and looked at as a whole complete work of Art.
Be interested to see your reaction to his Trilogy which I feel should be reacted to in the same way.
Not as three separate stories but as a triptych painting....
'Chalk Outlines' with Chinchilla is another must listen to.
This was a great vid, I always love your honesty. Ren is Multi talented I hope you check out more.
Thanks
Made for Broadway! Simply brilliant.
I eagerly await more reactions to Ren's music.
a good honest reaction, well done sir
Thank you
Filmed live... 3 camera angles 4 tries but 1 take for the track itself and a second for rens monolog at the end..
This song isn't meant to be sad tho hun... and it's not exactly about mental illness.
Ren contracted Lyme disease and spent the first 7yrs of that time misdiagnosed as bipolar and put on psych meds unnecessarily which inadvertently caused psychosis... spending 23hrs a day for the better part of your twenties is a lot of time in one's head.
The pain of not being able to make music... a path he had thought he'd finally made it to getting signed by Sony only to get dropped by them just as quick when he got to sick to work.
Fighting literally for his need to make music the rope he clung to...
He's only 33 and has lived a much different hell then the mess the rest made in his mind. Yet says at least it won't have been for nothing if it means he can reach people with his music ...
Personally Ren is the type of gift to music we haven't had in far too long ...
Honestly I think you'll love a lot of his tracks for the message they hold ... some simply bc the kid has word play for days and makes it look eezee ❤❤❤
That and his guitar playing ..... dammnnn lol🔥🔥🔥 from busking with Sam or his band the big push to his old school fatboyslim retakes to the storytelling masterpieces there's just something about him that's almost scary real ❤❤
This was a really great reaction!
Thank you glad to see someone who understands what I was saying
I get what you menat - sometimes a movie has something stupid in it, like a stunt, and just because a character in the movie may call it as such, it's still stupid.
In a similar vein, sometimes an artist will do something in the style of, or use the lyrics of, another artist and just because they reference them, it doesn't mean they're not copying the original - but sometimes that self awareness is what makes the spin on the original that much more significant.
Here, Ren named them to make a point, and it worked.
I'd say the most impressive thing is it's 1 take live. From what I've learned it took 4 attempts to get the 1 take.
It feels like you only enjoyed it when you found out his health problems were real disregarding if the sing was good or not 🙄
And the final note is missing ..
There is no distinct end, like a pendulum, it is ongoing
Great reaction!
Thank you!!