Chris Rene, ‘Young Homie’ – Song Review

When we met Chris Rene on 'X Factor,' his smooth R&B vocals and rap skills immediately perked our ears up. On top of all that, the 28-year-old hip-hop newcomer has one of the most touching stories we've ever heard on one of these reality singing competitions, as he told the 'X Factor' audience and judges about his battle with drug addiction and how his wants to win so that he can support his 2-year-old son.

On the show, Rene sang his original track 'Young Homie,' which appears on his 2009 LP 'Soul'D Out.' The track carries a very personal message for Rene, as it chronicles his mental state as he struggled to overcome his addiction.

Making music seems to be a healing outlet for Rene, as he delicately raps/sings, "Yeah, it's been 3 years now / Haven't had a drink and I'm starting to see clear now / I'm putting all my fears down / I can hear the cheers now / Seeing peace signs when I look around." As he rap/sings, injecting some reggae flavor into certain lyrics, it's clear that 'Young Homie' is a cathartic song for Rene, which makes the song more meaningful and impacts our souls on a deeper level.

The old-school beat of the song and the tone (similar to the Black Eyed Peas' 'Where Is the Love') works well with Rene's smooth, smoky R&B voice, which sounds like a mix of John Mayer and Drake. His voice is soothing, with a grainy, whisper-like quality that is truly captivating. "Hey, young homie what you trippin' on / Looking at life, like how did I get it wrong / Life's too short gotta live it long / To my brothers and sisters when will we get along," Rene sings during the chorus. Although the lyrics aren't super poetic, sometimes the more simple the message, the more effectively it comes across.

Chris Rene made it through to next round on 'X Factor,' so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more from the up-and-coming hip-hop star in the future. For now, listen to the recorded version of 'Young Homie' below and head over to Amazon to check out the full-length 'Soul'D Out' album.

Listen to Chris Rene, 'Young Homie'