For those of you unfamiliar with Chris Rene, he’s is the inspirational X-Factor USA contestant (and father of an adorable little boy, Ryan) who’s troubled past and now bright future was chronicled during the reality show’s first season. A recovering drug and alcohol addict, Rene had been clean and sober for just 10 weeks at the time of his audition for the popular series. First performed during his audition and released digitally worldwide on March 13th, “Young Homie” is Rene’s first single from his forthcoming debut album, due out later this year on Epic Records. While never considered one of the competition’s true contenders vocally, Chris Rene‘s spirit and heart warming story carried him to the finals, where he came in third place.
The autobiographical song was co-written by Chris Rene, Gabriel Rene, Gina Rene, Jonathan Rotem, Marty James, Gene Pistilli, and Walter Murphy, “Young Homie” and produced by Rotem (Rihanna, Sean Kingston) and James (Allstar Weekend, Livvi Franc). To date the song has peaked at #1 on Billboard‘s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and at #30 on Billboard‘s Pop Songs chart.
As the grandson of Leon Rene, a well known composer (“Rockin’ Robin“) and label head (Rendezvous Record Company) in the 1930s, 40s and 50s Chris Rene seemed destined to go into music. Rene’s own father was a jazz and soul singer in the 50s and 60s, while his brother and sister – Gabriel and Gina (co-writers on “Young Homie“)- are both musicians and members of an electronica group called Soulstice. Before hitting it big on The X-Factor, Rene released an album, Soul’d Out, independently back in 2009. With his vocal style, reminiscent of Mike Posner and his abilities as a storyteller, I predict great things for Chris Rene. He has a lot to be proud of, that’s for sure.
Check out the video for “Young Homie,” which was shot in Rene’s hometown of Santa Cruz, California in February. The video premiered on YouTube and VEVO on March 20th. Download “Young Homie” on U.S. iTunes HERE.
Check out Chris Rene on the web: