It’s no secret that we here at The Antagonist are fans of Welsh rapper and instrumentalist Ren. Suffice to say, he is really having a moment.
“Hi Ren” — Ren’s breakthrough viral hit — just surpassed 12 million views on YouTube. This track’s success is surprising on multiple levels. A nearly 10-minute track of a man rapping about his self doubt accompanied only by an acoustic guitar is not the blueprint for widespread pop success.
The lyrics address Ren’s struggles with debilitating illness and life as an artist in a way that is deeply personal, yet universal enough to resonate with a large audience. For a deep dive on “Hi Ren,” check out The Antagonist Podcast.
Another big success for Ren is his win over CNN. In a report about the potential risks posed to minors on TikTok, CNN Business included a brief clip from “Hi Ren” in which Ren addresses thoughts of suicide and self harm. It’s no doubt that there are plenty of harmful things on social media, especially for kids. But that just makes the misrepresentation of “Hi Ren” even more galling.
Under the CNN report posted to YouTube, Ren left the following comment:
“Cheers for taking my video out of context then using it in a way that is the polar opposite of its intended purpose CNN! I’m pretty sure this counts as defamation and I don’t remember giving permission to use my copyrighted material? Willing to let it slide for a public apology and if you guys air the whole song on CNN!! That way people can make up their own minds about how much its poisoning the minds of [sic] chilren”
After outcry from Ren’s fans online, CNN surprisingly allowed Ren to provide comments to include in their report.
Last week, Ren sat down with Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins to discuss his path to internet success and the personal struggles that inspired his biggest hit. It’s a very intimate conversation that is worth checking out.
This all comes as Ren releases his newest video, a self-directed clip for the track “Animal Flow.” Here we see Ren step away from the harrowing lows of “Hi Ren” and have a bit of fun. The important thing is that Ren keeps it weird as hell. Which I think we can all appreciate.
