E.D.E.N by Genesis Renji

Do you ever have one of those weekends where everything lines up perfectly? Me neither my friends but damn if I didn't get close. October is here, and it feels just like Pretty Girls Like Trap Music outside. I spent the weekend getting shit done, and by getting shit done, I mean playing NBA 2K, drinking wine, and listening to new music. Specifically, a new work of art called E.D.E.N from Genesis Renji, and I immediately thought of you, my friends. I thought about how you might miss out on this, and I couldn't have you do that on my watch. Thank me later. Or now, actually, yeah, now is fine.

The E.P. begins with "Pass The Line." A solid intro over gloomy piano keys that finds Renji crooning about a struggling relationship that's seeing two lovers try to keep it together. We all relate, right?

Sidenote: if you're in a struggling relationship, now might be your best time to break up. You're just far enough away from Christmas that you won't have to get your ex a gift. Just saying… Do with that information what you will.

"Pass The Line" does what a good intro is supposed to do and makes me interested in what's next. "Siamese" begins to play in my Beats headphones, and this shit fucking slaps. That's not the "professional journalist" way to say it, but I have to keep it all the way authentic with you. "You stuck to me as siamese," Renji echoes melodically over one of the best production efforts on the project. A song about two lovers who keep finding their way back to each other even when one of them might be with someone else. Remember, my pals, don't let a significant other get in the way of true love.

"Hurt Me Again" plays, and this is hands down my favorite on the EP. From the 70s influenced baseline and backseat of a cutlass feel the beat provides to the mix and the unique tone of Renji's vocals, this one is perfect. "Long as you right here, I ain't scared of the end, Cause our world gotta stop for our world to begin" That's fucking bars, my guy. Text your girl that right now, and she's going to fuck with the energy even if she doesn't know exactly what it means. 

It's tough to follow up when you have a song as good as "Hurt Me Again," it's tough to follow up. Renji does something smart here and gives us more of an interlude with "No One." He knows what he just did with "Hurt Me Again."

"Gone Baby," in my opinion, is the best vocal offering on E.D.E.N. Although songs like "Pass The Line" and "Siamese" involve singing 'Gone Baby' hits a bit different. He even gave us the "girl talking to you with the phone filter" bit here. Underneath it is the story of 2 toxic people who are probably too toxic for each other but hey, isn't that the best kind of love, right? ……Right?

We wrap things up with "Thank You." No more singing. Renji decides it's time for raps, and I agree. It's a nice change of pace and works out well as the last song on the project. "Thank You" plays like a letter of closure to an ex. He's holding himself accountable and swallowing a tough pill. This sums of that feeling of knowing how the ending played out are your fault. I mean, I can't relate cause it's never my fault. Even when it is…it ain't. In all seriousness, it's a beautiful ending to the E.P.

E.D.E.N plays well straight through or on shuffle. It's a well-written story that ends on a perfect note. You know how Frank Ocean has had different "eras." If Genesis said this was the E.D.E.N era, and the next project sounded completely different, I wouldn't be mad, but I would find myself going back to this era over and over, and I feel like that's what an album or EP should do. Sound good, play through nicely and wrap up in a way that gives you closure to the story.

Alright, my friends, I am out of here. You can stream E.D.E.N on all major platforms and remember sometimes you gotta text "We need to talk" then put your phone on D.N.D. to keep them on their toes.