Aaron Rennel

Entrepreneur and label owner Aaron Rennel has used his talents for rhyming to open up doors for not only himself, but for people who are also like-minded with a desire to be creative from music to business. Born in Erie but raised between the 814 and North Carolina, Rennel has grown to become a force, proving so by opening up for major acts such as Montana of 300, Lil Cray, CHXPO and more. Now an owner and executive of the independent label Major Coin, this rap visionary plans to manifest success and legacy.

1. While writing at such a young age, what was the vision that you had for yourself as an artist, or were you writing music for the fun of it?

When I first started writing, it was purely out of enjoyment. Rap was the first thing I ever wanted to do in life and I had already cultivated a love for music at that age, so it seemed to be a natural progression. I recorded a demo tape on an old karaoke machine with my siblings and sent it to Master P in hopes of being the next big thing in hip-hop. We were definitely ambitious.

2. At shows, you're able to command attention as if it's your last appearance. With opening up for huge acts such as Montana of 300, do you still approach the stage as if it's your own show?

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment. My stage presence is something I’ve intentionally honed, knowing that it’s an integral part of being a professional musician. I’ve had a variety of on-stage experiences from highs to lows, but they all compound into something special at this point in time. When I opened up for Montana of 300, I wasn’t as skilled of a performer as I am today. But what I lacked in experience, I made up for in energy and tenacity.

3. Your label, Major Coin, has been buzzing for some time. What was the purpose behind creating the company?

Honestly, Major Coin came about at a time where we, Kenny Ba$e and I, were yearning for independence and space to grow, which were both key things that led to our departure from our previous situation. Ultimately, Major Coin is a representation of human potential. We believe you can lead a life you love and be prosperous as well. We believe in the value that individuality brings to society at large and we also believe in paying it forward, being a blessing to others.

4. What are some of the sacrifices you had to make in order to build and expand your brand?

When you’re walking your path, you’re going to experience a whole onslaught of things sent to keep you from achieving your true purpose, and amidst that trudge through the unknown, you’re going to have to sacrifice some things to come out on the other end victorious. I’ve lost countless money in pursuit of my vision because there will always be those who prey on the ignorant or inexperienced. I’ve lost time I’ll never get back, spending it in the wrong places with the wrong people, those who didn’t value me or necessarily have my best interest at heart. I’ve had to let go of a lot of personal relationships and paradigms in general in order to experience the growth I’ve been working toward.

5. What is the most valuable lesson that you have learned so far from your journey?

There are so many life lessons and insights that I’ve had the blessing to be able to uncover throughout this journey, but one that I’m particularly fond of is the fact that we as human beings simultaneously create and experience our reality. This means that the nature of our experience is ever-changing from two vantage points; that of the creator and that of the creation. This means that we have immense power within seemingly powerless circumstances. I know everyone has different belief systems, but in mine, I am a co-creator in my experience with God, and understanding that on a deep level enables one to weave their way through life artfully with a high level of awareness. That high-level sense of awareness can be used to help create opportunities for one to bring forward their desired experience.

Aaron Rennel's music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming platforms.

Written By Charles Brown - GoErie

Entrepreneurial hip-hop group Major Coin have been on the grind to expand their name for years, drawing more and more people into their blueprint of music and fashion. Consisting of rappers and siblings Kenny Ba$e and Aaron Rennel, along with producer/engineer Chauncy Bill$up, the "Make It Stack" team continues to carve their own path, locking themselves in the studio to create memorable moments for the world to hear.

This past February, a surprise EP surfaced online on Valentine's Day titled Accepting Love.

I had a chance to talk with Aaron Rennel about the thought process of putting the EP together.

"The overall theme and tone of the tape is what the title suggests; the acceptance of love," says Rennel. "As an independent artist, it can be easy to pay more attention to what's seemingly not going right than what is. So this was our attempt at cutting through the dissonance and existing as we truly are."

The first track off of the EP, "That's On Me," is a fun track that could easily kick off the summer with a braggadocious flow that explores the themes of independence and attracting love or lust because of it.

Falling into the Donnell Jones-inspired track "No Chasers," you can hear a bouncy pattern of rhymes that dives into a small story about an unhealthy relationship that calls for an important change in pace and discovering another option.

The songs and bars being traded between Rennel and Ba$e are something that the two songwriters have been doing for some time and their chemistry continues to grow.

"The idea of putting out a Valentine's Day tape came a few weeks before the actual date. I was sitting down discussing a potential drop with Kenny Ba$e at which point he suggested we do an EP, as we both were itching to put out new music." And as always, the duo was able to execute flawlessly. While Chauncy Bill$up has been the go-to producer for their sound throughout past projects, this time he stepped back into an engineering role, focusing on mixing and mastering vocals more than beats.

"Bill$up actually didn't produce any of these," Rennel says. "He handled the engineering." The production was taken care of by producers outside of the squad, yet still delivered a Major Coin sound that we all love and enjoy.

OmarWya, Geeohhs, and Julius Swervin' are just a few of the beatmakers who helped bring Accepting Love to life, but almost unintentionally. Rennel states, "We work with a variety of producers on a regular basis. So it felt like a move done in stride. The EP reads more like a compilation tape. The music that made the cut wasn't made specifically for this tape, but curated to create this experience."

What is unique about this body of work is that although it's an enjoyable ride, it comes from a real place that resides in both Rennel and Ba$e. Rennel claims that "Accepting Love was born out of the place both me and Ba$e were at mentally when the plan for the EP was hatched. Most of the songs were already recorded and needed polishing, so it's hard to say how we knew what topics to speak on. We didn't even know this EP was going to be a 'thing' at first."

Rennel wagered that "ultimately, we are both artists who value authenticity and who don't have an issue with expressing ourselves, our sentiments, or our viewpoints in this medium. We know what to talk about in our music because it is a reflection of our truest selves."

With Chey Honey, a female vocalist, as the only feature on the record, the transparency shines through in both a playful and serious tone between the artists. Whether it's date night or you're just getting your weekend started, this seven-track package is ready-made for many occasions, though it steers toward romantic themes.

Major Coin has prided itself on allowing the music to take people on a colorful expedition to please the ears. Each individual from the team has proven to us that they can hold their own separately, but when it's time to link up to work with one another, magic happens. Accepting Love is a wonderful post-Valentine's gift for us all to unwrap and cherish. The new project can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.

Find out more about Major Coin at facebook.com/MajorCoinCo and majorcoinco.com.

Charles Brown can be reached at charlesbrowncj@gmail.com. - Erie Reader