MC Ren

Lorenzo Jerald Patterson (born June 16, 1969), known professionally as MC Ren, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, California.

He is the founder and owner of the record label Villain Entertainment.

Lorenzo Jerald Patterson was born in Compton, California, on June 16, 1969, and raised in Pannes Ave. around Kelly Park.

He grew up with his parents, two brothers and a sister.

His father used to work for "the government", until he later opened up his own barber shop.

Patterson joined the Kelly Park Compton Crips (of which Eazy-E would also become a member) in attempt to make money, but soon departed and turned to drug dealing as he felt it was more lucrative.

Following a raid on his childhood friend MC Chip's house, Patterson quit dealing and focused thereafter on making music.

Patterson attended Dominguez High School, where he met his future collaborator, DJ Train.

At this time, he developed an interest in hip hop music, and began writing songs with MC Chip, with whom he formed the group Awesome Crew, and performed at parties and nightclubs.

Patterson officially began his rap career upon joining forces with another childhood friend, Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, in 1985.

MC Ren began his career as a solo artist signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in early 1987, while still attending high school.

By the end of 1987, after having written nearly half of Eazy-Duz-It, he became a member of N.W.A.

Patterson graduated from high school in 1987 and he planned to join the United States Army after graduation, but changed his mind after watching the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket.

In 1987, Patterson was signed as a solo artist to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, while still attending high school.

However, when Ice Cube went to study for a year, Ren was asked to write songs for the in-progress Eazy-Duz-It.

After writing much of the album, MC Ren was asked to join the group N.W.A. They immediately started on the album Straight Outta Compton.

With a budget of US$8,000, the album was finished in four weeks and released in August 1988.

Propelled by "Fuck tha Police", the album became a major success, despite an almost complete absence of radio airplay or major concert tours.

The FBI sent Ruthless a warning letter in response to the song's content.

One month after Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-Duz-It was released, with lyrics largely written by Patterson, with contributions from Ice Cube and The D.O.C.

Following Ice Cube's departure from the group in 1989, N.W.A quickly released the EP 100 Miles and Runnin' with lyrics written by Patterson, with contributions by The D.O.C. The group's second full-length studio album, Niggaz4Life, was released the next year.

After the group disbanded in 1991, he stayed with Ruthless, releasing three solo albums including the controversial Shock of the Hour before leaving the label in 1998.

Released in summer 1992, the EP was a hit, commercially and critically.

Without any radio play, the EP went Platinum within 2 months.

Patterson began recording for his debut album, at that time called Life Sentence, in late 1992.

During the recording process, Patterson joined The Nation of Islam with guidance from DJ Train.

This caused him to scrap Life Sentence, and Shock of the Hour was released in late 1993.

The album debuted at #1 on the R&B charts, selling 321,000 copies in its first month.

Shock of the Hour was regarded as being more focused, yet even more controversial, and critics accused him again of being anti-white, misogynist, and antisemitic.

The album is thematically divided into two sides; the first half deals with social issues like ghetto life, drug addiction, racism and poverty.

The second half shows Patterson's political side, as that half was recorded after he joined the Nation of Islam.

The album features the hit singles "Same Ol' Shit" and "Mayday on the Frontline".

Selling 955,000 copies in the 1st week and was certified as Platinum, it became the first rap album to enter #1 on the Billboard charts.

This album would become the group's final, as Dr. Dre left the group over financial disputes with Jerry Heller.

According to Patterson, it was common opinion that Heller was the one receiving their due:

"We felt he didn't deserve what he was getting. We deserved that shit. We were the ones making the records, traveling in vans and driving all around the place. You do all those fucking shows trying to get known, and then you come home to a fucking apartment. Then you go to his house, and this motherfucker lives in a mansion. There's gold leaf trimmings all in the bathroom and all kinds of other shit. You're thinking, "Man, fuck that.""

As N.W.A disbanded, Patterson started recording his first solo release titled Kizz My Black Azz.

The 6-track EP was entirely produced by DJ Bobcat, except for one song that Patterson produced himself.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A.

In 2024, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of N.W.A. He showed up to the ceremony to accept the award along with Ice Cube, DJ Yella, The D.O.C and Lil Eazy E.