The Villain in Black: Difference between revisions

 

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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}

{{short description|1996 studio album by MC Ren}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

{{Infobox album

| name = The Villain in Black

| name = The Villain in Black

| type = studio

| type = studio

| artist = [[MC Ren]]

| artist = [[MC Ren]]

| cover = 1274532773 folder.jpg

| cover = .jpg

| alt =

| alt =

| released = {{start date|1996|04|09}}

| released = {{ date|1996|04|09}}

| recorded = 1994–1996

| recorded = 1994–1996

| studio = {{hlist|The Edge Recording Studio ([[Inglewood, California|Inglewood, CA]])|Audio Achievements ([[Torrance, California|Torrance, CA]])|Cherokee Recording Studio ([[Los Angeles]], CA)}}

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|[[Political hip-hop]]|[[gangsta rap]]}}

| studio =

| length =

| genre = [[Gangsta rap]], [[G-funk]], [[political hip hop]]

| length = {{Duration|m=45|s=09}}

| = |

| producer = {{hlist|[[Cold 187um]]|Dr. Jam|Jesse “Big Jess” Willard|Madness 4 Real}}

| label = {{flatlist|

| prev_title = [[Shock of the Hour]]

* [[Ruthless Records|Ruthless]]

| prev_year = 1993

* [[Relativity Records|Relativity]]}}

| next_title = [[Ruthless for Life]]

| producer=””‘[[Executive producer]]s”'<hr/>{{flatlist|

| next_year = 1998

* [[Eazy-E]]}}

| misc = {{Singles

”’Additional producers”'<hr/>{{flatlist|

| name = The Villain in Black

* Big Jessie

| type = studio

* [[Cold 187um]]

| single1 = Mad Scientist

* Dr. Jam

| single1date = 1996

* Madness 4 Real}}

| single2 = Keep It Real

| prev_title = [[Shock of the Hour]]

| single2date = 1996

| prev_year = 1993

}}

| next_title = [[Ruthless for Life]]

| next_year = 1998

}}

}}

””’The Villain in Black””’ is the second album by rapper [[MC Ren]], released April 9, 1996, on [[Ruthless Records]] and distributed by [[Relativity Records]].

== Background==

After the release and success of his critically acclaimed debut [[studio album]] ”[[Shock of the Hour]]” in late 1993, [[MC Ren]] immediately began working on his sophomore album. The deaths of DJ Train and [[Eazy-E]] would however prove to be a huge setback and Ren stepped off the scene for a while.

Meanwhile, he continued his work with the [[Nation of Islam]], and visited [[Egypt]] in mid-1995. Following his return from [[Egypt]], [[MC Ren]] continued to work on his album, this time however scrapping all the material he recorded with DJ Train. Enlisting [[Cold 187um]] and Dr. Jam to produce his album, Ren began recording new material.

== Content ==

=== Lyrics ===

While making ”The Villain in Black”, MC Ren was closely affiliated with the [[Nation of Islam (religious movement)|Nation of Islam]], which had a large impact on the some parts of the album’s content. Khalid Muhammad appeared in the track “Muhammad Speaks,” where he spoke about the history of the rights of [[African Americans]]. He also made an appearance on the closing track “Bring It On”.

=== Production ===

The majority of the album’s production was handled by [[Cold 187um]] of [[Above the Law (group)|Above the Law]] and Dr. Jam. It also features production by Madness 4 Real and Big Jessie.

=== Album title ===

The album titles is a reference to [[MC Ren]]’s nickname, The Villain.

== Singles ==

Two singles were released from the album: “Mad Scientist” and “[[Keep It Real (MC Ren song)|Keep It Real]]”.

== Release and reception ==

=== Critical reception ===

{{Music ratings

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]

| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name=”Erlewine”>Erlewine, Stephen. “[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r233642|pure_url=yes}} The Villain in Black – MC Ren]”. [[AllMusic]].</ref>

| = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{|=|=|= Villain in Black – MC Ren. [[AllMusic]]</ref>

| rev2 = ”[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]”

| rev2 = ”[[ ]]”

| rev2score = {{Rating|2|4}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coker |first=Cheo Hodari |author-link=Cheo Hodari Coker |date=April 27, 1996 |title=1/2 MC Ren, “The Villain in Black,” Ruthless/Relativity (**). |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-27-ca-63244-story.html |access-date=September 11, 2025 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

| rev2Score = (favorable)<ref name=”Nelson”>{{cite magazine|last=Helson|first=Havelock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=mc+ren+mad+scientist&pg=PA26|title=MC Ren Shows He’s ‘Da Villain’|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 23, 1996|access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref>

| rev3 = ”[[Los Angeles Times]]”

| rev3 =

| rev3score = 5.5/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve ‘Flash’ |date=January 25, 2022 |title=MC Ren :: The Villain in Black – RapReviews |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2022/01/mc-ren-the-villain-in-black/ |access-date=September 11, 2025 |website=www.rapreviews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|4}}<ref name=”Coker”>Coker, Cheo Hodari. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-27-ca-63244-story.html Review: ”The Villain in Black”].</ref>

| rev4 = ”[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]”

| rev4 = ”[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]”

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=”Gordon”>Gordon, Allen S. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/21630929@N04/2244484018/in/photolist-4qkyUj-tDaot3-4hBKvd-4qgGUM-spwkSm-4urc1J-2idBY5-uvAyCR-5y3zD5-3CXYgR-g4vvvJ-4rnBA5-ewFjTU-r7P8F1-nMxmD9-ijDTwz-jutzND-i2kULr-bMasar-6YQQds-iKwquR-bJda5D-obJyTo-fFM2Rq-ebLid1-gaDd3L-69ra8K-dZ2KSQ-obYZMJ-obKRPp-4bXqvr-6qNaFM-t2uty-6nifGp-4bXuuM-5Q1Ynu-QXHZ4h-4c9gJX-9A8Z6F-obX12B-4drf5P-fdE4S3-i3PBC6-obJoK9-f1Zq7g-d5fHz-5Qc34D-byfKJU-5aD5GY-yWYps MC Ren”Da Villain in Black”].</ref>

| = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref> Allen S. https://www.flickr.com/photos/21630929@N04/2244484018/in/photolist-4qkyUj-tDaot3-4hBKvd-4qgGUM-spwkSm-4urc1J-2idBY5-uvAyCR-5y3zD5-3CXYgR-g4vvvJ-4rnBA5-ewFjTU-r7P8F1-nMxmD9-ijDTwz-jutzND-i2kULr-bMasar-6YQQds-iKwquR-bJda5D-obJyTo-fFM2Rq-ebLid1-gaDd3L-69ra8K-dZ2KSQ-obYZMJ-obKRPp-4bXqvr-6qNaFM-t2uty-6nifGp-4bXuuM-5Q1Ynu-QXHZ4h-4c9gJX-9A8Z6F-obX12B-4drf5P-fdE4S3-i3PBC6-obJoK9-f1Zq7g-d5fHz-5Qc34D-byfKJU-5aD5GY-yWYps ]</ref>

| rev5 = ”[[Vibe magazine|Vibe]]”

| rev5Score = (favorable)<ref name=”T-Love”>T-Love. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ci4EAAAAMBAJ&q=mc+ren Review: ”The Villain in Black”].</ref>

}}

}}

””’The Villain in Black””’ is the second full-length solo studio album by American rapper [[MC Ren]]. It was released April 9, 1996, through [[Ruthless Records]]. Recording sessions took place at the Edge Recording Studios in [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], Audio Achievements in [[Torrance, California|Torrance]] and Cherokee Recording Studio in [[Los Angeles]]. Production was handled by [[Cold 187um]], Dr. Jam, Big Jessie and Madness 4 Real. It features [[guest appearance]]s from [[Above the Law (group)|Above The Law]], J-Rocc, Triggaman and [[Khalid Abdul Muhammad]].

In the United States, the album debuted at number 31 on the [[Billboard 200|”Billboard” 200]] and number 7 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] charts, with first-week sales of 31,000 copies. Its [[lead single]], “Mad Scientist”, did not make it to the charts. However, the second and final album’s single, “Keep It Real”, reached number 43 on the [[Hot Rap Songs]] chart.

=== Commercial performance ===

The album debuted number 31 on [[Billboard 200|”Billboard” 200]], with the first-week sales of 31,000 copies.

== Track listing ==

====

After the release and success of his critically acclaimed debut studio album ”[[Shock of the Hour]]” in late 1993, M.C. Ren immediately began working on his sophomore album. The deaths of D.J. Train and [[Eazy-E]] would however prove to be a huge setback and Ren stepped off the scene for a while.

{{track listing

| total_length =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

Meanwhile, he continued his work with the [[Nation of Islam]] and visited [[Egypt]] in mid-1995. Following his return from Egypt, M.C. Ren continued to work on his album, this time however scrapping all the material he recorded with DJ Train. Enlisting Cold 187um and Dr. Jam to produce his album, Ren began recording new material.

| title1 = Bitch Made Nigga Killa

| note1 =

| writer1 =

| extra1 = [[Cold 187um]]

| length1 = 4:02

While making ”The Villain in Black”, M.C. Ren was closely affiliated with the Nation of Islam, which had a large impact on the some parts of the album’s content. Black nationalist Khalid Muhammad appeared in the track “Muhammad Speaks”, where he spoke about the history of the rights of [[African Americans]]. He also made a cameo appearance on the closing track “Bring It On”.

| title2 = [[Keep It Real (MC Ren song)|Keep It Real]]

| note2 =

| writer2 =

| extra2 = Dr. Jam

| length2 = 4:52

==Track listing==

| title3 = It’s Like That

{{Track listing

| note3 = featuring Bigg Rocc

| writer3 =

| =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| extra3 = [[Cold 187um]]

| title1 = Bitch Made Nigga Killa

| length3 = 4:34

| writer1 = {{hlist|[[MC Ren|Lorenzo Patterson]]|[[Cold 187um|Gregory Hutchinson]]}}

| extra1 = [[Cold 187um]]

| title4 = Mad Scientist

| note4 =

| =

| title2 = Keep It Real

| writer4 =

| writer2 = {{hlist|Patterson|Henrik Milling Rasmussen}}

| extra4 = Dr. Jam, Madness 4 Real <small>(co.)</small>

| extra2 = Dr. Jam

| length4 = 4:22

| length2 =

| title3 = It’s Like That

| title5 = Live from Compton ‘Saturday Night{{‘-}}

| note5 = featuring [[Cold 187um]]

| = featuring

| writer3 = {{hlist|Patterson|Jerry Brown|Hutchinson}}

| writer5 =

| extra5 = [[Cold 187um]]

| = Cold 187um

| length5 = 5:56

| =

| title4 = Mad Scientist

| writer4 = {{hlist|Patterson|Rasmussen|Lasse Bavngaard|Rasmus Berg|[[Jokeren|Jesper Dahl]]|Peter Nicholas Secher Kvaran}}

| title6 = Still the Same Nigga

| extra4 = {{hlist|Madness 4 Real|Dr. Jam}}

| note6 =

| writer6 =

| =

| title5 = Live from Compton ‘Saturday Night’

| extra6 = Jessie “Big Jessie” Willard

| writer5 = {{hlist|Patterson|Hutchinson}}

| length6 = 5:27

| extra5 = Cold 187um

| title7 = I Don’t Give a Damn

|

| title6 = Still the Same Nigga

| note7 =

| writer6 = {{hlist|Patterson|Jesse Willard}}

| writer7 =

| extra6 = Big Jess

| extra7 = Dr. Jam, Madness 4 Real <small>(co.)</small>

| length7 = 3:56

| =

| title7 = I Don’t Give a Damn

| writer7 = {{hlist|Patterson|Rasmussen|Bavngaard|Berg|Dahl|Kvaran}}

| title8 = Mind Blown

| extra7 = {{hlist|Madness 4 Real|Dr. Jam}}

| note8= featuring Bigg Rocc

| writer8 =

| =

| title8 = Mind Blown

| extra8 = [[Cold 187um]]

| writer8 = {{hlist|Patterson|Brown|Hutchinson}}

| length8 = 4:42

| extra8 = Cold 187um

| length8 =

| title9 = Great Elephant

| title9 = Great Elephant

| note9=

| writer9 =

| writer9 =

| extra9 = Jessie “Big Jessie” Willard

| extra9

| length9 = 3:45

| length9 =

| title10 = Muhummad Speaks

| note10 = featuring [[Khalid Muhammad]]

| title10 = Muhammed Speaks

| writer10 = Hutchinson

| note10 = featuring [[Khalid Muhammad]]

| extra10 = Cold 187um

| writer10 =

| length10 =

| extra10 = [[Cold 187um]]

| title11 = Bring It On

| length10 = 1:31

| note11 = featuring [[Above the Law (group)|Above The Law]] and Triggerman

| writer11 = {{hlist|Patterson|Hutchinson|[[KMG the Illustrator|Kevin Gulley]]}}

| title11 = Bring It On

| extra11 = Cold 187um

| note11 = featuring [[Above the Law (group)|Above the Law]], Triggerman and [[Khalid Muhammad]]

| writer11 =

| =

| total_length =

| extra11 = [[Cold 187um]]

| length11 = 4:42

}}

}}

;Sample credits

== Personnel ==

*Track 1 contains a sample from “If It Ain’t Ruff” written by Lorenzo Patterson and [[Dr. Dre|Andre Young]] as recorded by [[N.W.A]].

* [[Khalid Abdul Muhammad|Harold Moore Jr.]] – Spoken word

* [[Cold 187um|Gregory Fernan Hutchinson]] – Production, lyrics, vocals

* [[MC Ren|Lorenzo Jerald Patterson]] – Primary artist, lyrics, vocals

* Big Rocc, KMG The Illustrator, Triggerman – Guest vocals

* Dr. Jam, Big Jessie Willard, Madness 4 Real – Additional production

== Charts ==

====

{{col-begin}}

{{col}}

*Lorenzo “[[MC Ren]]” Patterson – vocals

{{col-2}}

*Gregory “[[Cold 187um]]” Hutchinson – vocals, producer, recording, mixing, arranging

*Jerry “J-Rocc” Brown – vocals

*Kevin “[[KMG the Illustrator|KM.G]]” Gulley – vocals

*Kervin “Triggaman” Paul – vocals

*Harold “[[Khalid Abdul Muhammad]]” Moore Jr. – voice

*Tamara “Tski” Rasmussen – additional background vocals

*Mike “Crazy Neck” Sims – guitar

*Henrik “Doctor Jam” Milling – producer

*Jesse “Big Jess” Willard – producer, programming

*Lasse Bavngaard – producer

*Rasmus Ødum Berg – producer

*Jesper “[[Jokeren]]” Dahl – producer

*Nicholas “Coldhands” Kvaran – producer

*Mark “The Don” Paladino – recording, mixing

*Donovan “The Dirt Biker” Smith – recording, mixing

*Eric “[[Eazy-E]]” Wright – executive producer

*Don Cunningham – art direction, design

*Peter Dokus – photography

*Giulio Costanzo – design, layout

*Madeleine Smith – sample clearance

{{div col end}}

=== Album ===

====

{|class=”wikitable”

{|class=”wikitable”

!align=”left”|Charts (1996)

!align=”left”|Peak<br />position

|-

|-

! scope=”col”| Chart (1996)

|align=”left”|U.S. [[Billboard 200|”Billboard” 200]]<ref name=”Billboard”>{{cite magazine |title=MC Ren Chart History (Billboard 200)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-ren/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref>

! scope=”col”| Peak<br />position

| style=”text-align:center;”|31

|-

|-

|align=”left“|U.S. [[Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums]]<ref>{{cite magazine |title=MC Ren Chart History: (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc–ren/chart–history/blp/|magazine=Billboard |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

=””| [[ ]]<ref>{{ magazine |= |url=https://www.billboard.com//-/-/|magazine=Billboard |access-date= }}</ref>

| 31

| style=”text-align:center;”|7

|}

{{col-2}}

=== Singles ===

{| class=”wikitable”

|-

|-

! scope=”row” |US [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] (”[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]”)<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 27, 1996 |title=Top R&B Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-albums/1996-04-27/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc.]] |volume=108 |issue=17 |page=24 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=September 11, 2025}}</ref>

!rowspan=”2″|Year

| 7

!rowspan=”2″|Single

!colspan=”7″|Peak chart positions

|-

!width=”40″|<small>[[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. Hot 100]]</small>

!width=”40″|<small>[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|U.S. R&B]]</small>

!width=”40″|<small>[[Hot Rap Tracks|U.S. Rap]]</small>

|-

|align=”center” rowspan=”3″|1996

|align=”left”|”Mad Scientist”

| style=”text-align:center;”|—

| style=”text-align:center;”|—

| style=”text-align:center;”|—

|-

|align=”left”|”Keep It Real”

| style=”text-align:center;”|—

| style=”text-align:center;”|106

| style=”text-align:center;”|43

|}

|}

{{col-end}}

== References ==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{}}

==External links==

*{{Discogs master|59066|The Villain In Black|type=album}}

{{MC Ren}}

{{MC Ren}}

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{{Authority control}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villain in Black}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villain in Black}}

[[Category:MC Ren albums]]

[[Category:1996 albums]]

[[Category:1996 albums]]

[[Category:MC Ren albums]]

[[Category:Ruthless Records albums]]

[[Category:Ruthless Records albums]]

[[Category:Relativity Records albums]]

[[Category:G-funk albums]]

[[Category:Albums produced by Cold 187um]]

[[Category:Albums produced by Cold 187um]]

1996 studio album by MC Ren

The Villain in Black is the second full-length solo studio album by American rapper MC Ren. It was released April 9, 1996, through Ruthless Records. Recording sessions took place at the Edge Recording Studios in Inglewood, Audio Achievements in Torrance and Cherokee Recording Studio in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Cold 187um, Dr. Jam, Big Jessie and Madness 4 Real. It features guest appearances from Above The Law, J-Rocc, Triggaman and Khalid Abdul Muhammad.

In the United States, the album debuted at number 31 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with first-week sales of 31,000 copies. Its lead single, “Mad Scientist”, did not make it to the charts. However, the second and final album’s single, “Keep It Real”, reached number 43 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

After the release and success of his critically acclaimed debut studio album Shock of the Hour in late 1993, M.C. Ren immediately began working on his sophomore album. The deaths of D.J. Train and Eazy-E would however prove to be a huge setback and Ren stepped off the scene for a while.

Meanwhile, he continued his work with the Nation of Islam and visited Egypt in mid-1995. Following his return from Egypt, M.C. Ren continued to work on his album, this time however scrapping all the material he recorded with DJ Train. Enlisting Cold 187um and Dr. Jam to produce his album, Ren began recording new material.

While making The Villain in Black, M.C. Ren was closely affiliated with the Nation of Islam, which had a large impact on the some parts of the album’s content. Black nationalist Khalid Muhammad appeared in the track “Muhammad Speaks”, where he spoke about the history of the rights of African Americans. He also made a cameo appearance on the closing track “Bring It On”.

Sample credits

• Track 1 contains a sample from “If It Ain’t Ruff” written by Lorenzo Patterson and Andre Young as recorded by N.W.A.