Ruthless for Life

Last updated
Ruthless for Life
RuthlessForLife.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 30, 1998 (1998-06-30)
Recorded1997–1998
Genre Gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop, G-funk
Length50:10
Label
Producer Executive producers
Additional producers
MC Ren chronology
The Villain in Black
(1996)
Ruthless for Life
(1998)
Renincarnated
(2009)
Singles from Ruthless For Life
  1. "Ruthless for Life"
    Released: April 28, 1998
  2. "Comin' After You"
    Released: July 1998
  3. "Who in the Fuck"
    Released: 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
XXL Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg (XL) [4]

Ruthless for Life is the third album by rapper MC Ren, released June 30, 1998, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Epic Records.

Contents

Background

Ruthless for Life was MC Ren's last album on Ruthless Records. The album is dedicated to the deceased and to MC Ren's good friend Eazy-E, the album is also dedicated to his home-town Compton. The album was the last album from MC Ren for the next 11 years.

Commercial Performance

The album debuted on #100 on the Billboard top 200 with first week sales of 21,000 copies, the album sold to-date 175,000 copies in the US and over 220,000 copies worldwide.

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Ruthless for Life" L.T. Hutton 4:24
2."Who in the Fuck" (featuring Eightball & MJG)T-Mix4:20
3."Nigga Called Ren" Ant Banks 4:06
4."Comin' After You" (featuring Ice Cube) DJ Bobcat 4:16
5."Voyage to Compton"T-Mix4:24
6."Must Be High"T-Mix3:23
7."So Whatcha Want?" (featuring Snoop Dogg & RBX) L.T. Hutton 4:40
8."Shot Caller" (featuring Big Rocc & Tha Chill)Raw Steele4:22
9."All the Same" Ant Banks 3:29
10."Who Got That Street Shit?"Touchtone4:39
11."Pimpin' Is Free" (featuring Peeps)Alan Tatum, Larry Johnson4:14
12."CPT All Day" (featuring T-Girl)Young Tre4:19
Total length:50:10

Chart performance

ChartPeak
position
US Billboard 200 [5] 100
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [6] 14

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Ren</span> American rapper, songwriter and record producer

Lorenzo Jerald Patterson, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eazy-E</span> American rapper (1964–1995)

Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally as Eazy-E, was an American rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap".

<i>Straight Outta Compton</i> 1988 studio album by N.W.A

Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American gangsta rap group N.W.A, which, led by Eazy-E, formed in Los Angeles County's City of Compton in early 1987. Released by his label, Ruthless Records, on August 8, 1988, the album was produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, with lyrics written by N.W.A members Ice Cube and MC Ren along with Ruthless rapper and unofficial member The D.O.C. Not merely depicting Compton's street violence, the lyrics repeatedly threaten to lead it by attacking peers and even police. The track "Fuck tha Police" drew an FBI agent's warning letter, which aided N.W.A's notoriety, with N.W.A calling itself "the world's most dangerous group."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Yella</span> American DJ

Antoine Carraby, known professionally as DJ Yella, is an American DJ, record producer, and film director from Compton, California.

<i>Tragic Kingdom</i> 1995 studio album by No Doubt

Tragic Kingdom is the third studio album by American rock band No Doubt, released on October 10, 1995, by Trauma Records and Interscope Records. It was the final album to feature original keyboardist Eric Stefani, who left the band in 1994. The album was produced by Matthew Wilder and recorded in 11 studios in the Greater Los Angeles area between March 1993 and October 1995. Between 1995 and 1998, seven singles were released from it, including "Just a Girl", which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart; and "Don't Speak", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and reached the top five of many international charts.

The Billboard 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by Billboard magazine to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists. Sometimes, a recording act is remembered for its "number ones" that outperformed all other albums during at least one week. The chart grew from a weekly top 10 list in 1956 to become a top 200 list in May 1967, acquiring its existing name in March 1992. Its previous names include the Billboard Top LPs (1961–1972), Billboard Top LPs & Tape (1972–1984), Billboard Top 200 Albums (1984–1985) and Billboard Top Pop Albums (1985–1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TobyMac</span> American Christian rapper and singer

Kevin Michael McKeehan;, better known by his stage name TobyMac, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. His road band is known as Diverse City. He was first known for being a member of the Christian rap and rock trio dc Talk, staying with them from 1987 until they went on hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of nine studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight (2010), Christmas in Diverse City (2011), Eye on It (2012), This Is Not a Test (2015), The Elements (2018), and Life After Death (2022) as well as five remixed albums: Re:Mix Momentum (2003), Renovating Diverse City (2005), Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project (2012), Eye'm All Mixed Up (2014) and The St. Nemele Collab Sessions (2019). He also has two full-length Christmas albums: Christmas in Diverse City (2011) and Light Of Christmas (2017). He became the third Christian artist to have a No. 1 debut on Billboard 200 chart with Eye on It.

<i>Tha Last Meal</i> 2000 studio album by Snoop Dogg

Tha Last Meal is the fifth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released through No Limit, Doggy Style, and Priority Records on December 19, 2000. It was his third and final studio album released on No Limit, marking this record his first album on his newly founded label, called Doggy Style, alongside Priority in the United States. The album title makes reference to being the last record partially owned by his former label, Death Row Records. The album was produced by Dr. Dre, Timbaland, and Soopafly, among others. The album includes four official singles: "Snoop Dogg ", "Lay Low", "Loosen' Control", and "Wrong Idea". The album was generally met with positive reception with many critics citing it as one of his best albums.

<i>Eazy-Duz-It</i> 1988 studio album by Eazy-E

Eazy-Duz-It is the debut studio album by American rapper Eazy-E. It was released on November 22, 1988, by Ruthless Records and Priority Records. The album charted on two different charts and went 2× Platinum in the United States despite very little promotion by radio and television. Three singles were released from the album, each charting in the US. The remastered version contains tracks from the extended play (EP), 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992). The 25th anniversary (2013) contains two bonus tracks which are 12" remixes of "We Want Eazy" and "Still Talkin.'"

<i>Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life</i> 1998 studio album by Jay-Z

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on September 29, 1998, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It went on to become his most commercially successful album, selling over 6 million copies in the United States. In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast-paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who " are also included.

<i>The Bodyguard</i> (soundtrack) 1992 soundtrack album to the film of the same name

The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album is a soundtrack album from the film of the same name, released on November 17, 1992, by Arista Records. The album's first side features songs recorded by American singer Whitney Houston, who starred in the film, while side two features the work of various artists. Houston and Clive Davis were co-executive producers of the record.

<i>Niggaz4Life</i> 1991 studio album by N.W.A

Niggaz4Life is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N.W.A, released on May 28, 1991. It was their final album, as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr. Dre and songwriter and unofficial member of the group The D.O.C. who both left to form Death Row Records; the album features only four members of the original line-up, as Arabian Prince and Ice Cube had already left the group in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Niggaz4Life debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but in its second week peaked at number 1.

<i>Eternal E</i> 1995 greatest hits album by Eazy-E

Eternal E is the first greatest hits album by American rapper Eazy-E. It was released posthumously on November 28, 1995, through Ruthless/Priority Records, eight months after his death. Production was handled by DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, DJ Bobcat, Cold 187um, Naughty by Nature, and Eazy-E himself, who also served as executive producer. The album peaked at number 84 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 21, 2003 for selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.

<i>500 Degreez</i> 2002 studio album by Lil Wayne

500 Degreez is the third studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on July 23, 2002, by Cash Money Records and Universal Records. The album's title was inspired by the album 400 Degreez (1998), by fellow rapper and label-mate Juvenile.

<i>Kizz My Black Azz</i> 1992 EP by MC Ren

Kizz My Black Azz is the debut extended play by rapper MC Ren, released on June 30, 1992, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Priority Records. Selling over one million copies in the first month, to date, the album has sold 2.2 million copies in the U.S.

<i>Shock of the Hour</i> 1993 studio album by MC Ren

Shock of the Hour is the debut album by rapper MC Ren, released November 16, 1993, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Relativity Records.

<i>The Villain in Black</i> 1996 studio album by MC Ren

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthless for Life (song)</span> 1998 single by MC Ren

"Ruthless for Life" is the first single from rapper MC Ren's third studio album, Ruthless for Life. The song is dedicated to late rapper and former N.W.A. groupmate, Eazy-E. "Ruthless for Life" charted at 13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It is produced by L.T. Hutton.

<i>Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary: Decade of Game</i> 1998 compilation album by Various artists

Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary: Decade of Game is a compilation album released by Ruthless Records. The album featured some of the label's greatest hits from the previous ten years. It peaked at 119 on the Billboard 200 and 44 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

<i>Supernatural</i> (Desree album) 1998 studio album by Desree

Supernatural is the third studio album by British recording artist Des'ree. Released by 550 Music and Epic Records on 29 June 1998, it follows four years after the singer's previous album, I Ain't Movin'. Predominantly an R&B album, Supernatural received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, who praised Des'ree's voice, but noted that the album lacked memorable songs. The album appeared on several record charts, reaching the top ten in Austria and the Netherlands, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Ruthless for Life at AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  2. Baker, Soren (June 28, 1998). "Calendar: Record Rack – MC Ren, 'Ruthless for Life'". Los Angeles Times . p. 60. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  3. Burke, Miguel (July 1998). "Record Report: MC Ren – Ruthless for Life". The Source . No. 106. New York. pp. 156, 159.
  4. Mr Blonde. "American Standards: MC Ren – Ruthless for Life". XXL . No. 4. New York: Harris Publications. p. 182.
  5. "MC Ren Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. "MC Ren Chart History: (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard . Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2023.