| Villain Entertainment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | MC Ren |
| Distributor(s) | INgrooves (In the US) Fontana (In Canada) |
| Genre | Gangsta rap |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Palm Springs, California |
Villain Entertainment is a record label, founded by rapper MC Ren, [1] in Palm Springs, California in 2004. [2] The label's focus was gangsta rap genre of West Coast hip hop.
Villain Entertainment was formed as a vehicle for releases by MC Ren, after he left Ruthless Records in 1999. [3] [4] After MC Ren's departure from Ruthless Records, the label inherited the rights to all of MC Ren's solo albums, including Kizz My Black Azz , Shock of the Hour , The Villain in Black and Ruthless For Life . [5] [6] [7] However, the rights to four of the albums are now licensed through Empire Distribution and Virgin Records/Universal Music Group (with Kizz My Black Azz being made on Priority) [8] as they appear on streaming services under the Villain Entertainment label. [9] [10] [11] [12]
Although established in 1999, the label remained dormant for a long period until a revival in 2009, with the release of MC Ren's album Renincarnated . [13]
MC Ren (Founder of label)
| Artist | Album | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| MC Ren | Renincarnated | October 31, 2009 |
| Osiris | June 3, 2022 [14] | |
N.W.A was an American hip hop group formed in Compton, California. Among the earliest and most significant figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential acts in hip hop music.
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 independent record label Villain Entertainment.
O'Shea Jackson Sr., known as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1988 album Straight Outta Compton contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popularity, and his political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992) were all critically and commercially successful. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.
Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally by the stage name 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".
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."
Antoine Carraby, known professionally as DJ Yella, is an American DJ, record producer, and film director from Compton, California.
100 Miles and Runnin' is the only EP from the American gangsta rap group N.W.A. Released on August 14, 1990, this EP of five tracks reflects an evolution of N.W.A's sound and centers on the single "100 Miles and Runnin'". Two tracks, "100 Miles" and "Real Niggaz", incidentally incited N.W.A's feud with Ice Cube, who had left to start a solo rap career. The porno rap track "Just Don't Bite It" also drew notice. Pushing lyrical boundaries in its day, the EP went gold in November 1990 and platinum in September 1992.
N.W.A. and the Posse is a compilation album, re-releasing N.W.A and associated groups' underground rap songs from the Los Angeles area's rap scene on November 6, 1987. It is regarded as American rap group N.W.A's first but neglected album; N.W.A's authorized debut studio album, rather, is Straight Outta Compton, released in August 1988. Whereas the Straight album was certified platinum, one million copies sold in July 1989, the Posse album was certified gold, half as many copies sold, in April 1994.
Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Murder, Mia X, Westside Connection, and Ice-T. It also distributed hip hop record labels including Death Row Records, Hoo-Bangin' Records, No Limit Records, Posthuman Records, Rap-A-Lot Records, Rawkus Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Ruthless Records Duck Down Records, and Wu-Tang Records. According to Billboard, "few record labels were as important to the rise of West Coast hip hop as Priority Records".
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.'"
Ruthless Records was an American Independent record label founded by Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and Jerry Heller in Compton, California in 1987. All of the Ruthless trademarks have been owned by Comptown Records, Inc. since 1987. Several artists and groups on the label such as N.W.A, Eazy-E, MC Ren, The D.O.C., Michel'le, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have released RIAA certified albums.
Jerry Buddy Long Jr., better known by his stage name Kokane, is an American rapper and singer best known for his distinctive vocal style and numerous guest appearances, such as on Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal.
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.
Shock of the Hour is the debut album by rapper MC Ren, released November 16, 1993, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Relativity Records.
Vince Edwards professionally known by his stage name CPO Boss Hogg, was an American rapper from Compton, California. He began his career as a founding member of the hip hop group Capital Punishment Organization in 1989 under the moniker Lil' Nation. The group released their only album before splitting up in 1991. Afterwards Edwards continued his career as a solo artist, featuring on several high-profile albums.
The discography of American rapper MC Ren Consists of four studio albums, three collaborative albums, two extended plays, 21 singles as well as three movie soundtracks.
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.
Renincarnated is the fourth album by rapper MC Ren, released October 31, 2009, on his own record label Villain Entertainment.
"Final Frontier" is the solo debut single by MC Ren released from his debut EP, Kizz My Black Azz and his first track released after the breakup of N.W.A. It was released on September 14, 1992 and was produced by Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin of the L.A. Posse. Though the song was only a minor success, making it to 80 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and 17 on the Hot Rap Singles, it has arguably become MC Ren's most well known song.
"Comin' After You" is the second single from rapper MC Ren's third studio album, Ruthless for Life. It features former N.W.A bandmember Ice Cube and it is the first time the duo had worked together since the split of N.W.A The song was produced by DJ Bobcat who also produced MC Ren's debut EP, Kizz My Black Azz.