MC Ren

Lorenzo Jerald Patterson (born June 16, 1969), known professionally by his stage name 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. 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 mid-1988, after having written nearly half of Eazy-Duz-It, Ren had become a member of N.W.A, with whom he recorded two studio albums and one EP. After the group disbanded in 1991, Ren stayed with Ruthless, releasing three solo albums—including the controversial Shock of the Hour (1993)—before leaving the label in 1998. 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.