MC Ren is angry with Universal Pictures for effectively cutting him out of the narrative in their promotion of the Straight Outta Compton biopic. He initially blasts the film via Twitter, angrily stating, “Man fuck these bitches at universal pictures leaving me out the movie trailers tryin’ to rewrite history.” He has a right to be upset. He can be found nowhere in the trailers, which feature specifically Ice Cube and Dr. Dre strolling down memory lane. And, as far as the actual movie footage, the vast majority of the focus are on Eazy-E, Cube, and Dre.
This just shouldn’t be the case. Yella and MC Ren were huge parts of the N.W.A formula, with Ren actually penning a gaggle of songs solo — and given the corresponding writing credit to boot — as well as being a significant collaborator on hits like “Fuck The Police” and “Straight Outta Compton.” He also wrote entire songs on Eazy’s Eazy Duz It including “Radio,” “I’m a Break It Down,” and “Nobody Move.”
While Cube and Dre went on to be megastars, Ren had great solo work, as well. Especially the highly underrated Villain In Black. Of course, there was also his platinum ‘92 single “Kizz My Black Azz.”
Here, we give you five reasons why the team at Straight Outta Compton and Universal Pictures should not have left MC Ren out in the cold in their promotional run for the long-awaited biopic.
His View Balances Narratives Of Ice Cube & Dr. Dre
Victors are always in control of history. For the general pop culture consumer, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre are the most successful members of N.W.A. Therefore, it makes sense for Straight Outta Compton to focus mainly on the two moguls. Probably more so than Cube considering Cube Vision Productions’ attachment to the film. Then there’s Eazy E’s death, making a direct point of view from him impossible. How did Eazy really feel about events leading to the demise of N.W.A.? MC Ren could have served as the right amount of balance. Sure, he never grew to the amount of notoriety as his peers. However, those looking for an unfiltered look into one of Hip Hop’s most iconic groups should have the input of everyone involved.
Doesn’t Leave Much Closure To His Life After N.W.A.
Hip Hop totally understands how Ice Cube and Dr. Dre moved on after N.W.A.’s breakup. There success today is more than evident. However, MC Ren remained loyal to Eazy E past the controversies and even released albums through Ruthless. What went into that decision? Why didn’t Dr. Dre diss MC Ren on “Dre Day” or “Bitches Ain’t Shit?” These types of answers not only make for better tension within the film’s narrative, but adds a layer of Hip Hop history. From the looks of things, staying with Ruthless didn’t lend the same level of status as his peers. Then again, he released two underrated L.A. classics through Shock Of The Hour and Villain In Black while making some critical lifestyle choices. That meant aligning himself with The Nation Of Islam, getting married and having five kids. Some of the best music biopics represent life outside of the limelight and seeing the life of Lorenzo Patterson unfold following the end of N.W.A. could have become pretty interesting.
Shock Of The Hour and Villain In Black Are Underrated Masterpieces
When the group splintered they all would go on to release solo albums of their own. The most obscure but by far not the least interesting was Ren’s Shock Of The Hour. The L.A. Times at the time gave the album three stars out of four, penning that the album was a “small, ugly masterpiece of gangsta rap.” Villain In Black was also well received. With beats that were revelations at the time, and lyrical content that was straight G-funk, with vivid imagery and a gangsta rap aesthetic that continued to move units for years to come, and has seen a recent re-emergence in artists like Kendrick Lamar and YG.
Handled A Majority Of The Songwriting Along With Ice Cube
N.W.A. had two main writers: Cube and Ren. Eazy’s skillset was not in the writing arena, and his considerable contributions lay more on the business side than anywhere else. Plus, Dre and Yella were mainly producers. As one-half of the folks doing most of the writing, Ren deserves to have a large role in the film. And, with that said the promotion of the film. Why he’s been left out in this way is a mystery. Hopefully, that will be solved soon. For now, having the man who wrote much of Eazy Duz It hiding the shadows is a bit too much to bear.
Getting Details Like MC Ren’s Contributions Right Is Better For Hip Hop
Music biopics are never perfect, but the best ones get the details correct before focusing on the legend surrounding the artist(s). This is true for some of the best biopics we’ve seen over the years. Ray got right that the legendary singer’s nervous breakdowns stemmed in part from his mother’s death. Notorious focused on tone, as well as an accurate description on the beef between Pac and Big. Both of those instances could have been played up for drama, but sticking to the facts has significant advantages, even if events aren’t as dramatic as you’d like them to be. We’re not saying those films were not without their issues, but we’re saying that it got enough right to not bastardize the lives and brands of the folks involved. That’s more important than any kind of cheap drama. A Straight Outta Compton biopic vastly underestimating the value of Ren would be a huge knock on the veracity of the film, and, frankly, N.W.A and fans deserve better.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @UralG.
what about all the songs the DOC wrote for eazys and NWA albums?
MC Ren is one of the Top 5 Lyricist of all time-yes top 5 Lyricist of “ALL TIME”. Fuck that Commercialized ass movie if they ain’t paying homage to the “Villain N Black”!!!!
The DOC is a big part of NWA… But if it wasn’t for Lonzo it wouldn’t have been No NWA at all
I am a nwa fan . I am really a Eazy-E. I think mc ren is on fire. Dr.Dre and ice cube is a sell out. I remember it was five not 3. I think ice cube and Dr Dre all about the money. Dr. Dre and ice cube for got were they came from. If you listed to the Record. Mc ren a great rapper. Because you sell a lot of records. That don’t mean. You’re a great records. Dre had a lot of people on his song.
I am a Eazy-E fan
D.O.C Is not from California. We are talking about why REN is not getting his due. Go listen to all the old shit he was putting them bars on and you will understand why he is pissed off and real NWA fan’s should feel the same way. We talking about NWA not Fila Fresh Crew. Do your research.
Man you know your history “Fila Fresh Crew” that was a Dallas rap group THE DOC was a member of. Thanks for saying that.
Come on man just cause the DOC wasn’t from Cali doesn’t mean he didn’t contribute to the group as well. After Cube left who do you think wrote Dre’s lyrics and some of Easy’s so the DOC is just as important as the other members homie
DOC was never “officially” a member of NWA.
“Most dangerous group”… shit, that’s funny, homie. Funny because all the members of NWA are soft like sponge cake.
Besides Eazy-E (RIP). He was the definitely the hardest out the group.
Fuck you! Bitch ass nigga you don’t know shit NWA was & is the hardest group to ever bless the Mike
franklin, that’s not true and you know it. your just typing bullshit. you are typing out your ass, homie.
Where is THE DOC??? Where’s???
Ren or not, the story isn’t still complete…
DOC was never “officially” a member of NWA.
Is it me or does it seems like NWA and Ruthless Records legacy is marked by people not getting paid not getting proper dues basically just getting fucked all around. Maybe Ice Cube and Dr Dre should have just funded this project independently so that the story is told accurately. MC Ren was definitely just as lyrical, influential of a rapper for the group as Dre was the producer and as Ice Cube was as the other writer for the group. to be quite honest “Eazy Duz It” was my favorite album from the NWA era, then “N*ggaz 4 life”, then “100 miles and runnin” so why is it the man who wrote damn near all of Ruthless Records hit songs including “The D.O.C” get over shadowed. I think Ice Cube and Dr Dre should stand up for this one and truthfully it makes me think about not wanting to go pay to see the movie not because I’m boycotting “Dre, “Ice Cube” or “Eazy E, but simply because the man that was just as much part of the legacy is being left out that would make it a lie! I’m with you MC Ren. My comment comes from love and loyalty to the whole Ruthless Records legacy, Ice Cube legacy, and the Death Row/Aftermath legacy I hope they stand up and do what’s right for MC Ren and DJ Yella.
Dj unknown
@LA Ramon. I made a comment earlier almost identical to your’s. I’m old enough to remember NWA getting started. Ren was the shit! and everybody knew it. There is not a single shot of Ren and Yella in the trailer…not one. This is like making a movie about Destiny’s Child and only showing Beyonce in the trailer. It’s bullshit.
NWA is Ren Yella Dre Eazy and Ice. Ren and Ice helped Eazy be the MC we enjoy. Eazy did not want to rap but because of his voice they told him he should be an M.C. The Movie is about how they came together and what made us enjoy what they did as a group not about Dre, Cube or Eazy. REN and Yella should be pissed off with the trailer. They deserve as much shine as the other 3.
@ Ol School. you are dead on. this is what others are missing. The movie is about NWA the group. So there should have at least been a shot of Ren and Yella…showing 5 guys and not just 3.
None of the reasons given explain why he should be part of the promotion. They’re all reasons for him to be part of the actual film (which he is as far as we know), but not the promo. It makes complete sense for the promo to focus on the members of the group with the most name recognition so they can get as many asses in the seats as possible, asses that can then be educated on Ren’s contributions once they see the whole film. Focusing on Yella & Ren in the trailers would be bad marketing since the general public is not as aware of them. There’s nothing really to complain about here until the actual film comes out, at which point, if they downplay Ren’s role, then hell yeah it’s on some bullshit.
@Yallneedtochill. Come on…not a single 2 second shot of Ren and Yella? Before we even see the movie it’s on some bullshit.
This is ruthless. This is bad. Period. I am not happy with this and 8 remain so.
It’s just the first trailer, mf’s need to chill. Lol
Give that man his props Cube wasn’t a street nigga at all shit he even said he was from compton in some of the first NWA records and that niggas from South Central LA imperial and Western 1e11um not compton
If the author of this article had truly done his homework. He would have known to mention Ren’s Ep “Kiss My Black Azz”. That’s the project that really showed his skills as a storyteller, writer and MC. Shock of the Hour was ai-ight, but it wasn’t as ground-breaking as people would like to remember.
…but he said “Of course, there was also his platinum ‘92 single “Kizz My Black Azz.”
@Aim Kizz My Black Azz was an EP, Final Frontier was the single using “The Bridge is Over” sample
This was my FIRST thought when I saw the trailer, “Where the fuck’s Ren at!?” Couldn’t believe that shit, Ren was VITAL to NWA, and was always my favorite as a kid! “Ren is the Villain, and y’all are just a hostage.. so wheneva I’m steppin’ cover ya head like an ostrich” I thought Villain in Black and Kizz My Black Azz were classics as well, used to bump the shit outta those. Really hope this film does the group (and my childhood) right…
They’re not going to focus on Ren in the trailer. People forget that Hollywood is a business first and foremost and the trailer is designed to market the movie a drive movie goers to go see it. The focus is on the most marketable members of the movies cast. Even NWA fans must agree that Ren (and Yella) are more of the background members in terms of publicity (not contribution per say). So marketers must grab the attention of both NWA Fans, hip-hop fans, movie fans, old-heads, and young people. Even amongst old heads, MC Ren is kind of forgotten. And with the new generation, most don’t know who he is. So it is the marketing departments best option to put the three biggest names front and center.
It has yet to be seen what role Ren will play in the actual movie its self, but it is clear that the focus will be more on the drama the music caused as well as the drama surrounding the break-up (and those were more Cube vs NWA as a whole and Dre vs Eazy than anything else) than the actual music making its self
@Royal. I understand the point you are making. But anybody (young or old) interested in seeing a movie about NWA knows the basics. Every photo shows 5 guys, not 3. That said, there is not a single shot of the characters playing Ren and Yella? I understand the trailer showing “more” of Eazy, Dre and Cube…buy NO shots of Ren and Yella. Again, everyone in the world knows the group consisted of 5 guys. The trailers leads you to believe NWA is 3 guys. To me, it’s like making a shirt that has 5 colors but all the marketing photos show 3 of the most popular colors. If the shirt is made with 5 colors you should show 5 color, not 3. If the trailer is any indication of what to expect the movie will be some fake bull$shit…that’s not even true.
I dont bang Cube anymore (he’s not listenable..ie: Are We There Yet?)… don’t bang Dre anymore (see detox) … but i still bang MC Ren. He never sold out and was never in it for the money. He was a true human to Eazy and that in general should be a focus in the movie… if not, shame on Cube and Dre… but am I really surprised? No. Ren is way more political than most Hip-Hop… but Hip-Hop none the less.
Im a loyal kat and have stayed with Ren for the love/respect… not the kook-aid. His latest cut: Rebal Radio is fire… but you may not get it because some are short-minded and cannot see the message that Ren is saying as he’s not talking about name brand items.
I remember seeing Eazy E and Jazzy D now the CEO of Jazzy Mgmt at the original tommy’s burger on Beverly Blvd in 1987 it was some guys there talking shit and jazzy was the one talking shit back to the niggas Eazy was just chillin looking a little petrified no disrespect to Eazy or his legacy but I will never forget that night this is my first time speaking of that night but it really happened and I know there’s people that can vouch for me because it was over 100 people at that particular spot that night.
I can believe it Jazzy is no Joke but very quiet
The Eastsidaz wouldn’t have him as a manager if he was a busta isn’t Jazzy managing the Eastsidaz?
Eazy E & Ren is probably the only ones that had street credibility in NWA point blank
Dont do mc wren dirty he is n.w.a. eazy canr stop rolling over..
GET YO SHAAT TOGETHER & WRITE YOUR “OWN” STORY………….
When I first heard they were making this movie my first thought was “how accurate will it be”. I’m old enough to remember when NWA was getting started. During that time Ren was talked about and just as important to that group as all the others were.
I think this movie is really written for the young people that know no better. And yes, they are rewriting history. Eazy, Dre and Cube all went on to become rich and famous which is why the movie focuses on those 3…since the kids today recognize those names. Universal was more interested in selling tickets and less concerned with truth telling.
But since Dre and Cube are mad rich and famous, it’s not clear why they didn’t insist on telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Just about every photo of NWA shows 5 guys. So a movie about 3 guys is fake for anyone with half a brain.
I am really disappointed to hear MC Ren and DJ Yella are being glossed over. I even heard they want to have an NWA tour with Dre, Cube, Snoop and Eminem. What? After reading this article I will wait for this to come out on Netflix.
I hope MC Ren can capitalize on all the publicity and put out a new album soon. Dub C is about the same age and his last album was hot. But yeah, Ren getting fucked on the trailer thang. I heard Ren and Yella got cut out the NWA tour too. They say the NWA tour gone be Dre, Cube, Snoop and Eminem. What the fuck?
I agree it’s bullshit…Ren and yellow boy is a major part of nwa….you can’t rewrite history universal studios….redue the movie….period
Like it or not, this is life. Yes, Ren was great and a huge part of NWA, but this is not a documentary, it’s a movie, a story and Ren’s story is nowhere near as compelling as E, Dre and Cube. Those 3 men were the standouts of the group and their development was far more significant than Ren. Nobody is trying to discount him, but you can’t focus on everybody
No news here,Ren dropped the baton years ago while Dre and Cube were running with it. No one is interested on his story in all honesty he’s just a background nigga.