By Ismael AbduSalaam and Tim "Styles" Sanchez
After a 10-year hiatus, NWA founding member MC Ren has confirmed plans to release his fifth studio album exclusively through the Internet, the rapper told AllHipHop.com.
Although appearing on projects from Paris and Public Enemy throughout 2006, Ren has since remained quiet, primarily due to being fed up with the state of the music industry.
Now fueled by a commitment to his loyal fans, Ren began crafting the early stages of a new album just a few short months ago.
“I just wanted to get back in it for my fans that love me and love the s**t that I do,” Ren told AllHipHop.com. “What I do is for them so I’m putting this album together called RenIncarnated. I’m going to put it out on the Internet for them.”
While some labels would welcome marketing a new LP from a name emcee like Ren, the West Coast veteran is adamant about keeping industry hands away from his art.
This marks a drastic change for Ren, who through NWA and his own solo career has sold millions of records for independents and major labels in the late 80s and early 90s.
“No. F**k them! F**k those labels,” Ren spat. “The only way I’ll deal with a label is if they break me hella off and I have the space to do what I do. But all of that politicking and ass kissing? Naw, I ain’t f**king with them or that….I could write a book on all my experiences [with labels].”
A 20 year veteran, MC Ren along with NWA bandmates Ice Cube, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, and the late Eazy-E, revolutionized Hip-Hop music with the seminal gangsta rap releases Straight Outta Compton (1988), 100 Miles and Runnin’ (1990), and Niggaz4Life (1991).
The rapper doubts he will ever return to releasing music in the traditional manner and will instead turn to the Internet to spread his music virally, similar to the way early NWA records became popular by word-of-mouth.
“With the Internet I don’t need a label to do any of that stuff,” MC Ren stated. “With the Internet it’s so easy to put s**t out. F**k labels, that’s why everybody is doing their stuff on the Internet, it’s big! Why f**k with these bulls**t labels when you can do it yourself and cut all them out? Those labels just want to take and take and take. F**k that!”
At press time, MC Ren’s RenIncarnated does not have a tentative release date.