Editing MC Ren (section)

===Solo career: 1992–present===
As [[N.W.A]] disbanded, Patterson started recording his first solo release titled ''[[Kizz My Black Azz]]''. The 6-track [[Extended Play|EP]] was entirely produced by [[DJ Bobcat]], except for one song that Patterson produced himself. Released in summer 1992, the EP was a hit, commercially and critically. Without any radio play, the EP went [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] within 2 months.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/09/04/kizz-my-black-azz-return-product/|title=Kizz My Black Azz; Return of the Product|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 1992|author=James Bernard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922105934/https://ew.com/article/1992/09/04/kizz-my-black-azz-return-product/|archive-date=September 22, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=American album certifications – MC Ren – Kizz My Black Azz |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Mc+Ren&col=title&ord=desc#search_section |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref>

Patterson began recording for his debut album, at that time called ''Life Sentence'', in late 1992. During the recording process, Patterson joined [[Nation of Islam|The Nation of Islam]] with guidance from [[DJ Train]]. This caused him to scrap ''Life Sentence'', and ''[[Shock of the Hour]]'' was released in late 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-19-ca-3485-story.html|title=M.C. REN; "Shock of the Hour"; Ruthless/Relativity|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 19, 1993|access-date=September 22, 2022|last=Gold|first=Jonathan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922111438/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-19-ca-3485-story.html|archive-date=September 22, 2022}}</ref> The album debuted at #1 on the R&B charts, selling 321,000 copies in its first month. ''Shock of the Hour'' was regarded as being more focused, yet even more controversial, and critics accused him again of being anti-white, misogynist, and antisemitic.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=MC Ren Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-ren/chart-history/blp/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Robert Christgau">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=MC+Ren |title=Shock of the Hour [Ruthless, 1993] |publisher=robertchristgau.com/ |date=November 23, 1993 |access-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref> The album is thematically divided into two sides; the first half deals with social issues like [[ghetto]] life, [[drug addiction]], [[racism]] and [[poverty]]. The second half shows Patterson's political side, as that half was recorded after he joined the Nation of Islam. The album features the hit singles "[[Same Ol' Shit]]" and "[[Mayday on the Frontline]]".

After 2 years of not talking to each other, Patterson reunited with Eazy-E in 1994 to produce their duet song "Tha Muthpukkin' Real" produced by DJ Yella, with Patterson co-producing. Three months later; on March 26, 1995, Eazy-E would die from complications of AIDS. The song "Tha Muthpukkin' Real" was released as a single in 1995.

Patterson soon fell on hard times when both DJ Train and Eazy-E died before the release of ''[[The Villain in Black]]''. The album, which was released in early 1996 and represented Patterson's first attempt at imitating the [[G-funk]] sound of Dr. Dre's [[The Chronic]], was not well received by critics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coker |first1=Cheo Hodari |title=1/2 MC Ren, "The Villain in Black," Ruthless/Relativity (**). |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-27-ca-63244-story.html |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=27 April 1996}}</ref> It was also heavily criticized for what many saw as Patterson's pandering to gangsta rap at the cost of a reduction in the sociopolitical content found on his earlier releases. The album debuted at #31 on the pop-charts, with the first week's sales of 31,000 copies. By the second month it had sold 131,000 copies.

Before leaving Ruthless, Patterson released ''[[Ruthless for Life]]'' in 1998, which proved a small comeback, selling moderately well. The album features Ice Cube, [[Snoop Dogg]], [[RBX]] and [[8Ball & MJG]], and others. This was the first time Patterson worked with new producers. By the end of 1998, Patterson had left Ruthless.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reiss|first=Randy|title=MC Ren Gets Ruthless On New Solo Album |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/350300/mc-ren-gets-ruthless-on-new-solo-album/|newspaper=[[MTV News]]|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=September 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919133648/https://www.mtv.com/news/v5l91y/mc-ren-gets-ruthless-on-new-solo-album|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Ruthless for Life - MC Ren {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ruthless-for-life-mw0000598660|language=en|access-date=2021-07-14}}</ref>

On October 31, 2009, Patterson released his fourth studio album entitled ''[[Renincarnated]]'', which was released under his own record label ''[[Villain Entertainment|Villain]]''. ''Renincarnated'' was only released in the US.

In 2015, Patterson stated that he had been working on his second EP, titled ''Rebel Music'' and released two singles: the title track, "[[Rebel Music (song)|Rebel Music]]", and "[[Burn Radio Burn]]". The official remix for "Rebel Music" was released in June 2014, and features Ice Cube.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Westhoff |first1=Ben |title=MC Ren Comes Out Swinging on His New Single |url=https://www.laweekly.com/mc-ren-comes-out-swinging-on-his-new-single/ |website=LA Weekly |date=16 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=N.W.A. Forever: MC Ren Making New Tunes With Ice Cube, DJ Premier |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/mc-ren-new-music-545855/ |website=VIBE |access-date=8 February 2022 |language=en |date=October 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Martins |first1=Chris |title=N.W.A. OG MC Ren Is Still Making 'Rebel Music' |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/03/mc-ren-rebel-music-stream-nwa-soundcloud/ |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|SPIN]] |date=27 March 2014}}</ref> It was originally expected to be released by the end of 2015 but remained unreleased until 2022 when he canceled the project and followed it up with a new EP, ''Osiris'' via [[Twitter]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1527710345627783168|user=realmcren|title=NEW EP " Osiris " dropping June 3rd . The Saga continues 🔥|author=MC Ren|date= May 20, 2022|access-date=September 15, 2022}}</ref>

On May 22, 2022, he announced the track list of ''Osiris'', and released the EP on June 3, 2022. The eight-track EP is entirely produced by [[Tha Chill]] and features guest appearances from [[Kurupt]], [[Kokane]], [[Cold 187um]], [[Ras Kass]] and others.<ref>{{cite web |title=N.W.A Legend MC Ren Unveils Tha Chill-Produced 'Osiris' EP Tracklist & Release Date |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.70527/title.n-w-a-legend-mc-ren-unveils-tha-chill-produced-osiris-ep-tracklist-release-date |website=[[HipHopDX]] |date=25 May 2022}}</ref>