MC Ren's solo career has suffered from an over-reliance on gangsta rap clichés, and his second full-length album,
Da Villain in Black, is no exception. Working with
Above the Law's
Cold 187um,
Ren has constructed an album that doesn't deviate from cliché G-funk grooves. Furthermore,
Ren hasn't come up with lyrics to match his first two solo records, let alone
Dre,
Ice Cube, or
Eazy-E. Relying on profanity instead of insight, the half-hearted raps sadly fit the unimaginative music perfectly. [
Villain in Black was also released in a "clean" edition, containing no profanities or vulgarities.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine