Customer Reviews

Shock of the Hour

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before MC REN started his solo career in 1992, he was just known as a former member of N.W.A. When the group broke up in 1991, MC Ren stayed with partner Eazy-E and kept recording with Ruthless Records. His first album in 1992, KIZZ MY BLACK AZZ, can be summarized as a typical gangsta rap album of that time period. The album had help from Eazy-E himself and even sold over 500,000 copies. It wasn't a full album (and is now out-of print), but a 6-track E.P.; the album was supposed to give a preview for his upcoming full-length album called LIFE SENTENCE. But before that album was made MC Ren converted into the Nation Of Islam with the support of his DJ (DJ TRAIN). With Ren's new views, LIFE SENTENCE was scrapped and instead SHOCK OF THE HOUR was to replace it. This album still keeps the gangsta rap lyrics from before, but MC Ren also gives insight on blacks in America and his religon (sort of similar to Ice Cube's DEATH CERTIFICATE). The gangsta tracks on the album that were singles are: "SAME OL S--T" and "F--- WHAT YA HEARD". These tracks are written in the same fashion as other hardcore rap songs and are enjoyable & explict like Ren's former NWA songs. "MAYDAY ON THE FRONTLINE" also appears on the CB4 Movie Soundtrack; the song gives political views about how blacks should rise up from anyone holding them down and also his anger with some whites, MC Ren says it best: "Waitin' for the day to get revenge for the days of the slave ships". The song "DO YOU BELIEVE" is MC Ren's criticism about Christianity and blacks being too friendly with whites. Songs like "MR F--- UP" and "ONE FALSE MOVE" have great beats with funky sampling from Parliment. The final track "SHOCK OF THE HOUR" (with a guest appearance from KAM) is a song about their point of views about Islam. The whole album can be summarized as miltia, and at times some of the radical white & Christian statements might seem appalling, but if you don't let that go to your head you will be able to enjoy one of MC Ren's finest works in his solo career. This album and KIZZ MY BLACK AZZ are essentials for any MC Ren fans or listeners of west coast gangsta rap. This album was released in 1993 under Ruthless Records and is harder to find at stores than Ren's last two releases. In my opinion, the search for the album is worth it.

MC Ren's first full-length solo album following the breakup of NWA was his 1993 effort "Shock of the Hour," released on Ruthless Records. I am perplexed by how much this album is underappreciated. While obviously not on the same creative level of "The Chronic" or "Death Certificate," this is a very entertaining album and among the best to come from the post-NWA solo album offerings. This album is well executed, standard gangsta rap, and if it were not so overlooked, it might be one of the archetypical albums of the genre. MC Ren was always one of the most solid rappers in NWA, and his evident talent continues on this solo release. He covers much more interesting topics lyrically than Dre ever did, and even the run-of-the-mill gangsta rap fare is executed very well. The production is impressive, showing a very good style of the pre-g-funk west coast rap musical style. The beats and bass are hard, and there is usually a whiny synth or instrumental sample on most of the tracks. The beats just sound hard and really complement Ren's angry monotone. "Shock of the Hour" is really hard to find now, but it's still an album I highly recommend.

The album begins with "11:55," a dark and dangerous sounding intro that sets the mood for the album very well. "Same Old S..." speaks of a day in the life of a famous rapper, the production is solid and tough sounding. "F... What You Heard" is a highlight for me, the bass and synth-heavy music sounds really good with Ren's calmly delivered but angry raps. "All Bulls... Aside" continues in the same way, a threatening and well-produced song. "One False Move" has a chaotic sound both musically and lyrically. "You Wanna F... Her" speaks of a woman who is not as innocent as someone obviously believes, the beat is excellent. The album really picks up here, the music taking a more philosophical approach lyrically. "Mayday on the Front Line" is another warning kind of song but it just comes across as really well done. "Attack on Babylon" is one of the best songs on the album, discussing the thought process behind urban violence. "Do You Believe" is funky and challenges mainstream thought. Ren lends some time on the mic to his young proteges on "Mr. F... Up," and the album ends with by far its best track, the title song. This song paints an apocalyptic picture of black supremacy and judgment day, it's really disturbing and ends the album perfectly.

"Shock of the Hour" is a really underrated album from one of the west coast's pioneering and most interesting rap artists. MC Ren never gets the respect he deserves, but if more people heard this album they definitely would. This album is just overall a very solid and enjoyable album of hardcore west coast hip hop, one that I recommend to all fans of NWA and early west coast.

After releasing his "Kizz My Black Azz" Ep in 1992, MC Ren released his first full-length solo album in 1993 entitled, "Shock of the Hour".

1. 11:55 - Intro

2. Same Old S*** - Good beat, Ren kills it, hook is good - 5/5

3. F*** What Ya Heard - Bangin beat, Rens flow is so hard, hook is so-so - 4.5/5

4. All B******* Aside - Nice beat, Ren spits hard rhymes again, hook isn't nothing special - 4/5

5. One False Move - Crazy beat, Ren and the other 2 people come real tight, hook is good - 5/5

6. You Wanna F*** Her - Bangin beat, Ren talks about having sex with some b****, hook is good - 4.5/5

7. Mayday on the Front Line - Hilarious intro, good beat, Ren spits grimey as ever, hook is good - 5/5

8. Attack on Babylon - Great beat, Ren doesn't disappoint at all, hook is decent - 4.5/5

9. Do You Believe - Bangin beat, Ren rips it to shreds, the hook is more like an interlude with some dude talking - 4/5

10. Mr. F*** Up - Nice beat, Ren comes tight but the other dudes don't bring nothing new to the table, hook is real dumb - 3.5/5

11. Shock of the Hour - Nice beat, Kam (?) And Ren make a great collaboration on the title track, hook is good - 4.5/5

Overall: 44.5/50

4.5 Stars

MC Ren proved he could hold down a whole album and kept it gangsta throughtout every track. This is definitely an underground classic and people should realize he was a very talented member in the N.W.A!

MC Ren one of the original members of NWA. The most ruthless group in rap history. This was Ren's second solo released the follow-up to "Kizz My Black Azz" EP which was dope too. The album was released in 1993. MC Ren is my second favorite emcee from the west just after 2Pac. His lyrics where just untouchable on this album. MC Ren was the only member from NWA that stay on Ruthless Records besides Eazy. I bought this album when it first drop and it was a west classic.

"...oh, he's a redneck? Huh, throw him with the rest...
...of the dead bodies, we be buryin'...
...when 3 million n*ggas got guns and carry 'em..."

So it goes, on this crazy album, where MC REN basically declares all-out-war on white people!

Whether he talks about beating blacks who sympathize with whites ("beat his monkey azz...remind the muther*ucker of what happened in the past"), beating white women, or just all around anglo-genocide, ("we'll go to white neighboorhoods and start to blast...believe that!"), this album is so full of racist hate that it is completely over the top.

However, that being said, I must admit that my white-azz is playing this record constantly here at my apartment. Why? Cos it is such a brilliant piece of work. The beats hit so hard that my neighbors complain. The production is top notch. The rhyme delivery is 100 on point.

Overall, this ranks up there with one of my all-time-favorite gangster rap albums ever. You must get this if you are a fan of any genre of hip-hop or rap.

Call this album gangsta but with a catchiness to it to make it more accessible. This is MC Ren's best solo album and more topic driven. He defends blacks on most songs but goes after some whites in a confrontational and shocking way. He does explain the racism that occurs among blacks and other races in some songs. He even mentions religion on a few songs on the second half. I don't think he meant to shock anyone, but to encourage people to stand up for themselves against some negative things attacked at them. Most of the album is very catchy and funky and there are some explicit titles that I can't mention here, yet they fit with Ren's explosive and bombastic style. He is without a doubt one of the fiercest rappers to come from the West Coast!

Man this is rens best cd yet it starts off wit Laywiy talkin about how great ren is and tha dayz of bein a slave our over.Same OL S''T is about tha same stuff happenin everyday and everynight he talks about thinkin of another way to get girls money and beatin his girl and ni''az shootin at him.F''K Wut Ya Heard is about forget wut u heard in tha past and dat ren is gonna fall and his kid wit another last name.All BullsS''T Aside is about other ni''az talkin bulls''t about ren.One False Move is about one false move or ur dead wit a 9mm gun it featuring Doller bill and da konvicted felon.You Wanna F''K Her is about ren rappin about this girl.Mayday On The Frontline is about gettin revenge on tha white people.Attack On Babylon is about ren buryin white people and doesnt have time to mess wit hoez.Do You Believe is about jesus wasnt white and dat he came from africa and gettin a white mans name and if u see a ni''a wit a white girl (which happens all tha time now) to beat their a's and remindin him about wut happened in tha past.Mr. F''K Up is rens group Tha Click rappin its tight tha members r Gritz,Bone,Dopeman,and J-Rocc.Shock of the hour is about tha shock of the hour armagodon is about to come and i think tha world comin to an end its featurin Laywiy and Kam.get it if u dont already have it its really hard to find.

AMAZON!!!!...It would be really nice if I could atleast hear the damn tracks again, considering its been a long time since I heard the CD, especially if I'm gonna drop forty or fifty dollars on it.

This album is another classic from another N.W.A member. Eazy had It's On, and Eazy-Duz-It, dre had the chronic, and ice cube had a few solid releases, then mc ren had this classic. This album displays his mean side, his hating side, but every track turns out well. My favorites are One False Move, Shock Of The Hour, Mayday On The Frontline, Same Ol' Sh-t, F--- What Ya Heard, and Mr F--k Up. There is alot of hatred towards whites and christians, so be sure u wont get offended by this. Get this album, if u can find it anywhere, because its vintage mc ren.

ren was okay solo nwa was through by then him and eazy had some issues but still ren put out some tight... joints on here a must have for any nwa fan and anybody who likes the california style period.