Hutton, Alan "Byrd" Tatum, DJ Bobcat, Larry Johnson, Raw Steele, tha Chill, Touchtone, and Young Tre.

It features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Big Rocc, Ice Cube, Peeps, RBX, Snoop Dogg, and tha Chill.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic thought the album gives MC Ren "the opportunity to sound like a contemporary rather than a washed-up veteran", but added that "all of his ideas are a little shopworn".

[1] Soren Baker, in a review for Los Angeles Times, praised both the album's lyrics and its production, calling Ruthless for Life MC Ren's best work to date.

[3] XXL's reviewer Mr. Blonde called it a "surprisingly fresh return", adding that MC Ren "has matured his rhyme style".