Warren Griffin III, better known as Warren G, is a rapper, producer, actor, and half-brother of Dr. Dre from Long Beach, California, best known for coining the term G funk (but not the music itself; a number of West Coast emcees had been creating the art for a while).
Warren himself was never especially gifted at rapping, generally looking rather unimpressive compared to his peers at the time, such as Snoop Dogg & Kurupt. However, his potential was enough to get him signed to Def Jam records, where he promptly struck gold with the Above the Rim soundtrack, unleashing his Regulate track to the American public, which also gave more widespread exposure to Nate Dogg. Soon enough, the man's album was announced, which you had to wonder if the dude could keep up with an entire album especially given that he wasn't the most popular out of the Death Row camp, either.
Let's get this on, shall we?
1. REGULATE (FEAT. NATE DOGG) - You all know this track; it's so pervasive that it's probably required listening in California's education curriculum. Warren G, trying to come off as the badass gangsta we know he really isn't, describes a night in the L-B-C; he gets into trouble, only for Nate Dogg to come in, kick ass and the save the day. The lyrics are so damn goofy, but the humor here manages to shine; easily a classic track.
2. DO YOU SEE - The third single released from the album. The beat here can be best described as hazy; it's almost as if Warren Jeezy himself smoked a blunt while recording this track. As such, Warren raps about his past life before he became involved in this rapping business, and such, it's a pretty good track. Also, the music video is pretty damn amusing, just for that said hazy feeling.
3. GANGSTA SERMON - ...
4. RECOGNIZE (FEAT. THE TWINZ) - I have to be honest, The Twinz lyrics are like ADHD; not much focus or chorus, and just rapping whatever the hell is on their mind. It's the obligatory weed carrier track, one while not the best look for them, ended up pretty much getting them a record deal. Warren's beat here is smooth, peaceful, and actually pretty catchy, so this track was actually all right.
5. SUPER SOUL SIS (FEAT. JAH SKILLS) - Yet another weed carrier track here; mostly a braggadocio with a similar concept to our previous track; pure randomness. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for this track, mainly because when I played this album around the early 2000s this beat would always play; same sample of "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)" by One Way, used by Nelly in 2000. The beat is pretty much the epitome of California, blue as the summer skies and green as a Cali park. Jah Skills is probably the worst rapper on the entire album, but has more talent than rappers today. Also, her lyrics were seemingly designed to offend, mentioning AIDS, the JFK assassination, and the Israel-Palestine conflict in one song, and with that, I've said enough about this track.
6. 94 HO DRAFT - ...
7. SO MANY SKILLS (FEAT. WAYNIAC & LADY LEVI) - I thought this song was all right - Warren Jeezy's lyrics are pretty solid and the beat was catchy enough, although I found the hook to be annoying as all hell. Also released as a single, the music video for this track is incredibly lavish as well, especially for a track meant to be in sunny Cali.
8. THIS DJ (FEAT. O.G.L.B) - I love this song. From the peaceful, synthesizer-heavy blunted beat to the introspective childhood lyrics which are meant to provoke the good days, this track just kicks ass. It's perfect for cruising around, or having a barbecue. No wonder this was a single.
9. THIS IS THE SHACK (FEAT. THE DOVE SHACK) - I never cared much for this track. That's all I can say. Also, it seems Warren G calls himself the President, after that other Warren G. Huh.
10. WHAT'S NEXT (FEAT. MR. MALIK) - The same concept as Recognize, but much more well executed. Jeezy's beat just kicks ass here, with an incredibly booming bass line that wrecks your ear drum. Both of our performers here are on par for the course, and Warren mentions those hilarious School House Rock videos which we secretly enjoyed as a kid, making you wondering what the hell you were doing back then.
11. AND YA DON'T STOP - I also love this song. Sure, Warren's bragging of being a badass gangster aren't the most credible threats, especially since the man sounds so high and friendly as hell, but once again, the man's humor shines through; the beat, using Don Julian's "Janitzio" is so damn masterful, creating the feeling of being on a Cali beach in sunset. Overall, an amazing track.
12. RUNNIN' WIT NO BREAKS - Never paid much attention to this track either, although it's quite interesting anyway; the beat here was originally made for Doggystyle, a track called The Next Episode which got canned at the very last minute, but got rehashed on here. Of course, that track would finally be delivered as promised, on 2001.
B-SIDES TO TRACK DOWN
INDO SMOKE (MISTA GRIMM FEAT. NATE DOGG & NATE DOGG) - Released a year earlier on the Poetic Justice soundtrack was one of Griffin's first recordings in the music industry, and his first crack at mainstream audience. The beat, utilizing Blowfly, is funky and catchy as all hell, and Nate Dogg's chorus kills it here. It's a mostly forgotten track though, and it doesn't help that Mista Grimm promptly fell off a cliff after this was recorded, but you'' find a great weed anthem here.
FINAL WORD: Regulate... G Funk Era is a pretty kick ass album for what it's worth. For a 90s album it's actually aged quite well over the years, and some of these tracks are just timeless. Of course, this album isn't perfect, but it's definitely a solid listen you can ride to.
BUY OR BURN? - Definitely buy this one. It's been re-released as a special 2 disc set, so this one shouldn't be too hard to find.
BEST TRACKS - "This DJ", "Regulate", "And Ya Don't Stop", "Super Soul Sis", "Do You See"
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