Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970) in Long Beach, California, more commonly known as Warren G, is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. His biggest hit was the single "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994. The single was a g-funk track like most of Warren G's productions. He is the step-brother of successful record producer Dr. Dre.
Music career
In 1991, Warren G formed the group 213 with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. Warren G introduced the group to his step-brother Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre was impressed and tied Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg to his and Suge Knight's record company, Death Row Records. Thus, 213 broke up before releasing any records, and the three artists pursued separate careers. Even though Death Row Records did not sign Warren G, his career began with some contributions to Dr. Dre's album The Chronic, released 1992. Warren G was a regular contributor to many Death Row albums.
In 1993, Warren G produced the track Indo Smoke featuring himself and Nate Dogg and Mista Grimm.
Warren G's debut album Regulate... G Funk Era was released in 1994 on Def Jam, featured the hit "Regulate" which samples Michael McDonald's classic hit, "I Keep Forgettin'". Also on that disc was "This D.J.," a popular track and hit video on MTV.
He followed up with "Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (Reality)" in 1997, which took his mellow approach and brought it even further into the mainstream. Scoring a hit with a rap remake of "I Shot the Sheriff," the album was a commercial success going double platinum.
I Want It All, released in 1999, represented a substantive if not commercial comeback for Warren G. Widely regarded as his most consistent record, this offered a jazz-rock fusion style and a host of guests including Mack 10, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Eve. The first single, "I Want It All," sampled the song "I Like It" performed by DeBarge, which had a hit video that entered into heavy rotation on MTV and VH1. Warren G fully embraced his less-gangsta image at this time.
The greatest disappointment of Warren G's career was undoubtedly The Return of the Regulator, the full-out comeback album he released in 2001 after signing with Universal Records. Using similar cover art to his original successful album, "Regulate... G Funk Era," Warren G tried to recreate his 1994 magic to no avail. The album was a major sales disappointment and produced no hit singles. However, the album was actually an artistic high point for Warren G. Several of the songs, including "Something for You to Bounce To" and "Young Locs Slow Down," are classics in his catalogue.
In 2003 Warren G, Snoop Dogg, and Nate Dogg reunited 213 and recorded the album The Hard Way with the single "Groupie Luv". The album was released in 2004 and entered at #4 on the Billboard charts.
Warren G released a new album on October 11, 2005, called In the Mid-Nite Hour on an independent label. In December 2005, he signed with UniqueInc LTD (UK) for the UK & Éire, Craze Productions of London is doing the digital distribution and sales on Mobile and online and Hawino Records for the North America release.
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