Warren G
Californian Warren G is a Hip Hop icon. Aside from being a Platinum artist, he’s been around some of the best acts to come out of the West. Dr. Dre is his step-brother. Warren produced the demo tape that got Snoop signed by Dr. Dre to Death Row Records in the early 90’s. Needless to say Warren G’s production skills are heralded. He’s got an album coming out on the 28th of October and you need to get it. This interview focused on his early days as an artist and then what’s been going on with him this year.
What kind of music was playing in your household when you were growing up?
I had a lot of 70’s Disco and music like the Ohio Players and the Isley Bros playing in my house. As I got older in the 80’s I’d start hearing stuff like Tina Turner and Michael McDonald and Luther Vandross. A lot of that stuff used to play in the house. That right there from the records that my parents used to play that’s what gave me that soulfulness and feeling in what I do with my music.
What’s the first Rap record that had an impact on you?
The first records that had an impact on me were ones by The Fat Boys, Run DMC, this kid named Count Coolout, the Beastie Boys, Stetasonic, NWA, LA Dream Team, Dimple D, Marley Marl and the Juice Crew. It’s a lot. It all just hit me at one time. One of the records I’d hear a lot was by Count Coolout. Dre used to play that a lot. Dre is a DJ also and he used to [play that in a lot of his mixes.] I was hearing that all the time and I’d be like “Who is that?” and Dre would be like “That’s Count Coolout.” And I really liked him. That style he used is kind of like “Warren G.” You heard of Count Coolout?
I haven’t heard his music but I was gonna ask you about your sound. How would describe G-Funk?
G-Funk is that music you can dance to. Music you can ride to. Music you can two-step to. It’s just “feel-good” music, man. It’s music that relieves your stress. That’s what it’s about and that’s what we need in these days and times. That’s what it is and it’s here to stay. It aint gonna change. I’ll probably beef it up a little bit, cause nowadays they’re using the 808 alot. I put a little twist to that every now and then but I still keep it G-Funk with live instrumentation–guitars and bass and rhodes.
When you first started producing what were you using?
When I first started producing all I had was an MPC 60, a Numark mixer, a turntable and records. That’s all I started with. That’s basically how everybody was producing. Dre had a twist on what he was doing as far as using musicians and he taught me about that. Everything else I picked up on my own. Dre showed me how to sample. That’s all I had. I did “Indo Smoke” off a turntable and a mixer and a drum machine. I did “Regulate” the same way. I’m probably going to have to adopt that formula again.
What was it like from your perspective when Dr. Dre was in these groups like World Class Wrecking Cru and NWA?
I was so used to him being in groups and stuff like that cause he was in a DJ crew before that, the Stereo Crew. I was loving what they were doing back then DJ-ing. So I was kind of used to it already. So I’ve been used to it all those years. I was never really like “Wow!” cause I was around it all the time.
What was your life like around the time you put out “Regulate?”
I was stressed out. I wanted to do more than just be a DJ and at that time that’s all I was looked at as was a DJ. So I started producing and Dre showed me a few things. I wanted people to hear Warren G. I said to myself, “If Dre can do it and Quik can do it, why not I do it,” instead of sitting up here and being a DJ. I was already rapping with Snoop. So I was already an emcee/DJ/producer. So I was stressed out cause I wasn’t doing too much with Snoop cause him and Dre were doing a whole bunch of stuff and I felt like I was kind of left out, but I just went ahead and did my thing. I said “I gotta do this on my own. I gotta make a living for myself and try to let people know what it is I do, and I did it.”
Were there ever any legal disputes with Michael McDonald?
Never. Michael McDonald was cool all the way down from top. He been cool the whole time. He never gave me no problems. And he still gets checks from that too, cause I do. So I know he’s getting one. I’m happy I made that reccord. Even though I did it bigger than they did, but I was very honored to do that. I’m happy about that. Hopefully one of these days me and him can sit down at the coffee table once again and maybe come up with something new. Try to rock the world again, if we can do it.
Have you two ever performed that live?
No, we never performed it live. I’m thinking I should’ve damn sure did it at the Billboard Awards, the Soul Train Awards, and the VMA’s. I should’ve done that. Had Michael Mcdonald come out with Nate Dogg and have them sing “I keep forgetting” in the hook. I wasn’t thinking and nobody around me was thinking, but it’s all good.
Yeah it is. You mentioned you felt left out when Dre signed Snoop and that put your group with Snoop and Nate Dogg on hold, but looking back aren’t you glad you weren’t signed to Death Row Records?
Yeah. I’m real glad. Even though that’s who I started with before all the bullshit. It was live. It was fun. I had a lot of fun. Everybody was cool. Russ (Simmons) and them gave me a chance to show the world who I am and I took advantage of it. [Death Row] was still my guys no matter what. Snoop, Dre, Nate, Daz, Kurupt–all of them were still my people and we had a great relationship even though I was over there with Russ and them. I felt kind of lonely, but hey it gets like that. It panned out though. Russ and them showed me a great time, man. Him and Lyor (Cohen), Chris Lighty, I had a ball. It’s something I’ll always cherish and never forget.
How were you affected by Tupac’s death?
I was affected because he was just starting to reach his plateau as an actor and he was completely incredible as an emcee. To lose a person that talented was heartbreaking. How could all that great talent be wasted over some stupid ass bullshit that could’ve been prevented. You got people around you that could’ve prevented that as far as the record company people, they could’ve kept the whole thing all business. Man. I don’t know, but I’m gonna miss him.
What was it like reuniting with Snoop and Nate Dogg to put out the 213 album?
That was one of the greatest times of my life. We had a great time, man. It just felt so good to be working with my homeboys, instead of calling them to come to my set, or me having to go to their set, we were all doing this as one. It felt great. We got to laugh together we got to talk and have a good time. We just gelled. The hits come automatically. We could just be sitting there and the hits would just come.
That’s gonna conclude my questions about the past and now I’m going to ask you about this year in particular. We just heard about Nate Dogg suffering his second stroke. Have you heard anything about his condition?
As far as his condition he’s doing well. We’re just praying and leaving it in god’s hands, and he’ll be alright. Nate’s a strong dude so I know he’ll pull through. For the people that really know him, this is hard. He wouldn’t want me up here weeping and whining, even though I’ve been busting tears like a motherfucker. He wouldn’t want us whining and acting like a skirt. He’d be like “Just keep handling your business, and I’ll get through.” That’s how he is. He’s gonna pull through, man. Everybody’s praying for him. Prayer is the best thing in the world.
You got pulled over in California this past June, arrested for Marijuana possession and it seemed like the whole situation was bullshit because the charges were quickly dropped. What happened there?
The whole incident was BS. I didn’t have no weed. I was the passenger. The driver had a little bitty blunt that he just smoked, so there wasn’t nothing in the car. They were just harassing. They were getting ready to let us go, but then they found out who I was and they had to stick something on me, and they know who my people is, so they were like “We’re gonna put something on him.” I don’t get caught up in all the trouble and drama like that. It was just how you and everybody else saw it–an hour after I walked up out of there, it was dropped. That’s how that was did. You need good lawyers.
What’s the concept behind G-Files?
It’s like it sounds. What it is is I’m digging in the file cabinet and I’m gonna pull out the file “Crush” featuring Ray-J. That’s the song that’s going to tell you what “Crush” is about. I may dig in the file cabinet again and pull out “The West is Back” and that’s another song I got and it’s going to break down how the West is back. Great song too. I got “Hold On” which is telling you to hold on and keep your head up, stay tight cause everything is going to be alright. I got a song called “Masquerade” that talks about what goes on in the industry. Most of all the record is a great record, the production is solid and it’s one of those records you can dance to. It’s that G-Funk. You can smoke to it. You could do whatever. It’s not music that’s going to stress you out. The album is incredible. Snoop’s going to be a part of it. I’m in talks with Cee Lo. Twista said he wants to get involved. All the people I deal with, everybody’s down for the cause and working with your man Warren G. It’s all good man, I’m loving it. I’m happy about it. Right now the record “Crush” is blowing up. It’s a good thing.
How do you like the Oakland Raiders this year?
I love the Raiders. Them my boys. I’m a die-hard Raider. They’re looking good. Ok, we lost the first game, but we were rusty, but now we got our swagger back. You seen what we did to Kansas City. That was vicious. The only thing we gotta work on is getting Jamarcus Russell’s timing right. Once he gets his timing right it’s a wrap.
McFadden looks good too.
Incredible. And now he’s going to get a lot more playing time because Vargas is out.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO HEAR THE SONGS.
“Crush” featuring Ray J
“She Got Her Own Ringtone”
