Review Summary: Despite its flaws, 'Regulate… G Funk Era' remains an enjoyable listen.
Emerging from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s, G-Funk was instrumental in cementing hip-hop’s place in mainstream American culture. Combining a laidback style of rapping with slow grooves, deep bass, melodic synthesizers, the sampling of Parliament-Funkadelic recordings, and a high-pitched portamento synthesizer lead, the sound accompanied a way of life (the G thang) that a generation of Americans, regardless of colour, could buy into. Dr. Dre’s 1992 album
The Chronic propelled the post-gangsta aesthetic into heavy rotation, with its popularity further augmented by the release of Snoop Dogg’s
Doggystyle a year later. Displaying a smoother G-Funk sound than Dre and Snoop, Warren G’s 1994 debut
Regulate… G Funk Era attained neither the critical nor commercial successful achieved by the two aforementioned artists. Nevertheless, Warren G’s debut album remains an important exemplification of the G-Funk sound that emerged from the West Coast during the early- to mid-nineties.
Readers familiar with hip-hop will be well acquainted with the album’s opener, and best song, ‘Regulate’. Built upon a hypnotic groove, sampled from Michael McDonald’s ‘I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)’, the track exemplifies the smooth G-Funk sound prevalent throughout the album. Adding to the memorable melody and the funky bass grooves, ‘Regulate’ sees Warren G joined by singer/rapper Nate Dogg in narrating a story about driving through Long Beach after dark. The duo have great chemistry, with Warren’s relaxed delivery complementing Nate’s smooth vocals. ‘This D.J.’, another album highlight, is luxuriously smooth. Combining a laidback beat with melodic chords, background female vocals, and the distinctive whine of a high-pitched portamento synthesizer, the song seductively bounces along.
Given its importance to the G-Funk sound, it comes as no surprise that the high-pitched sounds of the portamento synthesizer are dominant throughout the album. ‘Do You See’ is built around its distinctive whine and a sample from Mtune’s ‘Juicy Fruit’, while the songs ‘Recognize’ and ‘So Many Ways’ expertly blend together woozy synths and funky basslines to deliver a smooth, laidback sound. Similarly, ‘Super Soul Sis’, with its whiny synth lead, melodic chords and a vocal sample from One Way’s ‘Don’t Stop (Ever Loving Me)’, warmly grooves along. ‘This Is The Shack’, featuring vocals from The Dove Shack, adds some variety to the album with its jangly guitar chords, upbeat percussion and catchy chorus.
Evidently, Warren G is a talented producer. The album flows nicely from one track to another and the various samples used within the songs are well utilised. I also like Warren’s use of live instrumentation. My main criticism of
Regulate… G Funk Era however, is that Warren is not a particularly good rapper. This is particularly noticeable on ‘What’s Next’ where Warren delivers two weak verses, lacking in any real substance. While I am aware that lyricism is not really what G-Funk is all about, lines such as ‘The one who brings you styles on timesy whimsy/ That’s why it’s so hard to find me’ do not suffice. In his second verse, Warren proceeds to assert ‘I say what’s next, what’s next what’s N-X-E-T’, which is just bizarre. Indeed, given the quality of the underlying beat, Warren’s vocal contribution to the track is disappointing.
Aside from Nate Dogg’s appearance on ‘Regulate’,
Regulate… G Funk Era sees Warren G joined by a modest selection of guests. Female MC Jah Skills delivers a memorable performance on the track ‘Super Soul Sis’, and also appears on ‘Runnin’ Wit No Breaks’ which also features two verses from Trip Locc and Wayniac (collectively known as The Twinz). One of the most interesting aspects of
Regulate… G Funk Era is the way in which the album fuses a gritty depiction of West Coast gang life with a smooth, fat-bottomed sound that recalls warm sunny days spent lazily passing time by. Warren portrays Long Beach, California, as a place where the cruel streets operate in sharp contrast to the sunny weather and scenic landscape. Recounting the pressures of growing up in the hood, ‘Do You See’ sees Warren G rap ‘Another sunny day, another bright blue sky/ Another day, another mother***a die/ These are the things I went through when I was growing up’. Despite his limitations as a rapper, part of the album’s appeal is that Warren comes across as just an ordinary guy: he rides around on a Schwinn, plays basketball in the park, and appears to be genuinely concerned about the dangers that await him after dark. It is this sense of humanity that makes Warren G a likable rapper.
Taken as a whole,
Regulate… G Funk Era is not only an enjoyable listen, but also serves as an important exemplification of the G-Funk sound that emerged from the West Coast during the early- to mid-nineties. Musically, the album epitomises the sunny Californian lifestyle with its smooth rhythms and slow, thumping bass. The production is excellent and despite his shortcomings as a rapper, Warren G comes across as charismatic, likeable figure. All things considered,
Regulate… G Funk Era is a great album for summer months and is highly recommended for those interested in exploring the G-Funk sound.
