History
Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970), known professionally as Warren G, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper, singer, DJ, and producer from Long Beach, California. He is the founder of the G-Funk Entertainment label.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Growing up in Long Beach, Warren G was exposed to a wide range of music through his parents' extensive jazz, soul, and funk record collection. He also spent considerable time at a local record store. During his teenage years, he formed the rap group 213 with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, named after their area code.
Breakthrough and "Regulate"
After encountering legal troubles, Warren G and his friends were motivated to focus on their music. They found a space to practice and record in the back room of the V.I.P. record store. It was there that Snoop Dogg recorded a demo that Warren G later played for his half-brother, Dr. Dre. This led to Snoop collaborating with Dr. Dre on the album The Chronic. While Warren G also contributed, he chose to develop his own career independently. He honed his production skills by working with artists like MC Breed and 2Pac.
A significant opportunity arose when his vocal collaboration with Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke," was featured on the soundtrack for the film Poetic Justice. Shortly thereafter, Warren G recorded his debut album for Death Row Records. His single "Regulate," featuring Nate Dogg, appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack and became a massive hit, reaching number two on the Billboard charts. The accompanying album, Regulate...G Funk Era, also peaked at number two and eventually achieved triple-platinum status, with "This D.J." becoming his second Top 10 hit.
Subsequent Releases
Warren G's second album, Take A Look Over Your Shoulder, was released in the spring of 1997, but received mixed reviews and moderate sales. He followed up with I Want It All in 1999 and The Return of the Regulator in 2001. In 2005, he signed with Lightyear Entertainment and released In the Mid-Nite Hour.
