Regulate... G Funk Era
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Regulate... G Funk Era is the debut studio album by American rapper Warren G. It was released on June 7, 1994, by Violator and distributed by Rush Associated Labels, a division of Def Jam Recordings. The album's biggest hit was the eponymous single "Regulate", a gritty depiction of West Coast gang life which samples singer Michael McDonald's hit "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and featured Nate Dogg. The album also contained the top ten hit "This D.J." The song "Regulate" was also featured on the Above the Rim soundtrack, which was released on March 22, 1994. An altered version of the song "So Many Ways" appeared in the 1995 film Bad Boys.
Warren G received two Grammy nominations: "This D.J." was nominated for a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, while "Regulate" was nominated for a 1995 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 1995 Soul Train Music Awards.
Critical reception
| Initial reviews (in 1994) | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ |
| Music Week | |
| NME | 8/10 |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Select | |
| Smash Hits | |
| USA Today |
| Retrospective reviews (after 1994) | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide | B+ |
| RapReviews | 8/10 |
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Spin highly recommended the album, concluding: "Truth be told, Warren G. wasn't cut out to be a hardass. He's a romantic, in love with soft sound." The New York Times opined that Regulate... G Funk Era "is the first gangster rap album with crossover appeal... The music is slow, smooth and soulful. The arrangements are complicated, and the melodies sweet." Critic Robert Christgau commented positively regarding the coolly menacing nature of the music.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard Top 200 albums chart, selling 176,000 in its opening week. The album later went on the sell over three million copies in the US and has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
2014 re-release
The album was re-released in 2014 to coincide with its 20th anniversary. It includes three additional mixes of "Regulate": the "Destructo & Wax Motif Remix", featuring Motif, the "Photek Remix" featuring Nate Dogg, and the "Jauz Remix", also featuring Nate Dogg.
Track listing
- All songs produced by Warren G
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Regulate" (featuring Nate Dogg) | Warren GriffinNathaniel HaleMichael McDonaldEd SanfordJerry LeiberMike Stoller | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Do You See" | W. GriffinR. Brown | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Gangsta Sermon" (featuring B-Tip and Ricky Harris) | W. GriffinR. Harris | 0:36 |
| 4. | "Recognize" (featuring the Twinz) | W. GriffinD. WilliamsD. Williams | 2:59 |
| 5. | "Super Soul Sis" (featuring Jah Skills) | W. Griffin | 2:56 |
| 6. | "'94 Ho Draft" (featuring B-Tip and Ricky Harris) | W. GriffinR. Harris | 1:00 |
| 7. | "So Many Ways" | W. GriffinD. Williams | 3:24 |
| 8. | "This D.J." | W. GriffinC. Broadus | 3:23 |
| 9. | "This Is the Shack" (featuring the Dove Shack) | W. GriffinM. MakonieA. BluntG. Brown | 4:05 |
| 10. | "What's Next" (featuring Lil Malik) | W. GriffinM. Edwards | 3:26 |
| 11. | "And Ya Don't Stop" | W. Griffin | 3:22 |
| 12. | "Runnin' wit No Breaks" (featuring Jah Skills, Bo Roc, G Child and the Twinz) | W. Griffin | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 36:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Regulate (Remix)" (featuring Nate Dogg) | 4:19 |
| 2. | "Do You See (Stepz Remix)" | 5:15 |
| 3. | "Do You See (Old Skool Mix)" | 5:17 |
| 4. | "This D.J. (Remix)" (featuring O.G.L.B.) | 3:46 |
| 5. | "This D.J. (Dobie's Rub Part 1)" (featuring O.G.L.B.) | 4:02 |
| 6. | "What's Next (Instrumental)" | 3:29 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Regulate (Destructo & Wax Motif Remix)" (featuring Motif) | 4:56 |
| 2. | "Regulate (Photek Remix)" (featuring Nate Dogg) | 3:54 |
| 3. | "Regulate (Jauz Remix)" (featuring Nate Dogg) | 5:40 |
Personnel
- Warren G – vocals, background vocals, producer
- Chris Lighty, Paul Stewart – executive producer
- John Philip Shenale – editing
- John Morris – assistant engineer, mixing, mixing assistant
- Greg Geitzenauer – keyboards, mixing, engineer
- Mike Ainsworth – assistant engineer
- Ulysses Noriega – assistant engineer
- George "Yorrgi" Gallegos – assistant engineer
- Christopher C. Murphy – assistant engineer/runner
- Tony Green, Daniel Shulman – bass
- Che Laird, Andreas Straub, Morris O'Connor – guitar
- Sean "Barney" Thomas – keyboards
- Carl "Butch" Small – percussion
- Nate Dogg, Ricky Harris, B-Tip, Deon, Dewayne, Lady Levi, Jah-Skilz – vocals
- The Dove Shack – vocals, background vocals
- O.G.L.B. – background vocals
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Michael Miller – photography
Samples
"Regulate"
- "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" by Michael McDonald
- "Sign of the Times" by Bob James
- "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre
"Do You See"
- "Bicentennial Blues" by Gil Scott-Heron
- "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume
- "Mama Used to Say" by Junior
"Super Soul Sis"
- "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)" by One Way
- "Why Have I Lost You" by Cameo
- "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang (Freestyle Remix)" by Snoop Dogg
"94 Ho Draft"
- "Groove to Get Down" by T-Connection
"This Is The Shack"
"This D.J."
- "Curious" by Midnight Star
- "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume
- "Paid in Full" by Eric B. & Rakim
"And Ya Don't Stop"
- "Janitzio" by Don Julian
"Runnin' wit No Breaks"
- "Go On and Cry" by Les McCann and Eddie Harris
- "N.T." by Kool & the Gang
- "Tha Next Episode (Unreleased)" by Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre
"So Many Ways"
"What's Next"
- "Adventures of Super Rhyme (Rap)" by Jimmy Spicer
- "Mind Blowing Decisions" by Heatwave
- "Conjunction Junction" by Bob Dorough, featuring Jack Sheldon and Terri Morel
"Recognize"
- "Doggy Dogg World" by Snoop Dogg, featuring Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, and the Dramatics
- "Genius Is Back" by Mix Master Spade and Compton Posse
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Weekly charts Chart (1994) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 42 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 27 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 19 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 15 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 26 Scottish Albums (OCC) 59 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 12 UK Albums (OCC) 25 UK R&B Albums (OCC) 9 US Billboard 200 2 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 1 | Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 73 US Billboard 200 32 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 9 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 42 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 27 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 19 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 15 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 26 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 59 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 12 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 25 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) | 9 |
| US Billboard 200 | 2 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 1 |
| Chart (1994) | Position |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 73 |
| US Billboard 200 | 32 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 9 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Do You See" | Billboard Hot 100 | 42 |
| 1994 | "Regulate" | Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| 1994 | "This D.J." | Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 100,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
| * Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |