Regulate... G Funk Era

Regulate... G Funk Era
Studio album by
Warren G
ReleasedJune 7, 1994
Recorded1993–1994
Studio
Genre
Length36:50
Label
ProducerWarren G
Warren G chronology
Regulate... G Funk Era
(1994) 		Take a Look Over Your Shoulder
(1997)
Singles from Regulate... G Funk Era
  1. "Regulate"
    Released: April 23, 1994
  2. "This D.J."
    Released: July 5, 1994
  3. "Do You See"
    Released: October 29, 1994

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Christgau's Consumer GuideB+[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
NME8/10[5]
Q[6]
RapReviews8/10[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
Smash Hits4/5[9]
USA Today[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."[11] 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."[12] Critic Robert Christgau commented positively regarding the coolly menacing nature of the music.[3]

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 3 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 the 20th anniversary of the album. It includes 3 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

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Regulate" (featuring Nate Dogg)
4:08
2."Do You See"
3:59
3."Gangsta Sermon" (featuring B-Tip and Ricky Harris)
  • W. Griffin
  • R. Harris
0:36
4."Recognize" (featuring The Twinz)
  • W. Griffin
  • D. Williams
  • D. Williams
2:59
5."Super Soul Sis" (featuring Jah Skills)W. Griffin2:56
6."'94 Ho Draft" (featuring B-Tip and Ricky Harris)
  • W. Griffin
  • R. Harris
1:00
7."So Many Ways"
  • W. Griffin
  • D. Williams
3:24
8."This D.J."
3:23
9."This Is the Shack" (featuring The Dove Shack)
  • W. Griffin
  • M. Makonie
  • A. Blunt
  • G. Brown
4:05
10."What's Next" (featuring Lil Malik)
  • W. Griffin
  • M. Edwards
3:26
11."And Ya Don't Stop"W. Griffin3:22
12."Runnin' wit No Breaks" (featuring Jah Skills, Bo Roc, G Child and The Twinz)W. Griffin3:32
Total length:36:50
*Special Bonus Tracks (Bonus CD in Special Version of 2007)
No.TitleLength
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
*Re-Release Bonus Tracks (2014)
No.TitleLength
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, Producer
  • Nate Dogg - Vocals
  • Chris Lighty - Executive Producer
  • 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 - Bass
  • Daniel Shulman - Bass
  • Che Laird - Guitar
  • Andreas Straub - Guitar
  • Morris O'Connor - Guitar
  • Sean "Barney" Thomas - Keyboards
  • Carl "Butch" Small - Percussion
  • The Dove Shack - Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  • Ricky Harris - Vocals
  • B-Tip - Vocals
  • Deon - Vocals
  • Dewayne - Vocals
  • Lady Levi - Vocals
  • Jah-Skilz - Vocals
  • G-Child (Warren G) - Vocals (Background)
  • O.G.L.B. - Vocals (Background)
  • Bernie Grundman - Mastering
  • Michael Miller - Photography

Samples

Regulate

Do You See

Super Soul Sis

94 Ho Draft

This Is The Shack

This D.J.

And Ya Don't Stop

Runnin' Wit No Breaks

So Many Ways

What's Next

Recognize

Charts

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)[27] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[28] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Regulate...G Funk Era – Warren G". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Preston, Rohan B. (June 23, 1994). "Warren G: Regulate . . . G Funk Era (Violator/RAL)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (2000). "Warren G: Regulate . . . G Funk Era". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Warren G: Regulate...G Funk Era". Entertainment Weekly. June 24, 1994. pp. 100–01.
  5. ^ McCann, Ian (July 30, 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 48. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "Warren G: Regulate...G Funk Era". Q. No. 96. September 1994. p. 117.
  7. ^ Pete T. (February 16, 2010). "Warren G :: Regulate... G-Funk Era :: Violator/Def Jam". RapReviews. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Fernando, S. H. Jr. (August 11, 1994). "Warren G: Regulate...G Funk Era". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Sutherland, Mark (August 17, 1994). "New Albums: Best New Album". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Jones, James T. IV (July 12, 1994). "Warren G, Regulate...G Funk Era". USA Today.
  11. ^ SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. 1994-09-01.
  12. ^ Strauss, Neil (June 23, 1994). "New Leaf for Gangster Rap". The New York Times. p. C14.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2570". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  16. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  20. ^ "Warren G | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  21. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "Warren G Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  23. ^ "Warren G Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  26. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Warren G – Regulate...G Funk Era". Music Canada.
  28. ^ "French album certifications – Warren G – Regulate...G Funk Era" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved April 2, 2022. Select WARREN G and click OK. 
  29. ^ "British album certifications – Warren G – Regulate...G Funk Era". British Phonographic Industry.
  30. ^ "American album certifications – Warren G – Regulate ... G Funk Era". Recording Industry Association of America.