Now that he's rocketed from upstart to superstar, Warren G admits he didn't know exactly what he was getting into when he first burst out of Long Beach and brashly laid claim to an international musical era all his own, The G-Funk Era. "I was young and crazy, just pumped to have a record," he chuckles, recalling the release of Regulate - G-Funk Era in 1994. "I really didn't know my album was going to do what it did." But his naivete didn't prevent him from fulfilling his grand prediction. "Doing my music my way brought something totally different to the scene," he asserts, suddenly all seriousness. "The album did some damage across the board. Regulate - G-Funk Era not only generated quadruple-platinum-plus, it spawned Grammy and Soul Train nominations, worldwide concert tours, movie soundtracks, roles in TV shows and a clean, classic '63 Impala in the garage of a modern, half-million-dollar home. At 26, the man born Warren Griffin III has become an accomplished rapper, producer, actor, talent scout and CEO of his own record label, G-Funk Music. The G-Funk Era is definitely in session, and Warren G is unquestionably residing.
Take A Look Over Your Shoulder (Reality), Warren G's much-anticipated second album, addresses the lessons a young man learns while living a dream come true. Rather than retreating into the destructive patterns of the past or getting caught up in the seductive trappings of the present, Warren G has distilled and reaffirmed the principles that brought him this far and will carry him into the future. "Take A Look Over Your Shoulder (Reality) means, whether I have money or not, I'm still gonna have your back," he explains. "I'm real with mines and I'm not saying 'keep it real' just to say it, it means something true to me." Actions have always spoken as strightforwardly as word's in Warren G's world. All his experiences - from the days as an anonymous kid on the street to the life of a world-renowned, well-rewarded, critically acclaimed artist. He recognizes that success can be put to positive use. In the past three years Warren G has helped broker a gang truce, supported a proposed youth center, spoken at high schools, performed at MTV's Rock The Vote Rally, employed people from his neighborhood whenever possible and, subsequently, received an image award from California State University/Long Beach.
There is no secret to his success, says Warren. "Creating music is always work," he says. "I keep music around me 24-7. I'll be listening to the radio, hear something that gives me an idea, go straight home and knock it out. Out of nowhere a bass line will come up in my head. I bought a little tape reorder so I can hum it when I'm ridin' so I wouldn't forget it."
Warren G emerged with the wave of talent that came out of Long Beach in the early 1990's following the footsteps of his brother, the legendary Dr. Dre. Back in the day, Warren was a DJ for a locally legendary trio 213, consisting of his best friend, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and R&B crooner Nate Dogg. In fact, it was Warren who introduced Snoop to Dre after passing along Snoop's demo to Dre at a bachelor party. Before that, Warren worked the turntables for a group called Perfection, which featured Domino and Tha Twinz (identical brother Wayniac and Tripp Loc), who have all gone on to Def Jam recording careers. Warren originally signed with Def Jam because signing with Death Row would have meant waiting a long time for his record to be released. Warren remains loyal to his roots. The so-called Long Beach sound and a potent stew of oldies riffs and funky bass lines jacked up with straight street intensity and long ago boiled over the edges of 21st and Lewis, the inner-city corner where G-Funk was born. It's an international recipe now. Everybody's got their own flavor. "It's still Long Beach music, but ain't nobody doing it like me," says Warren G. "This is upgraded hip-hop to the fullest. It's music that's real and music that sells. It's about young people, but it catches older crowds, too. That's good communication. I try to make every song on the album good enough to be a single. That's good business."
In recent months, Warren has taken his G-Funk music to Restless Records. He is expected to release an album in the fall on Def Jam that will include at least one guest appearance by Nate Dogg, and possibly an appearance by Snoop Dogg, who has not been free to work on Def Jam in the past.
The future is what Warren G is all about. He is pursuing an acting career, with several TV roles to his credit and includes a recent appearance on the sitcom "Clueless" - and a movie script in the works. After a concert tour in support of Take A Look Over Your Shoulder (Reality), he'll head for the studio to cultivate his growing stable of proteges on his G-Funk label. "I got to this level and it's beautiful," he says. "But then again, I will always feel or try to recognize that this is still the beginning. I'm trying to get to the top by continually pushing my limits."