| Warren G | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Birth name |
Warren Griffin III |
|
Born |
November 10, 1970 |
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Genre |
|
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Occupation(s) |
Rapper, record producer, DJ |
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Years active |
1992-present |
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Labels |
Violator Management, Def Jam, Restless, Universal, TVT, G-Funk Entertainment |
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Associated acts |
213, Bishop Lamont, Tha Dogg Pound, The Dove Shack, Dr. Dre, E-40, The Game, Knoc-turn'al, Mista Grimm, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Twinz, Xzibit, Young Jeezy |
Warren Griffin III (born 10 November 1970), better known by his stage name Warren G, is an American rapper and record producer from Long Beach, California. He is best known for his debut 1994 single, "Regulate", which reached number 2 on the charts in the U.S. and charted worldwide.
Early life
Warren Griffin III was born on November 10, 1970, in Long Beach, California to Ola and Warren Griffin, Jr. Griffin's parents divorced when he was four years old, and he spent the majority of his childhood living with his mother and three sisters in East Long Beach. At the age of 12, he moved to North Long Beach, where he lived with his father and his father's second wife. By his father's marriage, Griffin's stepbrother is Dr. Dre. Warren's brothers Andre and Tyree nicknamed him "Kibbles". As teenagers, Griffin and his longtime friend Nate Dogg met Nate's cousin Calvin Broadus, better known as Snoop Dogg. The trio became good friends, and eventually formed a rap group known as 213. At age 17, Griffin joined the Crips and spent a short period of time in jail for gun possession. After his release, he began producing music after being taught and encouraged by his stepbrother Dr. Dre, who, by that time, was already a successful rapper and producer with the gangsta rap group N.W.A. To supplement his income, Griffin began dealing drugs after graduating from high school, but in 1988 he was arrested again and spent time in prison for drug dealing. After his release, Griffin got a job working in a shipyard, whilst also continuing to hone his skills as a music producer.
Career
1992–1996; The Chronic, "Indo Smoke", "Regulate" and debut album
After 213 broke up due to Snoop Dogg's solo success, Griffin, who had taken the stage name Warren G, made his debut appearance ever on a record by doing the intro to the song, "Deeez Nuuuts" from The Chronic. Warren was then eager to make his own music as a solo artist and was introduced to director John Singleton by Dr. Dre in 1993. After Dre introduced Griffin to Singleton, Singleton asked Griffin to produce a song for the soundtrack to his movie Poetic Justice, and Griffin produced a song titled "Indo Smoke", also rapping on the song along with Nate Dogg and Mista Grimm. The song proved to be popular, and Griffin was signed to Def Jam Recordings based solely on the success of "Indo Smoke". Griffin and Nate Dogg continued to produce songs together, and their next single, "Regulate", produced for the soundtrack to the movie Above The Rim was released in 1994 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained at number 1 on the MTV charts throughout the summer of 1994, and went on to be Def Jam's biggest and most successful single to date.
The song was also used as the lead single for Warren G's debut album, Regulate... G Funk Era, released in 1994, which, due to the success of "Regulate", debuted at #2 on the US Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and sold one million copies in the first three days of its release. The album went on to sell over 3 million copies, being certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After the release of his debut album, Warren G began working with Twinz and The Dove Shack in 1995, who released Conversation and This Is the Shack at the same time on August 22, 1995, respectively.
Warren G also made an appearance on Snoop Dogg's 1996 album Tha Doggfather on the song "Groupie".
1996–1999; Take a Look Over Your Shoulder and I Want It All
Warren G's second album, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder, was released in 1997, and featured three successful singles, including a cover of Tina Turner's 1984 song "What's Love Got To Do with It", featuring Adina Howard, which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The album's other singles, "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Smokin' Me Out" were also successful, peaking at number 20 and 35 on the Hot 100, respectively. The album went on to be certified gold in America.
His third album, I Want It All was released in 1999. Warren G focuses more on production for the album, with numerous other artists, including Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, RBX, Kurupt, Eve, Slick Rick and Jermaine Dupri providing the vocals. The album had two singles, including "I Want It All", featuring Mack 10, which peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100 and was certified gold in 1999 by the RIAA.
2001–2009; Fourth and fifth studio albums
Warren G's fourth album, Return of the Regulator, was released in 2001, and featured Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, and WC, with production from Dr. Dre. It peaked at number 83 on the Billboard 200.
His fifth studio album, The G Files, was released in 2009.
2009–present; Regulate... G Funk Era Part II and touring
From June to September 2013, Warren G toured on the West Coast Fest tour.
On July 13, 2015, Warren G released "My House", the first single for his first EP Regulate... G Funk Era, Pt. II. The EP was released on August 6, 2015, and features E-40, Too Short, Jeezy and Bun B, as well as material recorded by Nate Dogg before his death in 2011.
Other media
He was a guest star on the Warner Bros. television sitcom Newsreaders with Louis La Fonda on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, playing OG Hemingway.
In August 2014, Warren G guest-starred in the Mnet reality series American Hustle Life where he directed an alternate version music video for South Korean band BTS’s song, "Boy In Luv".
Personal life
Griffin is married to a woman named Tenille, and together they have four children. Griffin's son Olaijah currently plays cornerback for the USC Trojans football team.
The Mayor of Long Beach, California dedicated the week of August 1–6, 2005 as the "Warren G Week," because he donated time to the community.
Awards
Grammy Awards
| Year | Genre | Song | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Hip hop | "Regulate" | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated |
| 1995 | Hip hop | "This D.J." | Best Rap Solo Performance | Nominated |
Discography
Studio albums
- 1994: Regulate...G Funk Era
- 1997: Take a Look Over Your Shoulder
- 1999: I Want It All
- 2001: The Return of the Regulator
- 2005: In the Mid-Nite Hour
- 2009: The G Files
Collaboration albums
- 2004: The Hard Way (with 213)
Extended plays
- 2015: Regulate... G Funk Era, Pt. II
Video games
- 1995: Rap Jam: Volume One
- 2004: Def Jam: Fight for NY