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Darren G was raised in Long Beach, California listening to his parents’ collection of jazz, funk & soul and began to share their deep love for this style of music. In 1990 he formed the group 213 with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. While rapping with 213 and working a full-time job, the young artist used all his free time developing his own musical style and chasing his musical dreams.
The trio 213 dissolved when two of its members signed with Death Row Records leaving Warren to pursue his solo career more aggressively. He had the opportunity to work with esteemed artists like MC Breed and 2Pac from the offset but his big break came when his vocal collaboration with Mista Grimm, on 'Indo Smoke' which appeared on the Poetic Justice soundtrack. Warren's outstanding rap led to a serious collaboration with his stepbrother Dr. Dre. His dedication to hard work meant he featured heavily on Dr. Dre's album 'The Chronic' including sampling for 'Nuthin' but a G-Thang'.
His worldwide success came shortly after this collaboration as his single 'Regulate' featuring Nate Dogg peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Charts and broke top five in the UK. It is now certified as platinum selling in the States, and the album that it was lifted from 'Regulate...G Funk Era' holds a three times platinum certificate. The single earned the young artist a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The following single 'This DJ' was also a chart success and was nominated for the Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy Award.
He fared weaker with every major release after the debut. He did score an international hit with 'What's Love Got To Do With It' from the Supercop soundtrack which peaked at #2 in the UK, a higher position than 'Regulate'. He continued to release original material and tour after this and from June to September 2013, Warren G accompanied Baby Bash, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, E-40, Mack 10, Suga Free, Tha Dogg Pound, and others on the West Coast Fest tour.
Warren G is a California-based rapper and producer often associated with the famous “g-funk” sound that was mainly popular in the early 90’s. He might not be as well known as his contemporaries from the same era such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, who have both achieved major crossover success, but hardcore fans of west-coast rap know him as one of the scene’s most influential and respected figures.
The audience at a Warren G show consists of older fans who grew up listening to him, as well as newer fans who might have only heard of him through his association with more popular west-coast titans. Most of his set list comes from his acclaimed debut album, “Regulate… G-Funk Era”, which many more-knowledgeable rap fans consider a minor classic. One song he never, ever fails to play is his biggest hit, “Regulate”, which he will sometimes dedicate to Nate Dogg, who was featured on the track and recently passed away.
As is common at rap shows, Warren G will regularly have quite a few members of his crew on stage with him, which can sometimes serve as a type of stage show, in a way. Sometimes rap might not lend itself well to live performances, but the g-funk sound seems to be an exception. Fans of 90’s west coast rap should not pass up the chance to see Warren G. , one of the unsung heroes of that particular scene.