Dr. Dre

Warren G’s Debut Album “Regulate…G Funk Era” Turns 29

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Somehow, Warren G has fallen under the radar when hip-hop heads discuss the hallmark rap pioneers. Of course, you have the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 2 Pac, Eazy-E, E-40, and Snoop Dogg. However, hybrid rapper-producer Warren G doesn’t get his flowers for pioneering the sub-genre of G-Funk. Warren introduced Dr. Dre to Snoop Dogg in the early ’90s, playing an instrumental role in curating The Chronic. Regarding his lack of attention in the modern-day, he told Billboard, “I’m not saying I’m the one who did everything over here because I’m not, I just want people to know who I am and what I contributed to hip-hop. That’s it.” That contribution reached stardom with Warren G’s Regulate…G Funk Era.

Oddly enough, Warren G’s hip-hop career took off at a Dr. Dre-hosted bachelor party. With stacks of cassette tapes missing, the party was threatened not to exist at all. With Dre’s sound usually driving the dance floor, it’s hard to imagine G-Funk pioneering in a ballroom. However, that’s precisely what happened. Warren, the relatively unknown stepbrother of Dr. Dre, was asked if he had any music in his car. Tossing a friend his car keys, Warren instructed him to dig through the messy ride for his demo tape. With the cassette player booming in the adjacent room, Dr. Dre was immediately caught off guard by the sound.

Warren G’s Career Took Off At A Bachelor Party

Warren’s demo tape appeared in the right place at the right time. In years prior, Dr. Dre had shot down attempts from Warren to get his music noticed. However, things were changing by the early ’90s. New Yorkers were no longer wearing Raiders hats, as N.W.A.’s influence was drying out. The pervasive Compton rap didn’t quite contain its potent sting of the late ’80s. As a result, Andre had opened his perspective to a potential new wave of hip-hop, one he would discover in Warren G. It was ideal timing for the understated pioneer of G-Funk, who’d been working day jobs at McDonald’s and El Pollo Loco while scraping for appearances in local shows at night.

It wouldn’t be much longer before the trio of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Warren G grafted in the studio to fully fledge out the new sound. As Warren G explained to Pitchfork, Dr. Dre was their business tycoon and icon. He said, “We knew that if we could make Dre more successful, then we’d make it ourselves. There was a lot of drink, a lot of smoke, beautiful women, chicken breasts from Popeyes. Anything that came to our minds, we wrote about. We poured our hearts out.” Each with struggling backgrounds in the streets of Los Angeles, their chemistry was immediately apparent in “Gangstas Life.” Dr. Dre’s The Chronic did exactly what Warren G predicted, propelling him to mainstream stardom.

Regulate…G Funk Era Was Distinctive From Snoop Or Dre

warren g dr. dre snoop dogg
CANNES, FRANCE – JULY 18: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre attend the Beats By Dre Party at Gotha Club on July 18, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Toni Anne Barson/WireImage)

By 1994, Warren G’s debut studio album was long overdue. The rhythmic ballad “Regulate,” the lead single for Regulate…G Funk Era, remains one of the biggest breakout rap songs to this day. With lifelong friends Warren G and Nate Dogg trading bars about the endless violence of their hometown, the Grammy-nominated “Regulate” would later become the film soundtrack for Above The Rim starring Tupac Shakur. In many ways, Regulate…G Funk Era is synonymous with West Coast rap. From violent bars, lush instrumentation, and rapid exchange of bars, it had everything fans sought.

The hit single was just the beginning. During this time 29 years ago, Regulate…G Funk Era became the sound of the summer. The Death Row release was a smooth trilogy to The Chronic and Doggystyle. Warren G had officially arrived and finished as the year’s fourth most popular album. Even more impressive? He did it without Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg. Even if he was latching onto Dr. Dre to make it big, Regulate…G Funk Era proved that Warren G could be a hit without his older brother standing over him. In addition, his sound stood out from his fellow G-Funk contemporaries. Warren was the softest of the bunch, employing a softer sampling of ’70s soul icons such as Gil Scott-Heron. “Do You See” finds Warren frustrated at the reality of aging, finding him on a looping nostalgia trip. On the other hand, the commercially successful “This D.J.” is a coming-of-age Long Beach groove.

G-Funk Doesn’t Exist Without Warren G

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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Warren G attends VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The 90s Game Changers at Paramount Studios on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for VH1/Viacom)

Warren G delivered his own take of G-Funk on Regulate…G Funk Era. More personal and smooth in comparison to Snoop or Dre, G-Funk arguably doesn’t exist without his presence. From a bachelor party to the fourth most popular album of 1994, his hit success behind “Regulate” highlights Dr. Dre’s ability to discover new talent. Warren G’s rightful place is amongst the greatest West Coast MCs of all time, a title which doesn’t seem to be associated with the 52-year-old enough.

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Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Postpone Show To Support Writers On Strike

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Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg have supported the writing community by postponing their upcoming show. Despite their high-ranking status in the hip-hop community, they prove they are no different from anyone else regarding acknowledging essential causes. It was announced on June 2 that Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg would reschedule their show, originally planned for […]

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Snoop Dogg And Dr. Dre Have Postponed Their Hollywood Bowl Shows ‘In Solidarity’ With The WGA Strike

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Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre fans might have to wait a little longer for their joint Hollywood Bowl shows that were supposed to take place this month. The two rappers are throwing their full support behind the Writers Guild Of America strike that is currently taking place — and have postponed the concerts until October.

For those unfamiliar, television and film writers are currently striking for better pay and other demands from the major studios, streaming platforms, and other large production companies.

“Due to the ongoing WGA strike and the DGA and SAG/AFTRA negotiations, we have decided to postpone the shows scheduled for June 27 and June 28 at the Hollywood Bowl. We stand in solidarity with the unions and are hopeful that the AMPTP will negotiate fair deals as soon as possible and everybody can get back to work,” Snoop Dogg announced in an Instagram post.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the duo also sent out food trucks to the striking writers who were at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

Before the announcement, Snoop had been a fierce advocate for the writers.

“[Artists] need to figure it out the same way the writers are figuring it out. The writers are striking because [of] streaming; they can’t get paid. Because when it’s on the platform, it’s not like in the box office,” Snoop said at a previous Variety conference.

“I don’t understand how the f*ck you get paid off of that sh*t,” he added. “Somebody explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars? … That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers, … but it don’t add up to the money. Like, where the f*ck is the money?”

Check out Snoop Dogg’s postponement announcement here.

You Can Now Buy Copies Of Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ Session Tapes For The Album’s 30th Anniversary

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Earlier this year, Dr. Dre’s genre-defining album, The Chronic, returned to streaming services after being pulled in 2022 to sort out some ownership issues. While its return just barely missed out on the album’s 20th anniversary, the album’s creator isn’t letting the occasion go without celebration.

Fans looking for a physical product to celebrate the anniversary won’t be disappointed. Today, Interscope and Trophy announced “The Chronic Masters,” a series of collectibles commemorating the seismic shift caused by the album’s release. Included in the collection are replicas of the session tapes; a series of limited-edition prints of the tapes; and a series of skateboard decks bearing images of the session tapes and the album’s cover.

The runs are limited to 310 copies of each — a nod to the area code of Dre’s native Compton, California — although there are also oversized replica tapes in even more limited quantities; just 30 of each will be produced. You can find a few select images below and get more information about the drops at thechronicmasters.interscope.com.

The collection would be a worthy addition to a fan’s art collection — and, unlike NFTs, you can actually hold them in your hands. Meanwhile, another Dr. Dre production celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle, is getting a different kind of celebration: A one-weekend engagement at the Hollywood Bowl.

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Dr. Dre’s Cultural Influence Beyond Music

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Dr. Dre’s growth of his businesses over the past two decades has solidified far more than solely as a hip hop pioneer. Dr. Dre’s career began in the West-Coast world of cassette tapes and flamboyant bars. An integral member of N.W.A., he was rapping on Southern California’s sunny and impoverished streets. Over time, he would become one of the most celebrated entertainers in music history. However, he was more than an influential producer and rapper. An instrumental teacher, he developed the businesses of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent under Death Row Records and Aftermath Entertainment. From The Chronic to 2001, Dr. Dre flexes a musical resume that only a select few rappers can live up to.

However, Dr. Dre’s cultural blueprint has changed dramatically over the decades. Even if his career began behind the mic, he’s propelled himself into a figure whose impact surpasses the streaming charts. Many Gen-Z kids associate Dr. Dre with his external business ventures, notably Beats by Dre, rather than music. Directing several artists from the streets to the top of the world, Dr. Dre began to realize that he could operate in the shadows rather than on a concert stage.

Beats By Dre Got Started On A California Beach

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: Dr. Dre performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By the early 2000s, the groundwork had been set for Dr. Dre to transition into the business world. As the Compton-born icon was jotting down ideas for which industry he’d dive into, moving into the hardware world of sound wasn’t on his mind. It took running into the co-founder of Interscope Records, Jimmy Iovine, during an impromptu day at the beach for the soul of Beats by Dre to begin. Iovine stated, “I was walking down the beach one day and I ran into Andre Young, Dr. Dre. He just said to me, ‘Yo, my lawyer wants me to sell sneakers, what do you think?’ I said, ‘Dre, nobody in the world cares about how you dress or will care about your sneakers. What you should sell is speakers.’”

Ten years later, Iovine and Dre had spearheaded a company controlling over 50 percent of the market for premium headphones. Growing under the platform of a fantastic marketing campaign, Beats by Dre would also gradually become the go-to headphones for athletes and musicians alike. Of course, having Dr. Dre as the bannerman for the brand was crucial. He was influential in attracting various athletes and musicians to their commercials. The Defiant Ones, a four-part documentary series, focuses on the partnership and growth between Iovine and Dre while creating Beats by Dre. In May 2014, Apple purchased Beats by Dre for a staggering $3.2 billion. It was the most expensive acquisition Apple had ever made.

Dr. Dre Co-Produced Straight Outta Compton

Dr. Dre also sports a strong resume in the film and television arenas. In 2015, he co-produced Straight Outta Compton with Ice Cube, a film depicting N.W.A’s rise and fall. A tragic film depicting the unhealthy realities of street life, Straight Outta Compton would gross over $200 million worldwide. It wouldn’t be the first time that Dre would attempt to depict the harshness of his upbringing through film. In 2016, he began working on an Apple Music series titled Vital Signs. However, the series was shelved due to excessive depictions of cocaine use, gun violence, and an explicit sex scene.

Dr. Dre’s cultural influence beyond music even surpasses solely the business world. Beyond his larger-than-life persona, Dre and Iovine donated $70 million to the University of Southern California. The purpose of the donation was to fund a new generation of talent for the growing music technology business. They funded a four-year program that blends liberal arts, graphic and product design, business, and technology.

Dr. Dre’s Business Acumen Matches Jay-Z & Diddy

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Sean Combs and Dr. Dre attend the Los Angeles Premiere of “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” at the Writers Guild of America, West on June 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)

Over the past decade, it’s become a norm rather than an exception for rappers to diversify their portfolio beyond sound. Childish Gambino starred in the hit show Atlanta as Earn. Nicki Minaj has had various successful voiceover roles in Ice Age: The Continental Drift and The Angry Birds Movie 2. Dr. Dre’s success outside of the music world has rappers realizing they can leverage their fame as an entry into other career paths.

At age 58, Dr. Dre reportedly now sports a net worth of $500 million. He sits at the table with fellow hip-hop business tycoons such as Jay-Z, Diddy, and Snoop Dogg. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Chronic, Dr. Dre is releasing The Chronic Masters collection – a slow-burn series of limited-edition releases honoring the timeless classic. Released under the monger of Interscope Records, Dr. Dre’s legacy will remain legendary for decades.

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Dr. Dre To Release Limited Edition Collectibles For 30th Anniversary Of “The Chronic”

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Dr. Dre

Legendary producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Records have announced the upcoming release of rare limited edition collectibles in honor of the 30th anniversary of Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking debut album, The Chronic. Hip-Hop icon Dr. Dre seeks to commemorate the enduring impact of The Chronic, released initially on December 15, 1992, with something exceptional. To mark […]

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Dr. Dre Unveils “The Chronic” Collectibles For 30th Anniversary

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Even with his controversies in mind, Dr. Dre’s impact on hip-hop, from before N.W.A. all the way to today, continues to shake its foundation. Decades after its release, publications still call a song like “Still D.R.E.” the best rap beat of all time. Now, for the 30th anniversary of his classic album The Chronic, some rare collectibles will now be available for purchase to fans. Moreover, the first drop consists of session tape prints, the session boxes themselves with the master tapes, and four exclusive skate decks. According to a press release obtained by HipHopDX, these items will be available to the public for the first time in history. “The Chronic Masters” collection is a series of drops in collaboration with Interscope and Trophy,” the release reportedly read.

Furthermore, these drops will be up for sale on June 1, and Interscope shared a stylish teaser for them. “On May 20, 1993, @drdre’s single “Fuck wit Dre Day” began its explosion,” the record label captioned its Instagram post announcing the collectibles. “To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Chronic album, we proudly present The Chronic Masters– a slow-burn series of limited edition releases honoring the timeless legacy of this classic.

Read More: The Best Dr. Dre Beats He’s Produced

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic Celebrated With Rare Collectibles For Its 30th

“Kicking off on June 1, 2023, at 12pm PST and 3pm EST, The Chronic Masters will feature exclusive drops throughout the year that pay homage to the legendary work of Dr. Dre,” the post’s caption continued. “Fans and collectors alike are invited to join us on this journey as we revisit one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and don’t miss your chance to own a piece of music history.”

Of course, all this acclaim and celebration around The Chronic is unsurprising. After all, Rolling Stone recently named one of its standout tracks, “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” featuring Snoop Dogg, as the best West Coast hip-hop song of all time. Sure, lists alone aren’t the only valid criteria for acclaim, but the fact that his work remains revered for such a long time by fans old and new is impressive. Still, what’s your favorite song off The Chronic? Let us know in the comments and return to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Dr. Dre.

Read More: Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” Isn’t A Classic, According To DJ Clark Kent

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Xzibit Shrugs Off Dr. Dre’s “Abusive” Perfectionism

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Xzibit doesn’t mind dealing with perfectionists, at least not if the perfectionist is Dr. Dre. In a new interview with Big Boy’s Neighborhood, the rapper reminisced about the recording of his album Man vs. Machine. At the time, there was an incident where Dr. Dre made him re-record a single line approximately 500 times. Xzibit revealed that this particular incident occurred while he and Dre, representing the West Coast, were working on the track “Multiply.” The song eventually became a single in 2002 featuring the late Nate Dogg.

“That took me about two-three hours to get that line,” Xzibit said, speaking about his intro. “Because he wanted me to sound like a down-south preacher… ‘I been this way and I can’t stop.’ No. I couldn’t understand why or where he was trying to take me but I wasn’t fighting. He sat there patiently with me like, ‘Nope, try it again.’” Even though it sounds like Dr. Dre ran a pretty tight ship, sometimes that’s the way greatness is born. “I was expecting to keep it going,” Xzibit continued, “and when he said, ‘Play that back.’ Hold on, I think we got something.”

Xzibit And Dr. Dre Are Working On New Music

According to Xzibit, he and Dr. Dre continue to collaborate to this day as he gears up for an upcoming album. He assures that this album will showcase some of his most exceptional work yet, but he also hints that it might potentially be his final solo project. “We’re going through it and finetuning the records for my new album and Dre’s involved,” the rapper said. “He has this thing with my voice and it’s funny he says, ‘You start in fifth gear. When you come on, you come on like a chainsaw.’” Xzibit’s new album has been teased for a while. The title, King Maker, has been common knowledge for quite some time.

“The songs are coming out really dope and I’m feeling really good about the project. It’s a different scenario when you could record because you want to not because you have to… I feel like this is my last album that I’m gonna put together as Xzibit the solo artist.” What do you think of the new stories coming out from Xzibit? Are you excited to hear what he and Dr. Dre have been working on? Let us know in the comments!

Kendrick Lamar’s Beats By Dre Commercial Song, “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” Leaks Online

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We haven’t heard anything new from Kendrick Lamar since last year’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, granted it was one of the biggest albums of 2022, and he did follow it with an iconic world tour. Seeing as there were seven years between that and his previous project, DAMN., it remains unclear when the Californian plans to grace us with more of his renowned penmanship. Regardless, fans will be happy to know that a previously unreleased track from a decade ago has leaked online this week.

You may have heard part of the song, dubbed “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” during Lamar’s appearance in a Beats by Dre commercial in 2013. As HipHopNMore notes, the spot told a story about the father of two working in the studio with Dr. Dre. While they’re certainly both legends in their own right, they couldn’t seem to make music magic the way they were craving. Of course, the NWA alum’s high-quality headphones and Beats Pill speaker were able to save the day, putting them on the track toward a No. 1 hit.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Speaks On Working With Dr. Dre, Says They Have 30 Tracks Together

Unreleased “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” Song Boasts Production from Dr. Dre

Fans had a positive reaction upon first hearing the song in the commercial, and many were disappointed to see its failure to arrive on streamers in the years since. There’s a pair of verses layered over the Dre-produced beat, which Lamar and his collaborator likely never expected the public to hear. The “HUMBLE” hitmaker’s fanbase appears to be loving his throwaways from 2013 specifically, as other recent leaks came in the form of “Crooked” and “Burn.”

In other exciting K. Dot news, the 35-year-old was confirmed as one of the headlining artists at this year’s Austin City Limits music festival. Other noteworthy hip-hop and R&B artists on the lineup include Kali Uchis, Lil Yachty, Coi Leray, and GloRilla. As for other headliners, names include Hozier, The 1975, Shania Twain, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons.

Read More: J. Cole Recalls Encouraging Dr. Dre To Sign Kendrick Lamar When He Was Still Up-And-Coming

Revisit More of the West Coast Duo’s Collaborative Efforts

While the Beats commercial effort was never officially released, we have heard the two lyricists come together on more than one occasion over the years. Popular titles to come from them (and other collaborators) include “The Recipe,” “Genocide,” and “Compton,” among others. Check out the mysteriously leaked version of “It’s Alive (Pyrex)” on Twitter above. Afterward, tell us which Kendrick Lamar x Dr. Dre joint track is your favourite in the comments.

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Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” Isn’t A Classic, According To DJ Clark Kent

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Dr. Dre’s The Chronic is undoubtedly an album that has every right to be a classic. From groundbreaking production to stand-out performances from Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre delivered a body of work that earned its place on the National Recording Registry. However, not everyone feels that way. During an appearance on Angie Martinez’s Iconic Records, DJ Clark Kent claimed that Dr Dre’s The Chronic doesn’t stand alongside albums like Doggystyle, Reasonable Doubt, or Ready To Die.

Clark Kent listed a number of classic albums before Angie Martinez mentioned Dre’s seminal debut album. “I can’t even put The Chronic before I put [Doggystyle],” he said. “Snoop Dogg’s album is better than The Chronic. Anyways – it definitely is.” Martinez was taken aback by DJ Clark Kent’s claim about Dr Dre’s album. He added that projects like Ready To Die, Reasonable Doubt, and Life After Death are “the same album.” “All of these albums do the same thing: they begin, they hold you in the middle, they hug you, and then they end,” he added.

DJ Clark Kent’s Take On “The Chronic”

Ultimately, he felt as though every classic album needs to captivate you from the beginning to the end. Even one skip deters a project from reaching the status of being a “classic,” he explained. “But you have to have great songs that make that thing happen. If you don’t – if you got one song that doesn’t hit properly, you done took yourself out of the classic [thing]. Because if you could, you ain’t got a classic,” he said. “That’s why, I won’t say The Chronic is a classic because I could skip RBX.”

Clark Kent Doubles Down 

Clark Kent later took to the comment section of @92bricks where he said that it was solely his opinion and not one that he expected others to share. Later on, he took to his Twitter page where he divulged further on his stance. “Having an opinion, that may not be popular, doesn’t make you a hater. Also doesn’t make you bias. It makes you human,” he wrote. “I respect everyone’s opinions as their own. I will never expect anybody to be in total agreement with me.” Check his comments above and sound off with your thoughts below.