Warren G

Warren G
Warren G
Born	Warren Griffin III; November 10, 1970 (age 56); Long Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Rapper, songwriter, producer, DJ
Years active	1990–present
Known for	Bringing West Coast hip hop to prominence; G-funk pioneer; hit single "Regulate"

Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970), professionally recognized as Warren G, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, and DJ who played a significant role in bringing West Coast hip hop to prominence during the 1990s. As a key figure in the development of G-funk, he gained widespread acclaim with his 1994 hit single "Regulate" featuring Nate Dogg. He is also acknowledged for discovering Snoop Dogg and introducing him to producer Dr. Dre.

His first album, Regulate... G Funk Era (1994), launched at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, moving 176,000 units in its opening week. The album eventually earned triple platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with total sales surpassing three million copies. The track "Regulate" remained in the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 for 18 weeks and reached a peak position of number two; its subsequent single, "This D.J.", climbed to number nine. Both songs received Grammy nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Solo Performance, respectively.

From his sophomore effort, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (1997), three singles entered the top 40, including "What's Love Got to Do With It" featuring Adina Howard, which originally appeared on the 1996 Supercop soundtrack. His 1998 collaboration with Nate Dogg, "Nobody Does It Better", also performed well on the charts. Both this album and his 1999 release I Want It All were certified gold by the RIAA. Nevertheless, his fourth studio album, The Return of the Regulator (2001), failed to match the commercial achievements of his earlier works.

Together with longtime collaborators Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, Warren G formed the hip-hop group 213, named after Long Beach’s area code. Their album The Hard Way (2004) experienced moderate commercial success.

His later projects, including In the Mid-Nite Hour (2005) and The G Files (2009), were independently produced and released. In 2015, he released Regulate... G Funk Era, Part II, an EP that featured previously unreleased recordings of Nate Dogg, who had passed away in 2011. The single "Regulate," initially certified platinum in 1994, was upgraded to multi-platinum status in 2017 due to digital sales.

Early life

Warren Griffin III was born on November 10, 1970, in Long Beach, California. He was the only male child of Warren Griffin Jr., an aircraft mechanic, and Ola, a dietician. Following his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother and sisters until relocating to live with his father in North Long Beach in 1982. His father’s new wife had three children, one of whom was Andre Young—later known as Dr. Dre—who began establishing himself in the local rap community by the mid-1980s.

During his time at Jordan High School, Warren participated in football and spent time with peers. At age 17, he was incarcerated for gun possession and adopted the moniker Warren G while imprisoned. By that time, Dr. Dre was rising as a producer and member of N.W.A, whose 1989 album Straight Outta Compton helped shift Los Angeles hip hop toward gangsta rap.

After his release from jail, Warren worked at shipyards in Long Beach before focusing on music after Dr. Dre taught him how to use a drum machine. In 1990, he formed the trio 213 alongside Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale and Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus. This group contributed significantly to the early evolution of G-funk. When Warren introduced them to Dr. Dre, the group disbanded as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg embarked on solo careers centered around G-funk production. Nate Dogg also signed with Dr. Dre’s Death Row Records. Warren G initially assisted at Death Row but opted to avoid working under his stepbrother’s influence by signing with Def Jam Recordings based in New York City instead.

Formation of 213 (circa 1990)

Around 1990 in Long Beach, Warren joined forces with longtime partners Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale and Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus to establish the hip-hop trio 213. Drawing inspiration from Oakland's rap collective 415, they adopted the Los Angeles area code as their group name. Working out of a small studio inside the V.I.P. record store, they crafted a demo tape. Although initially turned down by Dr. Dre, Warren eventually handed the demo to Dre’s associate Andre "LA Dre" Bolton, who then passed it along to Dr. Dre. Impressed by Snoop’s performance on "Super Duper Snooper," Dre invited the group to his home and studio in Calabasas.

Dr. Dre’s first solo single, "Deep Cover," released in April 1992, marked Snoop Doggy Dogg’s introduction to a nationwide audience. Warren contributed to Dre’s debut album The Chronic, which paved the way for Snoop’s rise to fame with his own 1993 debut Doggystyle. During this time, Nate Dogg also signed with Dre’s Death Row Records. Meanwhile, Warren returned to Long Beach to focus on his solo ambitions. The trio later came together to release their album The Hard Way in 2004.

Solo success (1993–1996)

In 1993, Warren connected with director John Singleton at Dr. Dre’s studio and produced Mista Grimm’s track "Indo Smoke" for the soundtrack of Poetic Justice. This breakthrough led to Warren securing a contract with Def Jam Recordings. That same year, Warren G and Nate Dogg, alongside Kurupt, appeared on the underground hit "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" from Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle album.

April 1994 saw Warren G and Nate Dogg release their duet "Regulate" on the soundtrack for Above The Rim through Death Row Records. The single remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks, reaching No. 2 for three consecutive weeks and becoming the season’s most popular rap track. It earned gold certification by June and platinum status by August, eventually achieving double platinum through digital sales by 2017. The song also dominated MTV charts and became Def Jam’s highest-selling single, with Russell Simmons highlighting its global resonance due to its universally appealing melody.

Differing from many G-funk artists known for flashy styles, Warren G favored a more understated and heartfelt approach, emphasizing straightforward themes and lyrics. "Regulate" served as the lead single for his debut album, Regulate... G Funk Era, which launched in June 1994. The album sold one million copies within three days and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. By August, it was certified double platinum with two million units sold. Its follow-up single "This D.J." achieved gold status and reached No. 9 in July. Both tracks received Grammy nominations in 1995.

Additional singles from the album included "Do You See", which peaked at No. 42 on the charts. By August of that year, the album was certified triple platinum. During this period, Warren G also collaborated with fellow Long Beach artists Twinz and The Dove Shack on their projects. In 1996, he featured on "Groupie," a track from Snoop Dogg’s sophomore album, Tha Doggfather.

Subsequent albums (1997–2001)

Warren G's sophomore album, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder, arrived in March 1997 and achieved gold status by May, having sold 500,000 units. The track "What's Love Got To Do with It", which included Adina Howard and reimagined Tina Turner's 1984 classic, climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Additional singles such as "Smokin' Me Out" featuring Ron Isley and "I Shot the Sheriff", which sampled EPMD's "Strictly Business", garnered moderate attention; however, the album overall did not replicate the commercial success of his debut.

In July 1998, Warren G appeared on Nate Dogg's track "Nobody Does it Better" from Nate Dogg’s postponed debut album. This single attained No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marked Warren's sixth entry into the Top 40. Released in October 1999, his third album, I Want It All, primarily showcased Warren G as a producer, featuring guest performances from artists such as Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, RBX, Kurupt, Eve, Slick Rick, and Jermaine Dupri. The album was certified gold by November 1999 and included the single "I Want It All" with Mack 10, which peaked at No. 23 on the Hot 100.

Both albums from 1997 and 1999 have retained their gold certification more than twenty years later; however, none of Warren G’s later projects have matched this level of commercial achievement. His fourth studio effort, The Return of the Regulator released in December 2001, featured collaborations with George Clinton and Dr. Dre but faced criticism for being overly ambitious and dominated by guest appearances. This album reached number 83 on the Billboard 200 chart and was his last major-label release under Universal Music Group before he shifted towards independent labels.

Indie career (2005–present)

Warren G’s fifth studio album, In the Mid-Nite Hour, launched in October 2005 as his first independent release through Hawino Records. The project included contributions from his 213 groupmates Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. Produced with a modest budget and driven by Warren himself, it emphasized his signature G-funk sound but achieved limited reach outside his established audience.

His sixth album, The G Files, came out in September 2009 and preserved the traditional G-funk vibe while incorporating contemporary electro influences. Warren aimed to resurrect the "great soulful sound" through songs like "The West is Back." Notably, "100 Miles and Running" features Nate Dogg—recorded before Nate suffered strokes—and Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Between June and September 2013, Warren toured as part of the West Coast Fest alongside artists including DJ Quik, Mack 10, and Bone Thugs N Harmony. He also took on the role of OG Hemingway in Adult Swim’s sitcom Newsreaders and directed a music video for BTS’s "Boy In Luv" during Mnet’s reality show American Hustle Life in 2014.

In response to fan requests for classic G-funk sounds and tributes to Nate Dogg, Warren released the single "My House" in July 2015. This track led into his first EP, Regulate... G Funk Era, Part II released in August 2015. The four-song EP includes collaborations with E-40, Too Short, Jeezy, Bun B, along with posthumous vocals from Nate Dogg, featuring some of Nate’s final recordings alongside Warren G.

Personal life

Warren G and his wife, Tennile Griffin, are parents to six children. Influenced deeply by his father, Warren G holds in high regard "his values and wholesome family enjoyment." The inspiration behind his Sniffin Griffins BBQ brand comes from his father, Warren Griffin, Jr., who served as a U.S. Navy chef and was passionate about barbecuing, fostering a love for cooking and family reunions.

His eldest son, Olaijah, was a cornerback for the USC Trojans between 2018 and 2020, achieving all-conference recognition in both 2019 and 2020. In April 2021, Olaijah joined the NFL's Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.

In 2019, Warren G introduced Sniffin Griffin's BBQ, a line of barbecue sauces and rubs for retail and restaurant use that pays homage to his father's culinary heritage.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

The Hard Way (with 213) (2004)

Filmography

The Show (1995)
Speedway Junky (1999)
Little Richard (2000)
The Parkers (2000)
Old School (2003)
All of Us (2005)
BTS American Hustle Life (2014)
The Eric Andre Show (2016), appeared in one episode

Video games

Rap Jam: Volume One (1995)
Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004)
Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover (2006)

Grammy Awards

Year	Song	Category	Result
1995	"Regulate"	Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group	Template:Nom
1995	"This D.J."	Best Rap Solo Performance	Template:Nom

American Music Awards

|- | 1995 | Warren G | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | |-

Brit Awards

|- | rowspan="2"|1995 | rowspan="2"| Warren G | International Male Solo Artist | |- | International Breakthrough Act | |-

MTV Movie & TV Awards

|- | 1995 | "Regulate" | Best Song from a Movie | |-

Soul Train Music Awards

|- | 1995 | Regulate...G Funk Era | Best Rap Album | |-

NME Awards

|- | 1995 | Warren G | Best Rap Artist | |-

External links