Link: Hawino Records’ Warren G. Page
The Inside Pulse:
Yes, he’s still alive”¦although, it’s easy to understand how one could think otherwise. While commercial rap music is still a relatively recent phenomenon compared to the ages of other genres, the accompanying consequence of its newness is the industry’s dirty little secret: rappers don’t often age well. Warren G. became a West Coast icon in 1993 with his Indo Smoke single. He went worldwide a year later as his debut album, Regulate”¦the G-Funk Era moved 4 million units. From there, a curious combination of bad luck and bad business decisions ended his brief tenure on top. In 1997, Warren’s oft-stalled sophomore album was released on March 25″¦the same day as Biggie Smalls’ posthumous Life After Death. In 1999, Warren’s single I Want It All went platinum, but the full-length album barely registered. Since then, he’s bounced around from label to label looking to re-establish himself”¦again. And, if you want something done right”¦
Positives:
The G-Child produces all but one of the tracks on the album. Warren has evolved a bit with his work on the boards, as evidenced by Do What It Do. Up tempo dance anthems have never been his strength, but this one works with a stripped-down sound and lyrics feel like a few moments of G-Funk memory lane. In Case Some Sh*t Go Down features Mike Jones and the Down South sound is thick n’ smooth here. Warren’s 213 clicc-mates, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, show up several times, with the highlights shining through on I Need A Light and the title track, where Nate’s flow is much more gravelly, giving the overall effort a 1970s shine.
Negatives:
At his best, Warren G. is a barely acceptable lyricist. Most of the time he’s mediocre on the mic and, sometimes, even worse on cuts like I Like That There and Turn it Up Loud. Sorry, Warren”¦no points for rhyming “”¦you can’t stop this nukka/go all night like a trucka”. Meanwhile, the topical pandering on Get U Down gets to be a little much when Warren’s bitching about the price of gas. Ice Cube sleepwalks through the remix, on here, as well. His protégé, Frank Lee White The Greatest (no, really, that’s his name) blatantly bites Mike Jones’ flow on In Case Some Sh*t”¦ and, more egregiously, Jay-Z’s style on Ahh. Finally, the worst hook of the year award goes to Wheels Keep Spinning.
Cross-Breed:
A collection of styles from Warren G.’s salad days mixed with a more grown-up sound and a little flavor-of-the-month Kool-Aid on the side.
Reason to Buy:
Warren G. fans will be glad to know that this is infinitely better than his last album, Return of the Regulator. It’s a mixed bag, to be sure, but the guest spots are mostly solid, while the beats are effective on the ears. Even though most of the “good” isn’t “great”, there’s more of it here than you might think.
