NEW WARREN G INTERVIEW

[Crenshaw_blvd]

Warren G just dropped a new album, Return of the Regulator, his fourth LP in his the legendary G-Funk series. From the out in Los Angeles, the West Coast emcee called up SOHH with the deal on the new joint, his relationship with his ubiquitous brother, Dr.Dre, and honoring his mother's memory.

What was it like for you growing up and what was your relationship like with Dre?

I grew up in Long Beach. It was rough, the havoc-rats and roaches, my mom and father not making a lot of money. They got divorced when I was like six or seven. I've been around music my whole life and was a big jazz fan. My Mom was a Soul , R&B, Funk fan. I grew up around music...Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Rick James, Teena Marie. I used to mess with the keyboards. And started getting into Hip-Hop when people started breaking, around seven or eight, hearing Grandmaster Flash, Marley Marl, Schooly D, Run DMC, just a lot of old school groups.

My relationship with Dre, growing up, he did what a big brother was supposed to. If he knew somebody was messing with me, he'd step in. We grew up together and he as always looking out for me. Yeah, he showed me how to work the turntables.

When did your music interest get serious?

I met Snoop and he was incredible. I was aight. I was rapping Dre sh*t, so n*ggas thought I was hard. That was around '83. I just got out of high school. There was gangs and I was selling dope and after a while, I figured it out. I just didn't want to live my lif like that. We wanted to do music, but couldn't get put on. We just sacrificed and went all out.

How'd you get Dre's attention, finally?

One day I went to one of his parties. I hadn't seen him in a long time. We through on our tape and Dre was like, "what's that? Wow, that sh*t is dope." It was on from then. He was like, "be at the studio on Monday-you, Snoop and Nate."We went to Def Jam and had great success. I told Lyor [Cohen] and Russell [Simmons] that I wanted to branch off. I felt like I made a mistake. Other companies got caught up in legal situations...previous record companies who'd even promised me a movie deal. I went through three years of legal work and Universal picked me up.

Business-wise, what advice can you give an up-and-coming emcee?

Get a lawyer, manager, accountant. Get people who are around you that know business and can cover your back. Lots of people are just there for a check; I see it now. I wish I had the brain back then. But, I was going through a lot of personal things back then too-I'd lost my mother, grandmother...

Can you define G-Funk?

It's music that you can relate to, music that eases the soul.

Tell us about your new album.

It's called The Return of the Regulator and it's my fourth album). It's an album for everybody...somebody from each city, each state can relate to. It lets people know situations I've been through. There's a song about my mom "Keepin It Strong." It's about taking care of your parents...I miss my mom everyday.

Who do you like in the rap game?

Ludacris, Fabolous, Nate Dogg-guys doing their thing.

[=[Euthanasia]=]

Can you define G-Funk?

It's music that you can relate to, music that eases the soul.

Thats a perfect description right there. Props for the interview, was a good read