Why was Warren G's production so amazing in 94/95?

[Soopafly DPGC]

Regulate album obviously.  But Twinz Conversation is probably one of the greatest produced G-Funk albums ever.  5 Footaz Lost Scrolls album.  Then you look at the guest production he had around that time:

Biological Didn't Bother, My Dear - Shaq
Flow On - Cedric Ceballos
Yo Yo's Night - Yo Yo
Keep The Peace - Kam

They all had the nice synths, the 'wah wah' type sound, the bass guitar,etc..  by the time 96/97 rolled around, he had a totally different sound and went more the Dr Dre sounding stuff and less G-Funk and has never looked back since.  I don't think he can do it anymore.  There must have been someone else on his team back then that helped him.  Was it "Greedy Greg" Greg Geitzenauer?  He seemed to be on a lot of Warren's stuff around this time.  Is it someone else on his team i'm missing? I just love this period of Warren G production. I wish i could find more of it like that, but I think that's all he did.  By his next albums, he was on a different type sound. 

His earlier production like Pass The Hooter, Definition of a Thug Nigga, Lie to Kick It, Endo Smoke, the production he did for MC Breed, etc. sounded different than when he really got into that G-Funk sound.  Someone must've joined his team and really got him to change his sound and ways of production.

[TraceOneInfinite]

Regulate album obviously.  But Twinz Conversation is probably one of the greatest produced G-Funk albums ever.  5 Footaz Lost Scrolls album.  Then you look at the guest production he had around that time:

Biological Didn't Bother, My Dear - Shaq
Flow On - Cedric Ceballos
Yo Yo's Night - Yo Yo
Keep The Peace - Kam

They all had the nice synths, the 'wah wah' type sound, the bass guitar,etc..  by the time 96/97 rolled around, he had a totally different sound and went more the Dr Dre sounding stuff and less G-Funk and has never looked back since.  I don't think he can do it anymore.  There must have been someone else on his team back then that helped him.  Was it "Greedy Greg" Greg Geitzenauer?  He seemed to be on a lot of Warren's stuff around this time.  Is it someone else on his team i'm missing? I just love this period of Warren G production. I wish i could find more of it like that, but I think that's all he did.  By his next albums, he was on a different type sound. 

His earlier production like Pass The Hooter, Definition of a Thug Nigga, Lie to Kick It, Endo Smoke, the production he did for MC Breed, etc. sounded different than when he really got into that G-Funk sound.  Someone must've joined his team and really got him to change his sound and ways of production.

Well, this is a great question and I hope someone does enlighten us.  I do know that the sampling laws changed after the early 90's.   I'm not sure if that had an effect. 

But I thought Warren G's production on Take a Look Over Your Shoulder was beautiful.  I thought the replay value was endless, the tracks were so smooth and easy to digest.  They also had the same meditative and nostalgic effect that his previous work had.  I agree, that the sound changed, but I still thought he was spectacular on Take a Look Over Your Shoulder.  Even, on I Want it All, he came again with another sound, but it was still dope.  Not as dope, but sounded fresh and not like his two previous albums, so you can't argue with that.  Maybe he just wanted a fresh sound each time out?

Of course, it goes without saying that G Funk Era is a 5 Mic Classic and Flawless album.  Sort of like the West Coast G Funk answer to Illmatic.  In fact, production wise it's like a West Coast answer to Illmatic the way the tracks go down smooth and have similar horns and dusty drum kicks. 

So Take A Look Over Your Shoulder isn't as great as G Funk Era but I don't think that's Warren's fault, I think that's just because 94' was his moment piggybacking off the success of his best friend Snoop, that was their moment.  They were like what G Unit was in 2003, or like what Young Money became when Lil Wayne blew up and brought out Niki Minaj and Drake (wasn't a fan, but you get my point).  Warren G even said that once in an interview.

[Soopafly DPGC]

Well, this is a great question and I hope someone does enlighten us.  I do know that the sampling laws changed after the early 90's.   I'm not sure if that had an effect. 

But I thought Warren G's production on Take a Look Over Your Shoulder was beautiful.  I thought the replay value was endless, the tracks were so smooth and easy to digest.  They also had the same meditative and nostalgic effect that his previous work had.  I agree, that the sound changed, but I still thought he was spectacular on Take a Look Over Your Shoulder.  Even, on I Want it All, he came again with another sound, but it was still dope.  Not as dope, but sounded fresh and not like his two previous albums, so you can't argue with that.  Maybe he just wanted a fresh sound each time out?

Of course, it goes without saying that G Funk Era is a 5 Mic Classic and Flawless album.  Sort of like the West Coast G Funk answer to Illmatic.  In fact, production wise it's like a West Coast answer to Illmatic the way the tracks go down smooth and have similar horns and dusty drum kicks. 

So Take A Look Over Your Shoulder isn't as great as G Funk Era but I don't think that's Warren's fault, I think that's just because 94' was his moment piggybacking off the success of his best friend Snoop, that was their moment.  They were like what G Unit was in 2003, or like what Young Money became when Lil Wayne blew up and brought out Niki Minaj and Drake (wasn't a fan, but you get my point).  Warren G even said that once in an interview.

Thanks for replying!  I do think Conversation is even better than Regulate in terms of production.  It's just an amazing album.  And I do like Take A Look Over your Shoulder and there are a few gems that remind of the old Warren like Transformers.  But the first two singles I Shot The Sheriff and What We Go Through sound so different to a song like Round and Round.  And I do really like I Want It All as well, I think that might actually be Warren's best album as a rapper, but again, it's a much different sound than his 94/95 production.  I'm so curious as to why the switch and who wasn't on his team anymore that maybe had an influence on his earlier music.

On an unrelated note, I know i've asked this before, but i wish i knew what sort of fallout he had with the Twinz.  They were all over his first album, then on ONE song his second album and nothing after that.  Yet they were with him on some concerts in 96/97.  I wonder why he stopped working with them.  And of course The Twinz second album never materialized.  And the 5 Footaz album never dropped either.  Then by 96 he was pushing Mista Grimm and Reel Tight. 

Seems odd you have a winning formula in Regulate album with a signature sound and a crew that were successful, mulitplatinum, his greatest selling album of all time, then he totally switches up and instead of working with Twinz and 5 Footaz, it's people like Bad Azz, Kurupt, Daz, Mack 10, Jermaine Dupree, Crucial Conflict, Adina Howard, Ruff Ryders, Flava Flav, etc. for his next couple albums.   

[Fonky Fresh]

To add my contribution to this topic to which i have not much to add  other than i think conversation is his best work and i like all his 3 early lps since forever (his 3rd has fillers but grew on me over time). I regret the whole Dove Shack's 1st album hasn't been entirely produced by him though, could have been huge imo.

Warren G best live songs (94-99) mix / wave
https://mega.nz/folder/aVxFiQDT#G75tkW1zZsOKeNtuEFFJvQ

[Soopafly DPGC]

Thanks for the live tracks! I love that version of Regulate with The Twinz doing all new lyrics and even Warren does some new lines.  It's almost like a Regulate part II.  I wish i could track down a studio version of that mix or someone could work their magic and make it sound better.  Maybe isolate the vocals and run the CDQ instrumental under them.  More than what I know how to do, but maybe someday someone will do it. 

Yeah i was pretty disappointed Warren G had nothing to do with the Dove Shack album.  Both were released on the G Funk label, Warren gave it all to Tha Twinz and did nothing for Dove Shack.  All we got was that extended song THIS IS THE SHACK with some extra vocals by Warren at the end, but my guess is that was already recorded during the Regulate album recording.  Warren's lack of involvement always puzzled me.  Also interesting how Bo Rocc was on a bunch of stuff for Twinz, Foesum, Warren G, but C Knight and 2Scoops were never really featured on anything. 

[Sccit]

it was the sound at the time ... by the late 90s g-funk was fading and warren was always an adaptive producer

his shit was still top notch.. just a different sound

i know people who prefer the jazzy sound on i want it all to anything else he ever did

[Duck Duck Doggy]

He was on Def Jam and had access to top tier session players, producers, musicians, and they were able to recreate the g funk sound Dre had just made popular and they did that most like under Warrens direction. It’s way different when you have access to a top tier team like that

[Soopafly DPGC]

He was on Def Jam and had access to top tier session players, producers, musicians, and they were able to recreate the g funk sound Dre had just made popular and they did that most like under Warrens direction. It’s way different when you have access to a top tier team like that

I agree, being on a big label and having access to good studio equipment, etc was crucial.  i just wish i knew who exactly was responsible for that signature 94/95 GFunk sound that Warren was never able to replicate since then.  I still think Greedy Greg was a big part of it.  But i wish i knew if Greg was on some other non-Warren G tracks so i could compare the two. 

Another thing i've always wondered, on the Dove Shack album, the have an extended version of THIS IS THE SHACK with a long intro with Warren G and others pretending to be kids, and a long outro with Warren G talking in his G Dubb voice.  Do you think this was the original version of the song and Warren cut out the intro and outro for the Regulate album, as it really didn't fit?  Or do you think Warren went back in the studio and recorded some new stuff for the song?  Seems strange to me that would be the only contribution Warren would have on the Dove Shack album if this was the case.  I'm leaning more towards there was an alternate version of THIS IS THE SHACK that Warren didn't use, that the Dove Shack took for their album and it wasn't a new recording.

[Duck Duck Doggy]

I agree, being on a big label and having access to good studio equipment, etc was crucial.  i just wish i knew who exactly was responsible for that signature 94/95 GFunk sound that Warren was never able to replicate since then.  I still think Greedy Greg was a big part of it.  But i wish i knew if Greg was on some other non-Warren G tracks so i could compare the two. 

Another thing i've always wondered, on the Dove Shack album, the have an extended version of THIS IS THE SHACK with a long intro with Warren G and others pretending to be kids, and a long outro with Warren G talking in his G Dubb voice.  Do you think this was the original version of the song and Warren cut out the intro and outro for the Regulate album, as it really didn't fit?  Or do you think Warren went back in the studio and recorded some new stuff for the song?  Seems strange to me that would be the only contribution Warren would have on the Dove Shack album if this was the case.  I'm leaning more towards there was an alternate version of THIS IS THE SHACK that Warren didn't use, that the Dove Shack took for their album and it wasn't a new recording.

Yeah I think you are right about that

[TraceOneInfinite]

Thanks for the live tracks! I love that version of Regulate with The Twinz doing all new lyrics and even Warren does some new lines.  It's almost like a Regulate part II.  I wish i could track down a studio version of that mix or someone could work their magic and make it sound better.  Maybe isolate the vocals and run the CDQ instrumental under them.  More than what I know how to do, but maybe someday someone will do it. 

Yeah i was pretty disappointed Warren G had nothing to do with the Dove Shack album.  Both were released on the G Funk label, Warren gave it all to Tha Twinz and did nothing for Dove Shack.  All we got was that extended song THIS IS THE SHACK with some extra vocals by Warren at the end, but my guess is that was already recorded during the Regulate album recording.  Warren's lack of involvement always puzzled me.  Also interesting how Bo Rocc was on a bunch of stuff for Twinz, Foesum, Warren G, but C Knight and 2Scoops were never really featured on anything.

Yeah I may be wrong but I always felt like Warren still somewhat oversaw the Dove Shack album 💿 because it’s vintage G Funk right in line with G Funk Era and the Twinz—that album is near classic and has one officially classic song that should’ve pushed them to platinum “Summertime in the LBC” if marketed right, even Russel admits in his autobiography he didn’t do a good job pushing Twins and Dove Shack.

Snoop should’ve done a cameo for them when they rapper “we got Warren G and the D.O.G” tightened up the video and pushed the single.

I know it should’ve been a huge hit because even with zero push there were white alternative rock fans in my suburb in the Midwest playing “Summertime in the LBC” in the late 90’s—that track had crossover appeal. 

[gfunk2024]

Yeah I may be wrong but I always felt like Warren still somewhat oversaw the Dove Shack album 💿 because it’s vintage G Funk right in line with G Funk Era and the Twinz—that album is near classic and has one officially classic song that should’ve pushed them to platinum “Summertime in the LBC” if marketed right, even Russel admits in his autobiography he didn’t do a good job pushing Twins and Dove Shack.

Snoop should’ve done a cameo for them when they rapper “we got Warren G and the D.O.G” tightened up the video and pushed the single.

I know it should’ve been a huge hit because even with zero push there were white alternative rock fans in my suburb in the Midwest playing “Summertime in the LBC” in the late 90’s—that track had crossover appeal.

Snoop is in the summertime video...

That album is far from classic. Summertime in the LBC is classic for sure, but the album as a whole isn't very good.

[TraceOneInfinite]

Snoop is in the summertime video...

That album is far from classic. Summertime in the LBC is classic for sure, but the album as a whole isn't very good.

No they just used images from the Show I think but he wasn’t actually on the video set

[gfunk2024]

No they just used images from the Show I think but he wasn’t actually on the video set

He's at 2:15 mark and the 3:50 mark. I don't think the are images from The Show.

[Jay_J]

regulate, take a look over your shoulder and anything between them represents first era of warren g musi which is made of leads over keyboard chords and raw synth bass.

i want it all album represents second era of warren g music which is my all time favorite that he stops fucking with leads and uses more live guitars, live bass gutars and rhodes instead synths and leads. everything sounds more live and almost like a jam session of a few musicians.

return of the regulator album represents third era of warren g music which he is addapted to post 2000 west coast hip hop. less live instruments and more midi string, piano, keyboard sounds which i think very dope for those years.

in the mid night hour and following albums represent fourth era of warren g which i hate. till this day i still dont understand what kind of music it is. he just seems confused with "in the mid night hour" album.

[Sccit]

regulate, take a look over your shoulder and anything between them represents first era of warren g musi which is made of leads over keyboard chords and raw synth bass.

i want it all album represents second era of warren g music which is my all time favorite that he stops fucking with leads and uses more live guitars, live bass gutars and rhodes instead synths and leads. everything sounds more live and almost like a jam session of a few musicians.

return of the regulator album represents third era of warren g music which he is addapted to post 2000 west coast hip hop. less live instruments and more midi string, piano, keyboard sounds which i think very dope for those years.

in the mid night hour and following albums represent fourth era of warren g which i hate. till this day i still dont understand what kind of music it is. he just seems confused with "in the mid night hour" album.

good breakdown up until in the midnite hour

i was really diggin that album and feel it's very underrated and overlooked