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Album reviews Music

Warren G

In the early 90s, cruising in the 213 with dreams of making it big left Warren G in a haze. Despite his work on Dre’s solo debut album, his career failed to take off, though the rapper/producer continued to make music about his everyday: the hustle, the women, the violence. It all paid off in 1994 with his triple-platinum debut album Regulate… G-Funk Era, whose eponymous track, Regulate, is regarded as one of the most influential songs of all time and the perennial exemplar of the gangsta funk genre. 

Two decades later, as hip-hop becomes faster and louder, Warren G resurrects the classic West Coast sound in his new sequel album. He rewinds back to 90s southern California roots on Keep On Hustlin, and an instrumental repertoire of smooth 70s funk samples and hypnotic bass lines balance the hard-hitting verses. Featuring his late collaborator Nate Dogg throughout, the rapport between Warren G’s dynamic hooks and Nate’s soulful vocals remains lively, true and unchanged. 

And with Young Jeezy, E-40 and Bun B also on board, Warren G relishes the intimacy of the quotidian: growing up and “‘hitting the east side of the LBC.”

Top track: Keep On Hustlin’

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