How Warren G Regulated a G-Funk Classic

Today I’m breaking down “Regulate” by Warren G - we’ll talk about the story of how this song was made, the G Funk sound, the samples used, and see how this song is a perfect example of mutual respect between musicians and artists across multiple generations and genres. Well, mostly.
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SOURCES
www.rollingstone.com/music/mu...
recordingarts.com/record/evol...
www.billboard.com/music/rb-hi...
bobjames.com/sample-stories-w...
• Bob James reacts to hi...
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TOPICS COVERED
Warren G
Regulate
G Funk
The Chronic
Dr Dre
Michael McDonald
Yacht Rock
Chuck Jackson
I Keep Forgettin

[@RoamingHeathen]

Is this gonna be another DTG like “it all began in 540 BC and Regulate is actually intrinsically linked to Stone Henge”

[@MusicFromAnotherTime]

Nah. Even further back man. You hear that bass? That's an actual recording of the big bang.

[@diggingthegreats]

😂😂😂

[@hmohngcheelee7549]

This 😂😂

[@TheBrandonLewis]

💯

[@larryiscreating]

​@@MusicFromAnotherTime That's something I could hear Nas rapping 😂 "I had Large Professor sample the Big Bang!"

[@nicolesherman8974]

Glad to see Warren G get his flowers on this page 🔥🔥. This song hits different at night.

[@mitmon_8538]

Ah, Summer nights in the mid nineties, rolling around with house speakers in the trunk. Simpler times.

[@steve_santiago]

Peace to that guy outside of Roscoe’s who sold Warren that record!

[@VarianNash]

Hearing this blended with "I Keep Forgetting (Every Time You're Near)" gives another vibe.

[@PaulSeal]

Let's goooooo! Friday with DTG is here. Thanks in advance and for all your hard work brother

[@baileywatts1304]

I'm an old head, and when you said a VCR at the beginning, you had me remembering how way back we'd use VHS tapes to record music to because they were cheap compared to reel to reel tape Good times vut I don't want to ever go back.

[@panamaJ]

Was thinking the same thing! Top quality recording

[@ibzuck100]

This whole album is a classic. Another classic video from DTG too..

[@UnpopularOpinion42]

I use to play this cassette back to back and play Mario 3 for hours

[@blackdragon6]

For me it was Donkey Kong Country 😂

[@UnpopularOpinion42]

I played through that few times too! Really fun game

[@T_R_O_Y_McClure]

Streets of rage 2 for me

[@allx7912]

Man I gotta say I've been with you from the beginning and you just keep elevating. You're the Rick Beato for Hip Hop classics and I hope you get all the recognition you deserve!

[@bloodythorn]

Oddly, one of my favorite McDonald involved songs is Steely Dan's "Peg". His backing vocals practically make that song... That and the Fagen riffs.

[@diggingthegreats]

It’s so good!

[@kalexpo336]

“Peg” is a classic!!

[@kalexpo336]

Blue eyed soul

[@panamaJ]

Sampled by DeLaSoul in eye know

[@StarsandBarsRecords]

​@@kalexpo336dats raciss its just soul

[@verygoodfreelancer]

jeff porcaro who played on i keep forgetting did the drums for toto as well. smoothest hi hat grooves of all time.

[@cm9241]

I didn't think porcaro played on that song

[@noneya8999]

The first time I heard regulate was on GTA and now it’s one of my fav songs

[@Becauseimme]

Can’t you do a video on DJ Quik’s 1998 album “Rhythmalism”? It’s some of the best sounding Hip Hop that is funky and Jazzy. Quik doesn’t get his recognition or respect and no one has ever been able to replicate his sound. I put him up there with Dilla.

[@southerncalifornia970]

my favorite rapper

[@franckateba2970]

This song really deserves to be analyse. An all time classic, the youngsters of this generation won't understand the beauty behind it. Thank you diggin the greats.

[@dannydamnmendez]

I always found it so odd how they edited words like "cold" and "high" and "strap" on this song for radio and MTV, yet didn't censor "ass" which typically gets bleeped out for a lot of broadcasts... Likewise, this track and the original Michael McDonald song are both amazing in their own right. Btw, have you ever seen the Yacht Rock mini webseries? They did an episode about Michael McDonald and even touched on Warren G and Nate Dogg sampling him for "Regulate". It's good stuff!

[@diggingthegreats]

Yes! Didn’t go into it here but that’s the origin of the term, love it!

[@jonothanthrace1530]

I heard the censored version for the first time on the radio after Nate Dogg died and was like "this is so disrespectful they shouldn't have bothered".

[@simonpalframan6534]

Absoultley brilliant video - thanks!

[@sceneryj]

These videos are so well made. Thank you to everyone involved.

[@ShawnWhiteMusic]

Perfect Friday Morning, Thank you 🔥🔥

[@ShawnWhiteMusic]

If you get a chance please check out the Nas instrumental I just posted / John Coltrane X Nas sample

[@MrGTalso]

Awesome video as always

[@TimWrightDJ]

Who else heard the rumour, in the 90s, that Warren G was Snoop's cousin? Literally didn't know he was actually Dre's step-brother!

[@charlescdt6509]

WHat you didnt play that bass line!!! I was waiting for you to thump that one out lol. Good stuff as always.

[@JeredtheShy]

This song is a good example of the more honorable sampling era, where the idea was to find bits from songs that failed to follow up on their own promise, and to deliver on that promise, yourself. Michael McDonald didn't know what to do with his killer groove except start moaning about getting dumped, but Warren G knew. Snoop's Gz and Hustlas is another good example, the guy who wrote that sick bass line also ruined it when he started spazzing out about Habboglobotribbin (the f is that bro?) and Snoop rescued that bass line from obscurity. Later on they just got lazy and started jacking hooks from songs that were already successful and letting it carry them.

[@rdubb77]

I Keep Forgettin’ was a pretty big hit my man, it got to #4 on the Pop Charts. I don’t know what you mean by “failed to follow up on their promise.”

[@EchoMountain47]

Keep Forgetting is actually a pretty good song except for the chorus. When it switches to that upbeat major feel it totally loses the moody vibe

[@rdubb77]

@@EchoMountain47 yeah I feel ya. The chorus sounds like the side of Luke and Porcaro and McD doing their TV theme jingle session thing

[@HardcoreOreider]

Great Content as always

[@glennbeltoniii1647]

I’ve never been a fan of patreon but for these videos I may have to do it. I love the content!

[@TheAtlasSupreme]

Love the breakdown of the samples!

[@TacoTuesdey]

Love these breakdowns!

[@Bagheera_Smoov]

Bro it’s about time you showed some love to some G Funk! I was starting to get upset 🥴

[@Kazbasketball]

This youtube channel is simply legendary!

[@hamonthecob]

It’s so weird to hear you basically act like Warren G “followed the lead of Snoop and Dre” when it was Warren G who made a lot of that shit happen for Dre’s record. Warren G was the one who sourced a lot of the samples of those old records you hear on The Chronic. Warren G explained it all in a video a few years ago. It’s on KZbin. He talks about how much it hurt that after all he did for them both, he didn’t get signed to Death Row and wasn’t invited to be part of the “Dogg Pound”. He also introduced Dre to Snoop. No big deal. LoL

[@hamonthecob]

About 28 and a half minutes into this interview he gets into how he would buy records and sample cool shit and give it to Dre. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmHKeqabqpeJhrssi=gEUiF38IY5QK_QQC

[@rdubb77]

I love your summary of the song. I was having a hard time figuring out the plot but your explanation really helped.

[@victormarin4061]

I put on my death row records t shirt this morning and you dropped this video. I guess great minds think alike

[@jonothanthrace1530]

There's a country song I hear at work all the time that includes the line "the regulators gotta regulate" and every time I'm like "I hope Nate Dogg's ghost haunts you".

[@WRCKS]

The saying has a country background, it's lifted from the young guns movie

[@Byronic19134]

You do know that term Regulators is from the Wild West right?

[@nobeldrums]

What an era to grow up in. Love the content.

[@macbeatDugg]

Another Great Friday drop from DTG. This made me like G-Funk even more

[@djse]

The whole album is great, a little overshadowed by this classic opening song. It's one of the few album that have been in my car in every format I had (from tape to CD to mp3, never had the vinyl version in my car though) It's also a great way to make you drive slow, perfect summer driving soundtrack :)

[@djisizzle]

Thank you for breaking down "Regulate" by Warren G! I truly appreciate your deep dive into its creation, the iconic G Funk sound, and the significance of its samples. It's heartwarming to see how this song exemplifies mutual respect between musicians and artists from various generations and genres. Your insightful analysis brings a new level of appreciation for this timeless classic. Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge!

[@spencert4840]

This one gave me chills on my Friday. Thanks

[@cacophonic7]

One of my favorites!

[@Jesoteric]

Regulate is literally one the the illest rap songs of all time, so smooth, g funk era and Doggystyle were game changers for me at 12 years old in the 90s

[@changkwangoh]

Fun fact: I was taking summer classes as a high school junior and decided to skip after lunch, then headed to Circuit City and snagged the “Above The Rim” soundtrack on release day, randomly, because it was a Death Row release. That’s where I first heard this track.

[@joecool4108]

Great video. Thanx.

[@SamFocused]

Regulate since the 90's Always the Song Starts is such a Good Vibe and beautiful memories comin Up. The Story Sampled from a movie VHR to MPC Back in the days. Gives me even more respect for the Song!!! Great Video 💯💯💯

[@DaddyBooneDon]

Michael McDonald's music used to be called Blue-eyed Soul. I still like that term

[@andreasfragner9029]

Great video. Thank you.

[@VarianNash]

Mikey McD! 😂

[@ginahouston9352]

🤣

[@ENDORSHORES]

30 years😳

[@tecpaocelotl]

I think the last time I saw anyone trying to sell anything near Roscoe's about 15-20 years ago, and I think it was the one at Compton (bootleg CDs). Unless my memory is wrong and it was the one at Long Beach, but confident it was Compton. Lol.

[@TheHustii]

I would give a lot to spent an evening with you listenting to vinyls and talking bout samples. Your Knowledge would be such a pleasure.

[@happygolucky2231]

summer, park, pizza, beer and your video about warren g's regulate. it's all good B)

[@broolkeez]

Dope video bro

[@antifugazi]

The whole album is just so smooth, ive listened to it since the 90s, it never leaves my Mp3 player, its still in my playlist today.

[@nicofasho2227]

yes!!! more G-Funk and West Coast Rap breakdowns por favor 🙏🏽

[@TheGrootmanWay]

I swear this notification just popped up while I was watching another video about Warren G? 😂

[@ericcarr1648]

Great freaking song!!! No matter how many times I hear it, i never get sick of it.

[@pfarinella]

This is great. Would be interesting and episodi on Chemical Brothers and/or the Prodigy from the 90s

[@SilverSurfer752]

One of my favorite parts of the week

[@joesickler5888]

The first album I bought!

[@whoa1739]

My first rap album and 30 years later i'm still stuck with the genre. :)

[@theenatashasheree]

7:26 I love that they had respect for each transformation allowing new expressions to evolve. More of that‼️

[@Autimatiks]

No one does this better than you, my man. You make this music shit so much fun!! ✊🙌

[@EchoMountain47]

I was a high school freshman in 1994. I remember at a school assembly they kicked things off by playing regulate by Warren G and Spoonman by Soundgarden. If that doesn’t sum up what it was like to be a teenager in the early 90s, I don’t know what does. lol

[@ggates2500]

Love the channel, keep it up! Zero midrange in the clip around 1:30, need to hear the bass strings ))

[@KingKongFresh00]

Actually, now I feel old, We referred to it, (Michael McDonald, David Bowie, Simply Red, etc.) as “Blue Eyed Soul”. It was our way of saying, “Soulful white music.” This was before everything was dumped into the “Yacht Rock” category. Yacht Rock, when I was coming up was smooth rock. Like Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys.

[@stewart2449]

Another amazing video, thank you. I’m kinda surprised that Regulate came after Snoop Dogg got started, I thought it was a lot older.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

More G-Funk please. Smoothest most Hypnotic Beats = Timeless. oNe LovE from NYC

[@WizDomSon]

YA BUDDY! MY 1ST ALBUM...Thank you Dig Dog

[@AH-en1yy]

I'd like to suggest "Back in the Day" (remix) by Ahmad as a future video of that hasn't already been made. New to the channel and pretty obsessed.

[@Thor-Orion]

5:24 “The West Coast Sound” Is heavily defined by one band, the biggest musical act of the 70’s, Eagles.

[@greendro6410]

Such a dope song 🙂

[@djdren]

damm,love that album....classic

[@bestcomment2745]

Make a video on Zapp & Roger Computer Love!!!!!!

[@zane-8611]

Yo Brandon I love the videos! Do you think you’re going to do any on Frank Ocean?

[@kamakaze098]

The original dirty version is on KZbin so it has been heard

[@Ramos-Lavina]

I’ve always thought that sampling introducing music lovers to different songs and genres was an under rated benefit that hardly anyone brings up. A G funk breakdown was overdue - it was worth the weight tho 💯

[@kbsjudgmentroom6154]

As a producer that works with a lot of young guys in between working.I will throw on a couple of your videos because it's an easy way to put them on game of history.. What ends up happening is Once they hear the sample breakdowns and understand the metaphors.And rhymes They will. Often tell me give me another day to work on.I just wanted to tell you thank you

[@MrWillcapone]

A classic among classics

[@TheGunDude]

I fuckin love this song!

[@brad7932]

Dennis is outraged you left Steve Winwood out of the "Yacht Rock" examples.

[@peterhoeller7811]

I know Daft Punk have cited “Regulate” as a direct inspiration on the track “Da Funk”

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

It would be really funny if the extended origin story of this song on the patreon, was just a repost of the Yacht Rock episode where Nate Dogg and Warren G accidentally run over Michael MCDonald, and kidnap him.

[@MetalSonic420]

Timeless track.

[@jadenjr]

Ice cube started out with an East coast vibe. The bomb squad produced this early post NWA solo albums

[@GravityJWST]

❤😮❤😮❤This Story omg ❤

[@anthonybird546]

Living in the Eastside of Long Beach, I often look at the motels around and wonder which one is the Eastside Motel.

[@SziontificMystic]

Mikey McD works! i'm running with it

[@cloudbloom]

I was just thinking about this channel lol i hope you do some Outkast videos soon🙏 *Mikey McD, a good name. A strong name.

[@bigprocrastinator]

Michael McDonald never fails the sampler. Ever.

[@FastLaneLyfe]

5:28 you forgot Christopher Cross “Sailing” he is Yacht Rock.

[@Muakori]

Bobbi Storm - We Can’t Forget Him

[@johnlund3088]

The original explicit version have been online in bad quality for 25+ years now. Warren did a guest appearance on a live show some years ago where he performs the original explicit version.

[@Survivor-ng4te]

I never heard of of yacht rock either. I always referred to it a soft rock.

[@DemoniqueLewis]

Not gonna lie, I miss this era. I am surprised that you did not mention Nate Dogg’s death.

[@evo8nut]

Probably the best hip-hop track of all time, Regulate is a timeless classic 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@kidsonicofficial]

Fun fact... Warren G actually coined the term G-Funk (hence the references, and why the album itself was called "Regulate: G Funk Era"). Another interesting thing to note is that Warren G used the Instrumental to Snoop Dogg's classic "Gin and Juice" for the song "What's Next".

[@cdshawn]

No sir above the law said it first

[@Kosthoms]

The censorship with the C word comes more from the fact that it's a direct reference to using a gun "16 in the Clip... Nate is gonna make some bodies turn cold", and they keep censoring every gun reference, for instance "they pulled some gats" "I let my gat explode"... Kids might believe he made some bodies turn Gold, so everyone is safe in the end 😂

[@milkgrapes6420]

Sign of the Times is super funky jazz fusion damn smooth

[@alexohkay]

Warren G's first few albums are under appreciated imo. Even Return of The Regulator has Yo Sassy Ways

[@broceratops1337]

This song not hitting number 1 is a crime.

[@johngammon963]

This song is like The Ring, it rules them all.

[@riskzerobeatz]

Thanks 😉🇵🇱

[@qwesence1]

Can't forget the song Cold by Breaking Benjamin and So Cold by Crossfade lol