Rewind: Warren G 'Regulate... G Funk Era'

This one was released 15 years ago as of the 7th of June, but it still has a few essential summertime cuts and sample its share of summertime bangers. This post will look at the songs and source material of Warren G's 1994 debut album 'Regulate... G Funk Era'.

The album's biggest single is the West Coast classic cut 'Regulate', which famously samples Michael McDonald's 1981 single 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)' as well as the title track from Bob James' 1981 album 'Sign of the Times'. On 'Do You See', Warren G and Nate Dogg rhyme over samples of Junior's hit single 'Mama Used to Say' and Mtume's hit single 'Juicy Fruit'. Warren G samples Cameo's 'Why Have I Lost You' and One Way's 'Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)' on 'Super Soul Sis'. Finally, for 'Runnin' Wit No Breaks', Warren G uses the ever useful break from Kool and the Gang's 'N.T.' as well as Les McCann's 'Go On and Cry' from his 1974 album 'Another Beginning'.

Upon release, the album garnered high critical praise as well as swift opening week sales.

The Lowdown:
Warren G 'Regulate', 'Do You See', 'Super Soul Sis', and 'Runnin' Wit No Breaks'
from 'Regulate... G Funk Era' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Michael McDonald 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)'
from 'If That's What it Takes' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Sign of the Times'
from 'Sign of the Times' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Junior 'Mama used to Say'
from 'Ji' (1982) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Mtume 'Juicy Fruit'
from 'Juicy Fruit' (1983) (MP3/CD)
Cameo 'Why Have I Lost You'
from 'We All Know Who We Are' (1977) (MP3/CD not available)
One Way 'Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)'
from 'Lady' (1984) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Kool and the Gang 'N.T.'
from 'Live at P.J.'s' (1971) (MP3/CD not available)
Les McCann 'Go On and Cry'
from 'Another Beginning' (1974) (MP3/CD)

Producer Profile: DJ Premier (Part 3, 1994)

Following his success with Gang Starr and production work for Lord Finesse, Heavy D, and KRS-One; DJ Premier produced some classic cuts in 1994.

After Gang Starr's collaboration with Branford Marsalis for the 'Mo' Betta Blues' soundtrack, Primo and Marsalis collaborated on the debut album 'Buckshot LeFonque' by Marsalis' Buckshot LeFonque side project. The track 'Breakfast @ Denny's' samples James Brown's 'Get on the Good Foot' from his 1972 album of the same title. In 1994, Premier produced one of the outstanding tracks for Notorious B.I.G.'s debut 'Ready to Die'. The track 'Unbelievable' samples Patrice Rushen's 'Remind Me' and R. Kelly's 'Your Body's Callin''.

Finally, in 1994, Primo laced Group Home with a beat for the single 'Supa Star'. The song has a series of samples, including James Brown's 'Funky President (People It's Bad)', the Fifth Dimension's 'He's a Runner', Cameo's 'Downtown', and Isaac Hayes' fantastic 'One Woman' from 1968's essential 'Hot Buttered Soul'.

Check back for more Premier tracks and samples.

The Lowdown:
Buckshot LeFonque 'Breakfast @ Denny's'
from 'Buckshot LeFonque' (1994) (MP3/CD)
James Brown 'Get on the Good Foot'
from 'Get on the Good Foot' (1972) (MP3/CD not available)
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Unbelievable'
from 'Ready to Die' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Unbelievable'
Patrice Rushen 'Remind Me'
from 'Straight from the Heart' (1981) (MP3/CD)
R. Kelly 'Your Body's Callin''
from '12 play' (1993) (MP3/CD)
Group Home 'Supa Star'
from 'Supa Star' (1994) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'Funky President (People It's Bad)'
from 'Reality' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Fifth Dimension 'He's a Runner'
from 'Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Cameo 'Downtown'
from 'She's Strange' (1984) (MP3 not available/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'One Woman'
from 'Hot Buttered Soul' (1968) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Producer Profile: DJ Premier (Part 1, 1989-1990)
Producer Profile: DJ Premier (Part 2, 1991-1993)
Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G. 'Ready to Die' (Part 1)
Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G. 'Ready to Die' (Part 2)
Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G. 'Ready to Die' (Part 3)

Rewind: Above the Law 'Livin' Like Hustlers' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of a two part look at Above the Law's 1990 album 'Livin' Like Hustlers' produced by Dr. Dre.

The mighty Isaac Hayes and his breakthrough album 'Hot Buttered Soul' appears on this blog again as Above the Law samples 'Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic' for the track 'Just Kickin' Lyrics'. 'Ballin'' samples Cameo's 1977 track 'Why Have I Lost You?' from their sophomore album 'We All Know Who We Are'. Finally, another James Brown produced track shows up in the sample credits, this time its 'Message from the Soul Sisters' Myra Barnes (aka Vicki Anderson) used on Above the Law's 'Freedom of Speech'.

Above the Law continued to produce albums through the 90s, including the 1992 platinum album 'Black Mafia Life'. By 1992, producer Dr. Dre had left Ruthless and produced his breakthrough single for the movie 'Deep Cover', leading to his debut album 'The Chronic' (which will no doubt be covered in a future post on this blog).

The Lowdown:
Above the Law 'Just Kickin' Lyrics', 'Ballin'', and 'Freedom of Speech'
from 'Livin' Like Hustlers' (1989) (MP3/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic'
'Hot Buttered Soul' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Cameo 'Why Have I Lost You?'
from 'We All Know Who We Are' (1977) (MP3/CD not available)
Myra Barnes 'Message from the Soul Sisters'