Warren G is an American rapper, producer, and DJ born on November 10, 1970. He played a big part in the rise of West Coast rap during the 1990s. He’s famous for creating G-funk music and his hit song “Regulate” in 1994 which he performed with Nate Dogg. Warren also helped kickstart Snoop Dogg’s career by introducing him to Dr. Dre who later signed Snoop.
His first album “Regulate… G Funk Era” debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart selling 176000 copies in its first week alone. It eventually sold over 3 million copies in the US and got certified as triple platinum. The song “Regulate” stayed in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks spending three weeks at number two. Another song from the album “This D.J.” reached number nine on the charts. Both songs earned Grammy nominations.
Warren’s second album “Take a Look Over Your Shoulder” had three songs that made it to the Top 40. His duet with Nate Dogg in 1998 “Nobody Does It Better” also reached the Top 40. Both “Take a Look Over Your Shoulder” and his next album “I Want It All” were certified gold which was his last certification. His album in 2001 “The Return of the Regulator” didn’t do as well commercially as his earlier works.
Warren along with Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg formed a hip-hop trio called 213 named after Long Beach’s area code. They released an album in 2004 titled “The Hard Way.”
His next two albums “In the Mid-Nite Hour” in 2005 and “The G Files” in 2009 were self-produced and released independently. In the 2010s, he became popular again with digital platforms. In 2015, he released “Regulate… G Funk Era Part II” which featured archived recordings of Nate Dogg who had passed away in 2011. In 2017, “Regulate” went multi-platinum due to digital downloads after being certified platinum in 1994.
| Full Name | Warren G |
| Date of Birth | November 10, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Long Beach, California |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter, producer |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (189 cm) |
| Spouse | Tennille Griffin (m. 2008) |
| Children | 4 |
| Net Worth | $6 million |
Warren G’s Early Life and Education
Warren Griffin III was born on November 10, 1970, in Long Beach California. He grew up with three sisters raised by his mother and separated from his father who was an airplane mechanic and his mother who worked as a dietician. When Warren was around 4 years old his parents divorced. He lived with his mother and sisters until he was about to start middle school.
In 1982, Warren moved in with his father in North Long Beach where he met his new stepfamily. One of his stepbrothers was Andre Young who later became known as Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre started his music career in the mid-80s and eventually became a prominent figure in the rap scene of Los Angeles.
At 17, Warren got into trouble for possessing a gun and was sent to jail. During his time there he adopted the nickname Warren G. Meanwhile Dr. Dre was already gaining fame as a music producer and part of the influential rap group N.W.A.
After his release, Warren began working at the Long Beach shipyards but also started focusing more on music especially after Dr. Dre taught him how to use a drum machine. By 1990 Warren along with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg formed the group 213 contributing to the emerging G-funk sound in rap.
However, the group disbanded when Warren connected them with Dr. Dre who then helped launch the solo careers of Snoop Dogg and himself marking the rise of G-funk music. Warren G not wanting to stay in Dr. Dre’s shadow signed with Def Jam Recordings in New York City instead of joining Dr. Dre’s Death Row Records like his peers.
Career
In 1990, Warren a producer and rapper from Long Beach teamed up with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg to form a music group called 213. They named themselves after the Los Angeles area code. They practiced and recorded in a small studio at a Long Beach record store and made a demo tape. Warren tried to get Dr. Dre a famous musician to listen to their tape but Dr. Dre initially said no.
However, copies of 213’s songs started to spread around Los Angeles, particularly in Compton Pomona Watts, and South Central. Eventually, Warren gave the tape to LA Dre at a party who liked it and showed it to Dr. Dre. When Dr. Dre heard Snoop’s rap he welcomed the trio into his home and studio in Calabasas.
In 1992, Dr. Dre’s single “Deep Cover” introduced Snoop Dogg as a rising star. Warren helped Dr. Dre with his first solo album which also featured Snoop. This collaboration launched Snoop into superstardom in 1993 with his solo album Doggystyle. Nate also joined Dr. Dre’s label.
Meanwhile, Warren went back to Long Beach to work on his music. In 2004, 213 released their album “The Hard Way.”
During this time Warren met director John Singleton and produced a song for the movie “Poetic Justice.” This success led him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. He also collaborated with Nate on a hit song called “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)” on Snoop’s album.
In 1994, Warren and Nate’s song “Regulate” became a huge hit spending weeks on the Billboard charts and reaching platinum status. Warren’s debut album “Regulate… G Funk Era” also did well selling millions of copies and earning Grammy nominations.
Throughout the mid-90s Warren continued to collaborate with artists like Twinz and The Dove Shack. He also appeared on Snoop’s second album in 1996.
Warren G’s second album “Take a Look Over Your Shoulder” came out in March 1997. It went gold in May selling half a million copies. The album featured the song “What’s Love Got To Do with It” a remake of Tina Turner’s 1984 hit sung by Adina Howard. This song reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 32 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Another track “Smokin’ Me Out” with Ron Isley got a lot of play on radio stations in Los Angeles. Warren G also did a version of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” mixing it with a song from the rap group EPMD and it reached No. 20 on the charts. Despite these successes, the album didn’t do as well as his first one.
In July 1998, Warren G and Nate Dogg collaborated on the song “Nobody Does It Better” which made it to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Warren G’s third album “I Want It All” released in October 1999 featured guest artists like Nate Dogg Snoop Dogg and others. It went gold in November 1999 and included the song “I Want It All” which reached No. 23 on the Hot 100.
Even years later Warren G’s albums from 1997 and 1999 are still certified gold while his later albums haven’t reached that level of success. His fourth album “The Return of the Regulator” released in December 2001 received mixed reviews. It featured collaborations with artists like George Clinton and Dr. Dre but didn’t perform as well as expected. Warren G then moved to an independent label after this album.
In 2005, he released “In the Mid-Nite Hour” his fifth album which was more of a personal project without major label involvement. Critics thought it better showcased his style but didn’t gain much mainstream attention. His sixth album “The G Files” released in 2009 continued his G-funk sound with some modern twists. Warren G. also toured and appeared in TV shows during this time.
Fans still love Warren G’s classic G-funk style and often ask for more music like that. His recent projects include an EP called “Regulate… G Funk Era Part II” which features Nate Dogg on all four tracks.
Net Worth
Warren G has an estimated net worth of $6 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Warren G’s net worth comes from his career in music. He is a successful rapper and producer, known for hits like “Regulate.” He earns money from album sales, concerts, and producing music for other artists. Additionally, he makes money from royalties when his music is played on the radio, TV, or streaming services.
Personal life
Warren G along with his wife Tenille Griffin has four kids. As he’s getting older he feels more like his dad. He loves cooking and sharing stories and he’s all about sticking to his values and enjoying family time.
His oldest son Olaijah played football for the USC Trojans from 2018 to 2020 as a cornerback. He did so well that he was recognized with all-conference honors in 2019 and 2020. Then in April 2021, Olaijah got picked up by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills even though he wasn’t drafted.
In 2019, Warren G started selling his barbecue sauces and rubs called Sniffin Griffin’s BBQ. He got the idea from his dad who was a Navy cook and really into barbecue.
