Warren G is releasing an independent EP–without the help of Def Jam or the marketing and advertising dollars of Death Row, but as an independent artist. And while this is nothing new in the music business, for Warren G, it’s just different. Because, of course… “rule 4080, record people are shady.” will be his first release since 2009’s The G Chronicles. The mini-album, a sequel to Warren G’s hugely successful triple-platinum 1994 LP Regulate, is a four-track EP, totaling 36 minutes of classic west coast sound.
One warm Saturday morning, we caught up with Warren G on Venice Beach as he prepared to shoot the video for “My House,” his new single featuring the vocals of his deceased friend and top talent Nate Dogg. From west coast fans to international hip hop heads who have been anticipating new music from this veteran LBC (Long Beach California) bred rapper, Warren G hopes the single and video will appeal to a Warren G-thirsty demographic and garner attention and support for the EP release.
While chilling in the backseat of his SUV, Warren G rolled a small joint (because he was almost out of weed) and revealed his reasons for going independent.
“Being independent means that I’m not in no 360 deal where I have to pay back all these different people before I see any money,” he said. “I’m now the first person that gets paid and I pay the people that actually worked on my project. If it’s an artist that worked with me on this project, I make sure they get their royalties. I ain’t got to report to nobody; I just do what I want to do. I’m not concerned with selling 200k the first week that it’s out there; I just want to get my music out there. And we’re getting out there virally so people can hear some good music again.”
Warren G is relying on his calling card of funky beats, storytelling lyrics and that Nate Dogg melody for success. “We doing it really different this time, cause I ain’t got no radio play,” he revealed. “You have to build a record first out in the field and then come back and present it to radio.”
The conversation of getting a single on the radio, scheduling a tour, visiting Australia and even plans for brand merchandising is nothing new to a Grammy-winning artist, producer and songwriter like Warren G. He’s been there and done that for many years in his original group, 213, as a part of the infamous duo with Nate Dogg and in too many Long Beach California collaborations to name–but never as an indie artist. That is new, unchartered territory. But Warren G isn’t backing down.
“I’m not gon’ lose; I’m gon’ keep doing what I’m doing, staying 100. I’m gon’ just stay myself,” he shared.
On August 6, Regulate… G Funk Era Part II featuring “My House” and its supporting video will be released online and sold on iTunes. –darralynn hutson
