Regulate – Warren G. & Nate Dogg | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop for (#2 for 3 weeks) &  R&B (#7); 1994

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

One of hip-hop’s most fascinating qualities is the way it samples from all types of music; sort of an equal opportunity genre. For example, Regulate is built on a pop/adult contemporary record from 1982, Michael McDonald’s I Keep Forgettin’, plus a bit of Bob James’ Sign Of The Times.

Griffin and Dogg’s creation wasn’t nearly so mellow-minded as the sample sources in its tale of guns, crime, and revenge. Warren and Nate first rapped together while growing up in Long Beach, CA, along with Nate’s cousin, Snoop.

Snoop Dogg took a starring role on Dr. Dre’s top hip-hop album, The Chronic, while Nate did his background thing. Super hip-hop label Def Jam quickly picked up on Warren and Nate’s talents, and sent them into the studio.

The result, Regulate, powered both the Regulate…G Funk Era and the Above The Rim soundtrack albums to #2 for a combined sales of three million. To cap it off, Regulate was nominated for a Grammy as Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Warren G

Lyrics Written by:

  • Warren Griffin III
  • Nathaniel Hale

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).