Warren’s peace
Warren G strummed an electric guitar as he softly sang about his 4-year-old daughter, Larren. A hush fell over the room as we listened. It was only a few moments, but it left an indelible impression.
Isn’t this the guy who broke out with a song about “regulatin’ any stealin’ of his property?” Well, yeah. But “Regulate… G-Funk Era,” also featured the fun-lovin’ sing-rapping that became his trademark style. And when he rhymed about violence it wasn’t gratuitous so much as it was autobiography — a reminiscence of his upbringing on some of the mean streets of Long Beach. Still, it struck me then as something unique in an era of mindless, misogynistic gangsta’ rap and I said so in the music column I wrote at the time. And was that really 15 years ago already? My God, how fleeting life can be.
When I met Warren G Thursday in a Westminster industrial park of all places (thanks to the generosity of Greer Wylder who let me trailer-hitch to her interview), he was friendly, but reserved and almost shy. When he got to talking about his kids, Warren IV, 12; Olaijah, 10; Kneile, 5; and Larren, he sounded like any other Orange County Dad. He even joked to Greer, “I’ll bet you thought I was a gangster.” He laughed heartily and good-naturedly at that. We all did, in fact, because the idea seemed ridiculous even 5 minutes after meeting him.
To be honest, I never expected that, but there’s a certain amount of diva I anticipate from all rock stars and I’m always tickled when they surprise me with humility. There’s a quiet confidence about Warren G as befits anyone with the success he’s enjoyed, but there’s a certain shyness there as well. It’s a fascinating duality. We challenged him to rap for the video, but he kept protesting, “nah, nah, now you’re putting me on the spot.” He wasn’t complaining. He just seemed frustrated he couldn’t do what we asked and apologetically told us he’s not much of a free-styler. Then it clicked for me. It’s no wonder he can take so long between records. He’s a perfectionist. He’s not interested in rough drafts.
Want more proof? He’s got about 12 songs he’s done with his most important collaborator, Nate Dogg, but none of them will appear on his next album, “The G Files,” which will be released Oct. 13. It will be his first album without Nate’s presence. Nate has suffered two strokes and isn’t even up to talking, much less singing at this point, Warren said. He has a long road of rehab in front of him. “All we can do is pray,” he said.
I’m not sure how that will affect the next album, but he does have a track with just Snoop Dogg and himself on it — the first time they’ve exclusively recorded together without others involved, believe it or not. (Nate Dogg and Snoop are cousins and they were childhood friends of Warren’s). Instead, Warren G’s new unlikely collaborators appear to be DJ AM and Travis Barker. A mutual friend hooked them up.
Even more fascinating, though, are his plans to re-imagine “Regulate,” with Akon as part of Def Jam’s 25th anniversary special.
The career news is interesting, but to tell you the truth I was more drawn to his comments about his family and his dream of opening a restaurant! He went into great detail to explain how much he loves grilling and how he’s planning to make a business of it. He moved to Orange County for the same reason many folks did — to live in a good neighborhood and take advantage of good schools.
“When I was a kid, folks would say don’t move to Orange County because the people there are prejudiced,” he said. “But I’ve been living here for 15 years and I love it.” He doesn’t get harassed and he can enjoy more anonymity than he would in Los Angeles, he added.
And it’s obvious he spends a lot of time at home as he comments extensively on the lives of his children. Olaijah, for instance, is a “major athlete,” Warren IV loves to cook, Kneile is “out of this world. He drives me crazy he’s so hyper… I think I’m going to have him play soccer,” and “Princess Larren” loves to sing.
“Every time I try to leave” for work, he said, referring to the look he sees in his daughter’s eyes, “it damn near makes me want to bust a tear, and sometimes I say, ‘I’m not going anywhere. I think I’ll just stay home.’ ”
When I asked him about his Father’s Day plans, he said he would probably grill in the backyard and relax with his family. Sounds as much fun as his best party songs.
