Top 10 Warren G Songs

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Our Top 10 Warren G Songs list looks at a popular rapper and producer. He is a West Coast rapper. He is one of the pioneers of G-funk. He is perhaps best known for his monster hit single “Regulate.” That’s not his only single because he has others that have appeared on the Top 40 charts such as “This D.J.,” “Nobody Does It Better,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “I Want It All,” “Smokin’ Me Out,” “I Shot the Sheriff” as well as others. His first three albums went gold or better on the charts.

Warren Griffin III was born on November 10, 1970. Warren G is Dr. Dre’s stepbrother. It wasn’t hard for him to get into the music business with Dr. Dre as his step-brother. He got into some trouble when he was a teenager. He went to jail for gun possession. While he was in prison he received the nickname Warren G. When he got out of prison he wanted to focus on music. Dr. Dre taught Warren G how to use a drum machine. He would go on to form the trio 213 with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. They were a short-lived group. They went their separate ways. Warren G and Snoop Dogg would go on to have careers as hip-hop artists.

Warren G released his debut album Regulate…G Funk Era in 1994. The album was a success for the rapper. It peaked at number one on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts and number two on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Regulate,” “This D.J.” and “Do You See.” The album sold over three million copies. The album helped establish Warren G as a credible rapper. Take a Look Over Your Shoulder came out in 1997.

It features the singles “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Smokin’ Me Out.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. I Want It All was released in 1999. The album peaked at number four on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts and number 21 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “I Want It All” and “Game Don’t Wait.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.

The Return of the Regulator came out in 2001. The album peaked at number 14 on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts and number 83 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Lookin’ at You” and “Ghetto Village.” In the Mid-Nite Hour was released in 2005. It peaked at number 80 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Get U Down” and “I Need a Light.” The G Files came out in 2009. The album features the singles “Ringtone” and “Crush.”

Warren G was basically an overnight success. He had to prove that he got successful on his own merit since he got help from his stepbrother. He would go on to have some successful albums and singles throughout his career. Our Top 10 Warren G Songs list will feature some of his best songs.

# 10 – Lookin’ at You ft. Toi

The first song on our Top 10 Warren G album is “Lookin’ at You” from the album Return of the Regulator. The song has a hip-hop sound to it. The sexual song is about a man picking up a woman at a club. He plans on seducing her. He has no intention of keeping her in her clothes. He notices her looking at him the same way he’s looking at her. As we said, he plans on taking her home and having a good time.

He is flirting with her and he wants to take things to the next level. Have you been in a club and looked across the room to see someone that you want? He lets his intentions be known so she won’t be surprised at what he wants to do. Men will probably be cheering him on as they listen to the lyrics. The song is descriptive on what he wants to do so it isn’t for the squeamish.

He proved he could do more than just “Regulate.” This song is different from that one and we’re here for it. Dr. Dre produced the track. The music has the classic west coast sound. The synthesizer is heavily used throughout the track. The drumbeat is fierce. It sounds like something you will hear at a club. It’s not the fastest beat, but it doesn’t need to be to get you on the dance floor. Warren G sounds right at home on this track. His flow is like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s pace. Toi sings the hook of the track. She is the glue that holds the song together. She sounds pretty good. She may not be a household name, but she has a pretty voice. Warren G chose the right person to sing on this track with him.

# 9 – Game Don’t Wait ft. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Xzibit

The next song on our Top 10 Warren G Songs list is “Game Don’t Wait” from the I Want It All album. The song has a hip-hop beat. The contemplative song is about making it in the rap business. They are suggesting that you pursue your career while you can. They are letting you know that time won’t wait for you. You need to take your chance while you can. The game is a metaphor for rapping. If you are a struggling rapper, then this song will hit close to home for you. If you have no desire to be a rapper, you won’t feel as connected to the track. You may still feel the message, but it may not mean as much to you.

Rappers tend to talk about the game all the time, so this isn’t new territory. They find different ways to explain their takes on the rap game. This track gave the group 213 a chance to work together again. Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg were a trio and they recorded this track together. Most of us may not be able to relate to the lyrics, but we can all agree the beat is tight.

We can all rock out to the music. The beat is infectious. The drums are fire and will have you bopping your head to the beat. The keyboard is another standout of the track. You won’t be able to sit still listening to the track. The music fits with the theme perfectly. The trio sounds great on this song.

They sound like they are enjoying themselves as they talk about the game. Xzibit is along for the ride, and he sounds good too. He may not be a part of the trio, but he sounds like he belongs with the guys. Nate Dogg is doing his thing on the hook. He makes you want to sing along with him.

# 8 – Do You See

The reflective song is from the album Regulate…G Funk Era. The song has a hip-hop sound. The bitter song is about the things Warren G saw growing up in the hood. He takes the listeners down memory lane as he explains the terrible things he saw while he was growing up. He feels that no one knows what he went through while he was in the hood. He tells the listeners that they don’t see the things he sees or hear what he hears.

He said it was hard for him to live through what he’s seen. We don’t know what he has seen or heard, but we are intrigued. Those of us who live in the hood, know what he’s going through. We know how hard it can be to live in the hood. These lyrics hit differently if you grew up in the hood. If you didn’t grow up in the hood, you get the chance to learn what it’s like to live in the hood.

This track is backed up by two popular r&b songs, Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” and Junior’s “Mama Used to Say.” If you are a fan of r&b music, you know this song is filled with excellent music. “Juicy Fruit” and “Mama Used to Say” are songs that were heavily played on r&b radio stations and always get the party started.

Warren G slowed down “Mama Used to Say” for his track. “Juicy Fruit” remains intact and is played throughout the song. You can hear “Mama Used to Say” in the back of the track. He knew what he was doing when he used these samples. They are completely different songs, but who knew they would work so well as a mash-up? Warren G’s rhyming on this track is very similar to Snoop Dogg. In fact, you could forget that Warren G is rapping on this song. He raps with so much passion. This song is clearly an inside look at his life from back in the day.

# 7 – Wake Up Shade Sheist ft. Nate Dogg and Warren G

The dramatic song is from Shade Sheist’s album Informal Introduction. The song has a hip-hop beat. The thought-provoking song is about his life as a hustler. He’s trying to make ends meet, but times are hard for him. He does what he has to do in order to make it in the hood. He wants everyone to know about his struggle in the hood. He wants this song to reach people. They want you to think about your life and how to make it better.

They talk about the gangster life, but this song isn’t just about life as a hustler. This song can be relatable to your life too. Anyone who has to struggle to make ends meet will understand what they are saying. They want people to “wake up” because we are not all equal. Shade Sheist, Nate Dogg and Warren G want people to understand they will always be hustlers no matter what happens.

Hip-hop artists tend to talk about life in the hood or being hustlers. They took the subject to a different level. They want people to understand that we aren’t equal to everyone. This track will put you in a different headspace. If the lyrics mean something to you, they will make you realize things aren’t equal the way they should be. They don’t sound bitter about it the way they could have. They sound like they want to educate people. The song was recorded years ago, but things are still the same. Shade Sheist used the Mary Jane Girls’ song “Candy Man” as a sample for this track.

The music has a melancholy beat so that works for this song. The track wasn’t just created for dancing. This is the type of song that makes you ponder about what’s going on in the world. The trio sounds fantastic on this song. Shade Sheist’s rhymes are incredible. He should have been a bigger star in music. He knows how to make you think. Warren G is outstanding as usual. His rhymes will blow you away. What can we say about Nate Dogg that we didn’t already say? He is one of the kings of hip-hop hooks. He knows how to sell a song as well as steal songs from other artists.

# 6 – Smokin’ Me Out ft. Ron Isley

The tender song is from the album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder. The song has a hip-hop beat. The enchanting song is about the way he feels about a woman he loves. He enjoys checking her out. Her sexiness as well as her beauty captivates him. He doesn’t want to be known as a balladeer so this is the closest he will come to express his love for the woman. He is talking about “hood love.”

For those of you who have become confused, we mean that he is talking about a relationship that happens in the hood. Warren G isn’t talking about romanticizing a woman. He is more graphic with the details. You won’t catch him talking about loving a woman like he’s Babyface or Ron Isley, but he does give her love.

Warren G invited Ron Isley along for the journey. You might not expect them to collaborate on a jam, but they did it. Warren G sampled the Isley Brothers song “Coolin’ Me Out,” so it makes sense that he is featured on the track. Ron Isley sings the chorus of the track. He gives Warren G a shout out in the song. He is a legend in the music business, so it has to be an honor for Warren G to have him on the track.

It gives the song more credibility in the romantic department. They are a mismatch, but they proved that they could work together. They created a fantastic jam. The sample worked for the song. This track gave Warren G a chance to talk about something different. He tends to talk about the hustler life, but he changed things up by recording a song that was about love. The ladies will love this track because he’s showing affection towards someone he loves.

# 5 – I Want It All ft. Mack 10

The next song on our Top 10 Warren G Songs list is “I Want It All” from the album I Want It All. It has a hip-hop beat. The longing song is about the things they wished they had. They talk about the things they want in life. This has to be a first for hip-hop. Most artists tend to brag about the things they do have. They don’t talk about what they want. This song isn’t just about gangster stories. This is a realistic song about what people would fantasize about having if they had money. We all have our fantasies about what we would buy if we hit the lottery or got rich somehow. We’ve been in their spot before so most of us will feel this track.

The song has a feel-good beat. It samples DeBarge’s hit song “I Like It.” It’s perfect for the summer. The song isn’t too fast or too slow. You can dance to this track. You won’t break too much sweat because it’s not that fast, but you can move to it. This is the track you can hear at a cookout and have fun. If you are a fan of DeBarge, you will enjoy hearing this song playing in the background. We are here for the sample.

The sample really sets the song off. Warren G and Mack 10 are a dynamic duo. Warren G’s laid-back rhyming is perfect for the beat of the song. Mack 10 speeds up his rhymes while he’s rapping. The contrast is perfect for this track. The song has a very simple chorus. They just repeat the title so it’s very easy to remember. This song is an earworm and you will want to put it on repeat.

# 4 – I Shot the Sheriff

The political song is from the album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder. The track has a hip-hop beat. The anthemic song is about a man who shoots a cop in self-defense. The cop mistakes him for someone else and shoots him. Warren G’s character shot a sheriff. He shot him because the sheriff was trying to shoot at him. The murder was in self-defense. He talks about the police losing control around the brothers and accusing him of crimes they didn’t commit. He continues to tell the story about dirty cops who target people of color. They want to know why they were pulled over. This song was recorded years ago, but it’s very timely today. There are cops who target people of color now so this song is fitting.

This song is a remake of Bob Marley’s song of the same name. He kept the theme the same, but he changed the lyrics. He used his own lyrics for the track. It made sense because he was able to talk about it from a different perspective. Bob Marley wanted to talk about this important subject when he recorded the song and the problem was still around when Warren G recorded it.

This subject will most likely be happening for a long time so this is definitely a song people need to hear. This is a situation that people in and out of urban neighborhoods need to hear. It helps make people more aware of what’s going on in the world. The music is different from Bob Marley’s version of the track. Warren G’s version sounds like hip-hop music, but Bob Marley’s sounded like reggae. Warren G’s phrasing is on point. He’s easy to understand so you can hear the message behind the song. This song won’t win any fans of people on the police force, but it deserves to be heard.

# 3 – What’s Love Got to Do With It ft. Adina Howard

The troublesome song is from the movie soundtrack Supercop and Warren G’s album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder. The song has a hip-hop beat. The anti-love song is about a man who has no emotional attachment to people because they didn’t know him before he was famous. He doesn’t want to be bothered with groupies or yes men. He only wants to be around people who were there for him when he had nothing.

He accomplished something so now people want to be around him. He talks about how women are willing to be with him now that he has everything he ever wanted. You don’t have to be rich and famous to deal with people who will only surround themselves around you when you have something. He may come off like he’s bragging about the things he has, but he’s not wrong. He noticed that women wanted him once he had money. He doesn’t want to be around plastic people.

Warren G sampled Tina Turner’s hit song “What’s Love Got to Do with It” for this jam. Like with “I Shot the Sheriff,” he changed the lyrics to the song. He mostly kept the theme to the song the same. The music is great. The pace of the music is basically the same as Tina Turner’s version. The track has a hip-hop sound to it. Warren G’s rapping skills are absolutely wonderful. He knows what he’s doing when he spits his rhymes. He sounds like he was in the game for a long time with this track. Adina Howard is onboard for this track. She sings the hook for the song.

She changes some of the lyrics of the hook. She sticks with the format of Tina Turner’s song, but she does add ad libs that Tina Turner didn’t use. Anyone who was a fan of Adina Howard when she came out, will enjoy listening to her on this track. It will make you realize that she’s missed in the music industry. She sings the hook very well. She sings in her lower register throughout the song. She could have come up a little to sing it in a higher pitch, but we are satisfied with what she did with her half of the song.

# 2 – This D.J. ft. O.G.L.B

The retrospective song is from the Regulate…G Funk Era. This song has a hip-hop sound. The flashback song is about his life as a DJ and producer. He was the DJ in his group 213. This song is homage to that time in his life. He proved he didn’t forget his roots. He wanted listeners to know what happened when he was a DJ.

This song wasn’t created to make a change in the world. It was done to give people an idea of his life as a DJ. Anyone who isn’t involved in music won’t be able to relate to the lyrics. That didn’t stop fans from listening to the track. This song was a hit for Warren G. He had big shoes to fill because he was riding high off the success of his single “Regulate.” This song appears on the same album so the monster hit could have overshadowed it.

“This D.J.” was no slouch on the charts. This song was a success for the hit rapper too. This track was also nominated for Grammy awards so it was a respected song. The track features the sample from Midnight Star’s “Curious.” The sample gives the song a cool vibe. It sounds laidback. It’s the perfect song to chill out to. You could put this song on when you want to hang out with friends or chill out by yourself.

Warren G sounds like he’s having a ball on this song. He sounds like he’s smiling while he’s rapping. He sounds like Snoop Dogg on this jam. It sounds like a song he would sing. O.G.L.B. is featured on the track too. He seems talented and knows what he’s doing when he’s rapping. We aren’t sure if he recorded any other music besides this track. He should get a chance to rap again because he sounds pretty good. This song was a hit and could have been number one, but you already know what made the top of our list.

# 1 – Regulate ft. Nate Dogg

The number one song on our Top 10 Warren G Songs list is “Regulate” from the album Regulate…G Funk Era. The track has a hip-hop beat. The memorable song is about a man who is looking for a woman to be with for the night. Nate Dogg’s character was looking for Warren G. Nate Dogg sees women in a car, but he’s more concerned about finding Warren G. Warren G approached a group of men who are playing dice and he finds out they want to rob him. The people pull out their guns and are prepared to shot him. Nate Dogg is trying to get away from the women he met and notices that Warren G is in trouble with the dice players. Nate Dogg pulls out his gun and shoots the robbers. The song plays out like the plot of a movie.

As you know, this track is Warren G’s signature song. This track was extremely popular when it was released. It was a hit on r&b and hip-hop charts as well as the Hot 100 charts. This track was played everywhere. We’re not surprised that it received massive airplay. You may have seen this track appear on our 100 Best Rap Songs of the 90s list as well as our Top 10 Nate Dogg Songs list.

We couldn’t round out our Top 10 Warren G Songs list without including his biggest hit. The song features Michael McDonald’s hit song “Keep Forgetting (Every Time You’re Near).” The sample stands out very much. Once you hear the beat, you will know this is one of two songs. The song will be Michael McDonald’s song or Warren G’s song. We’re not surprised this was such a popular song because everything about it works.