Warren G "I Want It All" (1999)

Those who feel Warren G only has one excellent album have some serious listening to do.

I've bumped this album nearly 10 times in 3 days and I gotta say I absolutely love it. It sounds similar to "Regulate...G Funk Era", which is honestly what I was hoping for. The beats are knockin' all the way through and it's got me listening to and enjoying rappers I never listened to or enjoyed before. It's clear Warren G has a true gift for matching up rappers with beats (meaning "Regulate...G Funk Era" was no fluke). Moreover, Warren G himself kills his verses all the way through. Some of my favorites were the cuts with Kurupt, Nate Dogg & RBX "Gangsta Love", Kurupt & Crucial Conflict "Dollars Make Sense" (maybe my favorite), Mack 10 "I Want It All", and Snoop Dogg, Phats Bossi & Reel Tight "You Never Know". I like the whole thing though. Can't say I see any low points here.

While there isn't any cut quite as magnificent as "Regulate" or "Do You See", I'd say the work here is extremely close to that and is essential listening for a Warren G fan. The most important thing to note about this album is that there are enjoyable beats for days. That alone will keep this disc rotating for years and years to come.

My rating: 5 stars

I can't see the 5 star rating personally, but i certainly can see this being his 2nd best album. I think people kinda gave up on him so this album is severely slept on.

T. Myers wrote:

I can't see the 5 star rating, but i certainly can see this being his 2nd best album. I think people kinda gave up on him so this album is severely slept on.

I guess. I never really heard anyone ever bring this album up - it does seems severely slept on. I guess some people think he was a 1-hit wonder with Regulate? I can see it objectively getting 4.5 stars, but I'll give it the full 5 stars cause I like it that much.

Terry (or anyone), how would you rate "Take a Look Over Your Shoulder"?

EDIT: Had to buy it based on Norfeest's raving 4.5 star review on Amazon.

Yeah this is easily Warren's 2nd best album. I'll say a 4.0 easily. Game Don't Wait>>>>>>>

Take A Look is another dope album it just had the bad luck of following Regulate. Thats a 3.75-4.0 easily also.

Take a Look Over My Shoulder is my favorite Warren G followed by this, followed by Regulate, Followed by In the Midnite Hour, Followed by Return of the Regulator... they are all worth owning IMO.

I never talk about this because people have a hard time peeping and appreciating the more lyrically inclined west coast acts so I doubt too many people would peep Warren G.

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

Take a Look Over My Shoulder is my favorite Warren G followed by this, followed by Regulate, Followed by In the Midnite Hour, Followed by Return of the Regulator... they are all worth owning IMO.

I never talk about this because people have a hard time peeping and appreciating the more lyrically inclined west coast acts so I doubt too many people would peep Warren G.

I kinda figured you'd be a big Warren G fan. Not sure why. I was thinking of how much you dig Coolio...lol. In the Midnite Hour was the second one I bought. Solid/decent album, but not as good as this one. I may end up buying "Return of the Regulator" as well if I end up liking the rest so much.

Return Of The Regulator isn't great by any means. It's one of my least favs. I'd rank his discog like this.

Regulate...G Funk Era
Take A Look Over Your Shoulder
I Want It All
The Hard Way(213 album)
In The Mid-Nite Hour
Return Of The Regulator

I haven't heard The G Files. I don't know if you own it or not, but if you're a fan of his production, Twinz album is a must.

ive actually only heard Regulate lol

Slang, peep this track. It's one of the best on the album.

really dope track, more surprised to hear Slick Rick on there lol

Yeah but he sounds so natural over his beats.

Return Of The Regulator is great, and you both have that listed as your least favorite, That should tell people how great his discog is...Ghetto Village>> (Stevie sample hook is excellent).

T. Myers wrote:

Return Of The Regulator isn't great by any means. It's one of my least favs. I'd rank his discog like this.

Regulate...G Funk Era
Take A Look Over Your Shoulder
I Want It All
The Hard Way(213 album)
In The Mid-Nite Hour
Return Of The Regulator

I haven't heard The G Files. I don't know if you own it or not, but if you're a fan of his production, Twinz album is a must.

I didn't even know that album existed. I'll have to buy that one up.

From what I read, G Files is his lowest rated....

Terry, could you give those Warren G albums star ratings? Just curious...

Also Terry, I have not heard the Twinz album either. But I actually just bought it on Amazon, and I think I got a good deal. There was a newer seller with 100% positive feedback selling a like new copy for $14.50. Way cheaper than all the prices I've been seeing.

Alan wrote:

Terry, could you give those Warren G albums star ratings? Just curious...

Regulate...G Funk Era-5 Stars
Take A Look Over Your Shoulder-4.25-4.5 stars
I Want It All-4.25 stars
The Hard Way(213 album)-3.5 stars
In The Mid-Nite Hour-3.5 stars
Return Of The Regulator-3.25 stars

Take A Look Over Your Shoulder and I Want It All are pretty much even, but Take A Look has more standout tracks like I Shot The Sheriff(EPMD Remix), Transformers, We Brings Heat and Annie Mae(although Norf wasn't too fond of this song in his review).

I'd probably agree with terry on most of his ratings with an added half star for a lot of them.

I've only heard Regulate and Take A Look Over Your Shoulder. I give Regulate 5 stars and Take A Look 4 stars. I'll check this one out.

I think everything after I Want It All is very hit or miss and forgettable. His 1st 3 are the only ones I listen to in regular rotation. I do remember diggin Return Of The Reg a good amount after it 1st dropped but for whatever reason I haven't played that cd in over 4 yrs or more probably. I'll revisit it soon.

TicNitty706 wrote:

I think everything after I Want It All is very hit or miss and forgettable. His 1st 3 are the only ones I listen to in regular rotation. I do remember diggin Return Of The Reg a good amount after it 1st dropped but for whatever reason I haven't played that cd in over 4 yrs or more probably. I'll revisit it soon.

Yeah, i'm the same way. There is nothing bad about the albums per se, but there's nothing that makes me want to keep playing those albums either.

Man, I'm so glad I'm not the only one still constantly bumpin this joint. I have never owned any other Warren G album but this one and Regulate and I have always loved this one. I agree all the beats are fire and the features all fit perfect. I would say Gangsta Love and Game Don't Wait are my favs but I like the whole disc. I always loved Nate's line "gotta get up and buy some brand new clothes, change my socks 'fo they reveal my toes" lol. I give the album 4.5.

I've actually only heard Regulate also. When I heard "I Shot The Sheriff", personally I was done. Does anyone know where I can find the Game Don't Wait (Remix)? (The version from the video)

T. Myers wrote:

Alan wrote:

Terry, could you give those Warren G albums star ratings? Just curious...

Regulate...G Funk Era-5 Stars
Take A Look Over Your Shoulder-4.25-4.5 stars
I Want It All-4.25 stars
The Hard Way(213 album)-3.5 stars
In The Mid-Nite Hour-3.5 stars
Return Of The Regulator-3.25 stars

Take A Look Over Your Shoulder and I Want It All are pretty much even, but Take A Look has more standout tracks like I Shot The Sheriff(EPMD Remix), Transformers, We Brings Heat and Annie Mae(although Norf wasn't too fond of this song in his review).

Thanks man. If "Take A Look Over Your Shoulder" is really better than "I Want It All", I'll probably be giving that one 5 stars too. Just been playing "I Want It All" over and over and over and over. Still 5 stars to me.

I really wish I hadn't slept on his other work so much. Easily one of my favorite artists from the west coast now. More like top 5 after I'm done banging all his albums throughout the forthcoming summer. It's those beats man....beats and beats for days.....

Wanduras wrote:

Man, I'm so glad I'm not the only one still constantly bumpin this joint. I have never owned any other Warren G album but this one and Regulate and I have always loved this one. I agree all the beats are fire and the features all fit perfect. I would say Gangsta Love and Game Don't Wait are my favs but I like the whole disc. I always loved Nate's line "gotta get up and buy some brand new clothes, change my socks 'fo they reveal my toes" lol. I give the album 4.5.

Nice dude. Glad to hear there's another huge fan of this album too.

Highsmith wrote:

I've actually only heard Regulate also. When I heard "I Shot The Sheriff", personally I was done. Does anyone know where I can find the Game Don't Wait (Remix)? (The version from the video)

You're missing out on essential west coast hip-hop...IMHO (BTW, that song is not good).

Twinz- Conversation a top 15 albums (probably higher) of all time for me. That's one album I can honestly bump any time, regardless of what mood I'm in. Easily a Tran's classic.

Al, if you dig that album, you should also peep Dove Shack "This Is the Shack". It's not as good as Conversation, but it's still a damn solid album. Summertime In The LBC>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks for the rec Tran. That definitely looks right up my alley....

That whole era of Warren G production is dope. I used to buy random singles to peep some more warren g.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYTBVOcWNlk

I had that single there too

I think the west coast producer/emcees got slept on and overlooked too often because the focus was the music and not the lyrics.

Not to say guys like Showbiz, Diamond D, etc. weren't dropping dope beats, but nothing can touch the funkiness of guys like Warren G and DJ Quik.

I agree about producers. Warren G is now among the elite to me. The thing I tend to like more about a lot of these west coast producers is literally the quality of sound - the attention paid to levels and engineering. Warren G's music always "sounds" perfect to me. It's nitpicking I suppose, but I know what you mean about that funk. In general I've been listening to a lot more west coast and g-funk - so maybe I'm starting to realize it more.....

That song was pretty tight....never heard the version with Warren G....

I definitely dig what you say there. The east coast sound had a more gritty sampled sound to it, lots of samples, hectic, dirty samples, etc.

DJ Quik and Warren G were especially very clean and smooth with their sampling. Love that sound. You can find a lot of similar sounding acts from around the time with varying levels of quality and lyricism, but the funk usually holds it together on the production end.

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I definitely dig what you say there. The east coast sound had a more gritty sampled sound to it, lots of samples, hectic, dirty samples, etc.

DJ Quik and Warren G were especially very clean and smooth with their sampling. Love that sound. You can find a lot of similar sounding acts from around the time with varying levels of quality and lyricism, but the funk usually holds it together on the production end.

Very well put. That's really what I was trying to say. Those west coast g-funk producers tweaked those samples and just made them ear candy with smooth sounds/tones.

Your last sentence is so true. I've found several obscure artists with that sweet funk. I have a feeling I'll be finding more since I'm getting more into this sound...

Ok, so I've pretty much been bumping Warren G non-stop before and since I posted this thread....and I have some new thoughts. First, my new favorite Warren G album is "I Want It All". Sure, it can't beat "Regulate" in the standout game. Nothing is quite as sharp or classic as "Regulate" or "Do You See". However, looking at both albums track for track, and bumping both nearly 15 times in the past month, I got to say I like "I Want It All" more. Mostly because the album is more consistent. Even the weakest tracks are stronger than the weakest tracks on "Regulate"....if that makes sense. Also, "I Want It All" sounds better. From a engineering/recording perspective, it's just cleaner and fresher. Both are classics, but I'd venture to say I have more big standouts on "I Want It All" as well - "Gangsta Love", "Dollars Make Sense", "I Want It All", "Havin' Things", "You Never Know", "My Momma (Ola Mae)", "G-Spot" would have to be my favorites.

All that said, I did buy "Take a Look Over Your Shoulder" recently, and have played that a good 10 times or so. Great album as well, but not up to "I Want It All"'s quality IMO. His track work is excellent, but IMO the sound is not as good as it was on "Regulate" or "I Want It All". The levels or mastering just isn't quite as good IMO. That said, there's plenty of hitting material here. ""Smokin' Me out"" is probably my favorite. Moreover, I think Warren G tightened up his rapping and lyrics on "I Want It All". I can now see why some reviews say his rapping was not as good on this release. I don't expect a ton from the man since he's such a gifted producer, but he came tighter on both "Regulate" and "I Want It All" IMO.

The 213 album is disappointing. Top be honest, when I was talking to Terry, I had envisioned an album driven by Warren G's production/vision. That is not the case. Warren G does not produce a single cut on this album. Honestly, it plays more like a Snoop Dogg side project more than anything. And I'm hearing Warren G's voice on the album - but that ain't Warren G - at least not the Warren G I know and have been listening to nonstop lately. It's readily apparent Snoop is driving this album's content and sound. Nate Dogg (RIP) was honestly my favorite part of the tracks. He held it up and made it far more enjoyable IMO. I don't even really consider this a "Warren G album" because he didn't even put his stamp on it....

The Twins album. This album was tight as hell IMO. Only bumped it a few times since it came in the mail, but I am impressed. Now this I would consider a "Warren G album", because his classic production and vibes are all over it. He even wrote a lot of the lyrics for the Twinz, and even played instruments on the album. That album was his baby at the time I'm sure, and it's got that classic G Funk sound all over it.

With all that said, my new rankings are as follows....

I Want It All - 5 stars
Regulate...G Funk Era - 5 stars
Take a Look Over Your Shoulder - 4.5 stars
Twinz "Conversation" - 4.5 stars
In the Mid-Nite Hour - 3.5 stars
213 "The Hard Way" - 3 stars

All in all - I have a new all-time favorite from the west - in my top 10.

Damn Alan glad you diggin that Warren G. Very surprised you just cracked open that safe.

Check out that Dove Shack like Tran said. I haven't heard it in a long time but I use to play it to death back in the day.

Right on. I'll get that one too. I always had Regulate, but I never had any of the others. I was sleeping man...lol

Agreed, Dove Shack used to get major play from me as well. Anybody hear their second disc? I've wanted to check that out for a few years now to no success.

Alan wrote:

Ok, so I've pretty much been bumping Warren G non-stop before and since I posted this thread....and I have some new thoughts. First, my new favorite Warren G album is "I Want It All". Sure, it can't beat "Regulate" in the standout game. Nothing is quite as sharp or classic as "Regulate" or "Do You See". However, looking at both albums track for track, and bumping both nearly 15 times in the past month, I got to say I like "I Want It All" more. Mostly because the album is more consistent. Even the weakest tracks are stronger than the weakest tracks on "Regulate"....if that makes sense. Also, "I Want It All" sounds better. From a engineering/recording perspective, it's just cleaner and fresher. Both are classics, but I'd venture to say I have more big standouts on "I Want It All" as well - "Gangsta Love", "Dollars Make Sense", "I Want It All", "Havin' Things", "You Never Know", "My Momma (Ola Mae)", "G-Spot" would have to be my favorites.

All that said, I did buy "Take a Look Over Your Shoulder" recently, and have played that a good 10 times or so. Great album as well, but not up to "I Want It All"'s quality IMO. His track work is excellent, but IMO the sound is not as good as it was on "Regulate" or "I Want It All". The levels or mastering just isn't quite as good IMO. That said, there's plenty of hitting material here. ""Smokin' Me out"" is probably my favorite. Moreover, I think Warren G tightened up his rapping and lyrics on "I Want It All". I can now see why some reviews say his rapping was not as good on this release. I don't expect a ton from the man since he's such a gifted producer, but he came tighter on both "Regulate" and "I Want It All" IMO.

The 213 album is disappointing. Top be honest, when I was talking to Terry, I had envisioned an album driven by Warren G's production/vision. That is not the case. Warren G does not produce a single cut on this album. Honestly, it plays more like a Snoop Dogg side project more than anything. And I'm hearing Warren G's voice on the album - but that ain't Warren G - at least not the Warren G I know and have been listening to nonstop lately. It's readily apparent Snoop is driving this album's content and sound. Nate Dogg (RIP) was honestly my favorite part of the tracks. He held it up and made it far more enjoyable IMO. I don't even really consider this a "Warren G album" because he didn't even put his stamp on it....

The Twins album. This album was tight as hell IMO. Only bumped it a few times since it came in the mail, but I am impressed. Now this I would consider a "Warren G album", because his classic production and vibes are all over it. He even wrote a lot of the lyrics for the Twinz, and even played instruments on the album. That album was his baby at the time I'm sure, and it's got that classic G Funk sound all over it.

With all that said, my new rankings are as follows....

I Want It All - 5 stars
Regulate...G Funk Era - 5 stars
Take a Look Over Your Shoulder - 4.5 stars
Twinz "Conversation" - 4.5 stars
In the Mid-Nite Hour - 3.5 stars
213 "The Hard Way" - 3 stars

All in all - I have a new all-time favorite from the west - in my top 10.

Sorry! I guess i should have specified that he didn't produce on the 213 album.

Good to hear Pounds. Glad to see someone else digging Warren G like I always have. I never really dug that 213 album myself!

regulate - 4.75 only complaint is album too short 36 min from memory
take a look - 4.25 from memory i havent listened to it for ages
i want it all - been too long and i cant even find this cd now i did have it tho i remember i bought it when it came out, but I dont know about 5 stars personally.

Lounge wrote:

regulate - 4.75 only complaint is album too short 36 min from memory
take a look - 4.25 from memory i havent listened to it for ages
i want it all - been too long and i cant even find this cd now i did have it tho i remember i bought it when it came out, but I dont know about 5 stars personally.

You best get educated....lol

Well, after bumping "I Want It All" another 10 times or so this week, I think I may have to go ahead and say this is my favorite album of 1999. Which would knock The Grouch out of the top spot. Very hard thing to say being a Living Legends stan and all. I gotta wonder what people don't see in this album. So solid. So many standouts. It's just, perfect.

Alan, if I listened to a CD 10 times, I would probably think it was Criminal Minded or Illmatic also homie.....lls

Highsmith wrote:

Alan, if I listened to a CD 10 times, I would probably think it was Criminal Minded or Illmatic also homie.....lls

I don't get it....you quit listening to hip-hop albums after 10 listens?

Sometimes I wonder about you, Highsmith. The only way an album is a personal classic, is if I can bump it over and over and over; week after week, month after month; year after year - and it still sounds classic and fresh. I want to scrutinize my classics; perhaps memorize them. I frankly don't trust any other type of method when considering the "classic" tag for myself. To only listen to a classic album 10 times is sacrilegious - an injustice to the art. I wouldn't comfortably call an album classic without listening to it at least 30-50 times...depending on the album.

And just an FYI, I've bumped this album another 5 or 6 times since I posted last Friday. Suck it Trebek! lol

What I am saying Alan is if I listen to a CD 10 times in a week, why would I think that's it's not the best thing since sliced bread. IMO 10 times in a week is too much, but to each his own homie. I should have clarified that in my original statement. So if you add the 5 times since Friday, you have heard this 15 times in about 2 or 3 weeks....lol

I get what Highsmith is saying, if he heard something so many times in short succession he would think it was great, but I'm with Alan on this one.

If something is wack I don't spin it more than once, and even stuff I like I don't spin too often. When I do find myself spinning something 10 times or more in a week or two I know it is one of those albums I love.

I remember one of my roommates would play The Score 2-3 times a night on his radio because he was an asshole... and I hate that album..

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I get what Highsmith is saying, if he heard something so many times in short succession he would think it was great, but I'm with Alan on this one.

If something is wack I don't spin it more than once, and even stuff I like I don't spin too often. When I do find myself spinning something 10 times or more in a week or two I know it is one of those albums I love.

I remember one of my roommates would play The Score 2-3 times a night on his radio because he was an asshole... and I hate that album..

Exactly,

I also agree with you the first sentence, but all that goes out the window when I find that true love for the album.

Highsmith, even albums only bordering on great would not get 10 spins from me in a week. Only Pounds classics get played 10 times a week. I now consider this a Pounds classic.

And SRP....I don't force my music on others. That shit pisses me off too. I know when my friends could care less about the shit I bump. lol

TIME TO FORCE MUSIC ON OTHERS

LISTEN TO THE ANTI-MOBIUS STRIP THEORY BY CRYPTIC ONE

I THINK JEFF REC'D IT TO ME

Shut up

Damn Half, quiet down. We don't need all that yelling around here. I thought M. Smith just dropped a post for a second. haha

Ok I received my CDs from amazon the other day and I listened to this and Take A Look Over Your Shoulder today. I feel that the ratings for these CDs are a little too high but I would say atleast 4 stars for both with I Want It All slightly higher than Take A Look Over Your Shoulder.
Neither one of these are on the level of Regulate IMO but both of these CDs are nice. If I gave a preliminary rating I would say I Want It All 4.25 and Take A Look Over Your Shoulder 4. I would say the best song on either CD is clearly "Gangsta Love".