Interview: Warren G (transcript)

I got a call from a strange area code Thursday morning, and picked it up to hear a familiar voice on the other end:

Caller: Hey, it's Warren.

Me: Warren G?

Caller: Yeah, what up.

Apparently, he was looking for a reporter to talk to for a scheduled interview. I informed him that I was not the right reporter, as we had talked two days prior and taken care of our interview then. He laughed, apologized and mentioned the need to figure out who was supposed to talk to right quick. It was pretty funny.

Warren plays tomorrow night at Planet Gemini in Monterey. Show starts at 9 p.m.

Here's the transcript from our interview:

On Nate Dogg suffering a stroke and his condition:

I see Nate all the time. He's progressing, man. We're praying for a quick recovery. He actually had two strokes. He's progressing, man and he's recovering. We're just praying for a fast recovery. That's it, we're praying on a fast recovery ...He's in therapy and stuff like that. He's just trying to get himself well. Tre Songz did a great, great job paying homage to him (during the VH1 Hip Hop Honors show), letting the world know that Nate Dogg was incredible. That was a good thing. I really appreciate him doing that because we needed that.

On his weight post-“Celebrity Fit Club”:

I weigh about 218 lbs. When I left the show, I was 191, I think, 193 or something like that. (The show) helped me a lot. It helped me learn how to eat (right). Because of the show, I look at how I eat a little different. Some of the things I do, I've been working out, that's why I'm up to 218. But it's all good man (laughs). I ain't fat.

On his decision to be on the show even though he wasn't obese:

The show is an exercise show. It's not just for fat people and just about getting themselves in shape. Some people was big in some of the earlier versions of it. That's how it was (previously). The version I was in, it wasn't like everyone was big and overweight and obese. It was just a workout show.
At first, I wasn't gong to do it, but after they explained it to me, and tole me what it was all about, I was like ‘OK, I can do this.’ I had some of the most fun I ever had in my life doing that show. It was a great show, and it was the biggest season they ever had (ratings wise). That was what was so crazy about it.

On his most vivid memories of the show:

When we went to Denver and we was skiing, that was a great experience. Being out there in the snow and just doing, I forgot what they called the skiing with like you shoes. That was a hell of a work out and the experience of that was incredible.

On the myths/rumors of his ghost production on “The Chronic” and “Doggystyle”:

I mean, we did help with doing “The Chronic.” I helped with doing “The Chronic.” I'm not trying to take credit for that record. It was a family thing with all of us. We all put in our issue with the records, you know. I wasn't really trying to take credit for the whole record. Dr. Dre is an incredible producer. We did it and it was all a family thing. That's my brother and I'm riding with him. We did it together.
(more after the jump)



On the success of “Regulate”:

It really tripped me out. It ended up being No. 2 on the Billboard (hot singles chart), you know. That's when I was like “This song really blew up.” I mean, I was just happy that it happened. I was just happy.

It felt real good and I'm just happy to still be in heavy rotation on radio stations and people still love my music and what I do.

On the experience of producing his latest album, “The G Files.”:

It wasn't different (Than recording his previous albums). It's the same, just going in and getting in there and pounding out good records. That's what I did. It ain't no pressure or nothing. I just go in there and do it and go in there and work and have a good time with it and have fun, because when you have fun, good feelings come out. That's what I try to do, just go in there, have fun and just relax and do the record and be creative. When you do that, that's when you come out with a good record.

On being a multi-platinum artist and finding a challenge at this point in his career:

It's not a challenge. I'm independent now. Actually, it is a challenge. It's the challenge to see if I can do it independently, if I can still have the same success being (on an independent record label). This is probably my first round, real round test in the independent market. I'm going to try it again and see where it takes me. If it turns out to be a good thing, I'll stay indy. If not, then I'm going back to a major (record label).


On his label situation:

I have a one-off with a company called TTL Records. They're out of Modesto, actually. I'm just doing that and it's distributed through Koch (Records). After my obligation is done with them, I'm a free agent. I don't know if I want to go back to a major or stay independent.

On whether or not his step-brother Dr. Dre's album “Detox” is ever coming out:

It's definitely coming out. I heard some records up off of it. It's incredible. He got some great songs on there. It's going to be a great record. They just got to keep looking out for that, because it's going to be nice.

On any brotherly competition between him and Dre:

He calls me, you know, sometimes, when he's trying to reach through. It's all good man. We just, we folks man. We put it down, you know.

On coming out to Monterey:

I came out there I think it was with Snoop. It was live man. Live, live, live.