Jerik Hendrickson

Regulators

The first time I heard Nate Dogg and Warren G’s collaboration, Regulators, I was 10 years old and going through a basketball phase.  I rented the movie Above the Rim, which included the music video after the movie. 

I pretty much forgot about the song until several years later when my good friend Sean revealed that he had a cassette single of the song, which we listened to several times.

It’s a great song, but it wasn’t until very recently I realized how ridiculous the lyrics are.

Essentially what happens is Nate Dogg and Warren G are both out and about, each looking for some loose women to have intercourse with.  They also hope to run into each other at some point.  

Warren G hooks a left on the 21 and Lewis and notices some people (apparently strangers) playing dice.  He decides to try his hand at the dice game, but the simple statement of “What’s up?” to these gentlemen puts them into a rage.  They pull out their weapons and Warren says (quite appropriately) “I’m stuck.”

Meanwhile Nate Dogg is trying to impress some prostitutes.  In doing so he stumbles across the scene Warren G has gotten himself into.  In fact, Warren is being not only held up, but robbed.  They’ve taken both his rings and his rolex.  Warren can understandably only wonder “What’s next?”  However, just as he does this, he glances off and sees Nate Dogg. 

Here’s where the story get’s insane to me:

Nate Dogg is armed.  He’s got a weapon containing 17 bullets.  He unleashes this weapon on the men who’ve begun to rob Warren G.  In fact, he murders them.  All of them.  It’s never stated exactly how many men there are, but I think the only number that would make this scenario not insane is zero.  This is my favorite part.

Nate Dogg just murdered this group of guys and only seconds later decides to pursue the previously mentioned prostitutes.  In fact Warren G, having been on the same mission, joins him!

I feel like if I was out cruising for tail (which, if you know me, is really all I’m known to do other than Tae Bo) and ended up shooting someone, anyone, to death, that would mean the pursuit of tail is over.  Plain and simple.  “Well, I just murdered some people.  I think it’s time to call it a night.”  “Yeah, just got robbed by some guys but then my friend killed all of them right in front of me.  Think I’m gonna hit the hay.”

The rest of the song is spent explaining how their music contains not only chords, but other interesting elements like strings, melody, rhythm, and even bass and treble.  I know what you’re thinking, and trust me, I was blown away too.  But not as “blown away” as those guys who tried to rob The G Child, am I right?!?!?!?!

So, I guess the story to be learned here is don’t let murder get in the way of a good time.  Also, if you smoke like I smoke then you’re high like every day and if your ass is a busta, 213 will regulate.

Sage advice.