Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, Jon McMillan breaks ‘em down for you. This week, Death Cab For Cutie are filling in.
By Ben Gibbard
“Regulate”
Warren G (Feat. Nate Dogg), 1994
My girlfriend and I were running errands around Seattle a couple weeks ago when this came on the radio during KUBE 93′s “old school lunch hour” (it’s kinda weird to think of 1994 as being “old school” but I guess it was almost 15 years ago). It quickly became brutally apparent that “Regulate” has fallen into that unfortunate category of hip hop songs that have not aged well at all. Here are some conversation snippets from the three and half minutes that followed:
- “Who are these ‘Regulators’? This guy talking at the top makes them sound like some sort of organized vigilanty group. Kinda like a hip hop guardian angels or something.”
- “Warren G sounds pretty wimpy on this track. That’s saying something coming from me. If Nate Dogg didn’t show up, I fell pretty confident that even I could jack him.”
- “What the fuck does ‘the rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble’ mean?!”
- “I think that if I just shot a bunch of guys the last thing on my mind would be chasing girls. I mean, that would kinda put a damper on the rest of the evening.”
- “Is it just me or can Nate Dogg not really sing? That ‘Eastside motel’ line sounded kinda rotten.”
- “Oh man, ‘Pump Up The Volume’ has aged better than this thing.”
The video really brings all of that home.
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warren g is the man…that song is dope…you are trippin!
its all about OLD SCHOOL LUNCH. way to represent.
Heard this a few weeks ago. I only had one question for my friend that was standing next to me when it finished. Has there ever been another hip hop song that had the word swell in it? “I gotta car fulla girls and it’s going real swell.” That’s about as “gangsta” as it gets folks.
in my generation, you have to pick your battles when it comes to hip-hop. for people my age ["regulate" came out when a number of us were still in middle school-- but we're old enough to know what "old-school hip-hop" really is], regardless of how terribly the song has aged [although i agree, i have friends that would disagree vehemently], we don’t have it as bad as kids that listen to hip-hop radio today. i would much rather listen to this than soulja boy. i’d rather have to listen to this song every day for the rest of my life than listen to soulja boy ever again.
and nate dogg is probably the best non-singer in hip-hop history.
I was baffled when this was a hit in the first place. You shoulda just given us Michael McDonald’s “Keep Forgettin’” instead…
Dude, I have this song on my ipod and it’s always a hit at parties…. hehehe.
I don’t remember much about Above the Rim but it did have some good basketball sequences. I can’t imagine that it aged any better than Regulate.
Sir, I must say that you are way out of line, claiming this song has aged poorly. As I get older, and experience more of what life has to offer, more and more do I realize how Warren and Nate’s “Regulate” speaks to the realities of modern life. And bitches. Like Shakespeare, Marcel Proust, and the people who write Grey’s Anatomy, Nate and Warren understand some deep truths about the human condition — and present these truths with considerable aplomb!
A deft split narrative, two protagonists relate a typical evening in the LBC from two unique perspectives. Warren searches for the simple pleasures of a dice game whilst Nate longs for tender companionship. But as Warren’s quest becomes a desperate struggle of life and death, Nate discovers that friendship — or brotherhood — must take priority over pursuits of the flesh. That is to say, blood is thicker than Krystal… or, if you prefer: Bros before Hoes. BUT, after the climatic scene in which Nate dispatches Warren’s assailants, the two “switch their mind back into freak mode”… and discover you truly CAN have your bitch and freak her too.
Of course, I neglect to mention the rich philosophical content of song: “Where rhythm is life and life is rhythm” and “rhythm is the bass and bass is the treble”. Using the transitive property of logic, we see that life is both bass AND treble. This is Nate/Warren’s unique twist on the ancient Chinese concept of Yin and Yang as well as their read on the Aristotelian notion of the eudaimonistic life…
There’s too much to address here in the comments… but I think I’ve shown that “Regulate” is a timeless classic, certain to be cherished and enjoyed for centuries to come.
Yeah, what he said!
joey headset, my friend, you have eloquated my finest feelings on this classic trunk-thumper. My skull-cap is off to you sir….
“Warren G sounds pretty wimpy on this track. That’s saying something coming from me. If Nate Dogg didn’t show up, I fell pretty confident that even I could jack him.”
Are you sure these are words you want to be tossing around lightly on the E-web?
If you ask for it, Warren G might just have to regulate your ass.
WEST SIDE!!!!!
I was at a show here on Saturday night and it seemed like every one of my friends was three sheets except for me, which made the proceedings that much more fun. But one of my friends kept singing random old school jams and finally made his way to “Regulate”. Everyone was just laughing at him up to this point, but there was something about “Regulate” that struck a chord and everyone gradually started to sing along with him (most of the words were mangled or repeated when they shouldn’t have been but you get the idea). So, the song may have aged poorly, and most hip-hop does, but it is forever burned into our collective psyche.
Oh and I forgot to ask……
People are still listening to the radio?
People listen to talk radio for news and commentary but no, none listens to the radio for music anymore…unless you count internet radio and college radio. You don’t do you?
The blues has always been totally American.
As American as apple pie.
As American as the blues, as American as apple pie. The question is why? Why should the blues be so at home here?
Well, America provided the atmosphere.
Ben Gibbard, you don’t see.
I have always loved this song.. even after the old skool daiz!!! No more drugs fer me…. and I still smile when I hear this song Its on my puter and REGULATORS MOUNT UP!!!!
MOUNT UP!
Yeah that one’s at least about five years off being able to be liked “ironically” I’d say
Make sure you check out the Yacht Rock episode about this track:
http://www.channel101.com/shows/view.php?media_id=1537
Nate Dogg can’t sing? Pac NW kids don’t know shit about rap anyways, but this makes me dislike Death Cab. Does Gibbard and his girlfriend think they’re funny? Because they’re not. At all.
the guy talking at the top is a sample from the movie young guns.
I’m not gonna go deep into detail because others have done a nice job of it already. However, I do need to at least voice my agreement with the majority of commentators when I say that you, Ben Gibbard, are a dumb ass if you truly believe that this song hasn’t aged well. “Regulate” is dope. It always will be. Sure it’s simple but it’s one of the most accessible (as well as fun to actually sing along with) “gangsta” rap songs ever.
Regulate II: Jay Z’s babies rap over “Soul Meets Body.”
Also, Ben’s GF needs to back away from “Pump Up The Volume.”
dude, I’m too lazy to read what all you other honkies have said in response to this post but, if i’m not mistaken, the “regulators, mount up!” line was from Young Guns because that little snippet in the beginning is from Young Guns (maybe Young Guns 2…?). Anyway, that song is now, and will forever be, AWESOME. Yeah, it’s a little cheesy these days but it was pretty cheesy back when it came out too. That’s the fun of it! Every white dude can learn all the words and do his hip-hop posturing at a party to this song. It’s fucking GOLD. And don’t question the G-funk man, they can say whatever they want about bass or treble or whatever, simply because they ARE G-funk. Word
Lurv,
Adam from MoreVolume
Finally, I’m not alone in the world. I absolutely agree with you. I can never understand why everyone is so hyped about this song. When I see people drive around and hear them blast that song in their car, makes me sad. I’m sure that those that listen to the song don’t even understand the full context of the song. They listen mainly for the beat and recognition of a good time.
The only time I listen to Kube 93 is during the old school session. To either make fun of the songs or here an old familiar song that actually had meaning. Which is a rare occasion.
I think that “the rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble” means that the rhythm is performing the role of the bassline and that the bassline is supposedly acting more as what would typically be found in the treble.
I think that “the rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble” means that the rhythm is performing the role of the bassline and that the bassline is supposedly acting more as what would typically be found in the treble.
OK, is BG havin’ a laff with us here or what? Ben Gibbard (or maybe it was his girlfriend) saying “Is it just me or can Nate Dogg not really sing? That ‘Eastside motel’ line sounded kinda rotten” sounds too outrageous to be entirely earnest. Say it ain’t so, Ben, or else I’m deleting all my illegally downloaded Death Cab mp3s.
in response to MSG: i highly disagree with you about saying pacific northwest kids don’t know shit about rap. i listened to hip-hop nearly exclusively for a good portion of my life. no need to dis the whole region, boss.
When I was eleven I thoroughly enjoyed this song. My friends and I always go back and listen to songs we loved in our adolescence. A good majority turn out to be dreadful. Do me a favor and just read the lyrics to damn near any Mystikal song. They won’t let you down.
Hey Bob:
I see what you did there!
douglas, i agree. broad generalizations can easily hurt feelings and make the generalizer look stupid, just ask noel gallagher.
i’m getting an L.A. Gear reference dropped on my ass every time REGULATORS gets shouted at the start of this song. also, nate dogg’s tone is sooooooooooooooo unique. it is instantly recognizable and it’s so chill. and of course warren g sounds relaxed on this track. The song defines chill. It ain’t nobody trying to come off aggressive in tone, it’s a chill track. ben gibbard is apparently developmentally delayed….either that or he does not know how to indicate that his tongue is in his cheek….anyways, yeah a douche he is.
the “regulators” sound bite is taken from the movie Young Guns.
wow, how did you crack the code?
As far as mainstream gangsta rap goes, most of Dr. Dre’s stuff has aged extremely well. Warren G sucked even when he first came out.
Okay, guys, honestly, this song -is- pretty bad. It’s amusing in a “wow I can’t believe this even got made” way, and I think–I hate to presume–that that’s what Ben is saying. It’s like Mystery Science Theater 3000.
But to hear a really good example of a rap artist attempting to sing and failing miserably, check out Snoop Dogg covering “Sad But True”… and yes, the song was appropriately chosen.
This song was incredible when it came out, and it will forever remain a classic. Put down the hatorade children.
If you aren’t familiar with it, check out “This DJ” from the same album. Warren G was the man.
By the way, the “guy talking at the top” is cut from a movie. It’s called Young Guns…. maybe you have heard of it? At least educate pretend like you know what you’re talking about before blasting a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC4dURfuIXM
By the way, the “guy talking at the top” is cut from a movie. It’s called Young Guns…. maybe you have heard of it? At least pretend like you know what you’re talking about before blasting a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC4dURfuIXM
Just proves how Hip Hop/Rap/Top 40 hasn’t progressed at all in nearly 15 years. Dizzee Rascal is pretty good, but doesn’t it speak loads that we’re being out-thuged by the Brits?
It’s weird that I wandered on this since Nate Dogg is in the news for having a second stroke…get better, Nate.
Ben, I’m a fan of this song. It’s a classic. When I was in the Army, we called our squad “Regulators”. We were pretty tight knit.