G-Funk is an era that has moved out of its specific context recently.
Artists from the LA Abstract hip hop scene like Flying Lotus and Nosaj Thing take strong cues from the warm funk of scenes that birthed in the early 90s from artists that feature in the following list. They would sample funk from artists like Sly & The Family Stone and Funkadelic and create ‘G’-Funk [Gangsta Funk] out of it. The jury’s out on whether Dre would get down to the spangled beats of FlyLo or spark an owl with beat nerd Nosaj Thing, but both scenes are worthy of deep respect.
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Dr Dre – Deep Cover – ARTIST ON MFLOW
This track was also known as 187, and is Dr Dre’s debut single. It was recorded for the film Deep Cover, starring Laurence Fishbourne and Jeff Goldblum. It is the first time Snoop Dogg was featured on a record. As a single it had no major breakthrough regarding sales, but it launched Snoop Dogg’s career. It samples a number of 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s funk acts, such as Undisputed Truth’s “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and Sly & the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” (which provided the drumbeat). The single was set to be released on The Chronic (1992), but fallout from Body Count’s banned song, “Cop Killer”, prevented it since this song is also about killing police officers
Warren G – Do You See – TRACK ON MFLOW
This is from the triple-platinum album ‘Regulate…G-Funk Era’ launched the career of Dre’s step brother. He had launched a group, 213, with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, actually introducing Dre to Snoop. The album was also Grammy-nominated featuring other massive smashes Regulate and This D.J. The album was critically lauded by legendary reviewers like Robert Christgau as a seminal G-Funk album.
Eazy-E – Real Muthaphuckkin Gs – ARTIST ON MFLOW
This is from Eazy’s Dr Dre diss album from 1993, in which he spends not one but eight tracks discussing, slandering and all-round beatin’ on Dr Dre’s anorexic-rapper befriending, NWA-era blouse and lippie-sporting ass. Lyrics like “All of a sudden Dr Dre is a G thang, but on his old album covers he was a she thang” lay the smack down on Dre’s hot-producer status of the time. Other lyrics see a tubby E fully serve slim-line Snoop: “Talkin ’bout who ya gone squabble wit and who ya shoot / You’re only 60 pounds when ya wet and wearin boots.” Hilarious and menacing.
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin & Juice – ON MFLOW
This is Snoop in his Doggystyle pomp – the video features a hilarious intro of some cranky parents giving Snoop some instruction before they leave the house: “Snoop Doggy Dogg need to get a jobby job…Don’t mess with the 8-Track!”
Snoop then throws the biggest party in southern California in his parents house, replete with a full quota of the Dogg Pound and ladies, “I gotta pocket full of rubbers and my homeboys do too”. The track also features the oft-samples ‘With my mind on my money and my money on my mind”. Then Dre turns up with some Tanqueray and it all goes ooowee. Nasty!
Dr Dre – Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang – ON MFLOW
This is from the Chronic album which is credited as the blue-print of G-Funk, released in December 1992 on the infamous Death Row label. It begins with the now-legendary “One, Two, Three and to the Four” from Snoop, and follows with that G-Funk staple of mosquito whine synths and funky mellow beats
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