Warren G

Exclusive: We Shared The Stage With The Tupac Hologram

17 Apr 2012 20:26:24 EDT

Warren G and Kendrick Lamar, who performed with Dr. Dre and Snoop at Coachella, tell MTV News about rapping alongside a virtual legend.
By Rob Markman

Kendrick Lamar was just a wide-eyed kid when he first saw Tupac Shakur in the flesh, so when he watched 'Pac's posthumous, holographic performance at Coachella on Sunday, all those old feelings came rushing back.

"It just let you know that this dude was great and he'll live forever when you got people that's willing to go out and spend damn near millions to make a hologram on you," Kendrick told MTV News on Tuesday (April 17). "It was just a crazy feeling, made me think of that one moment when I seen dude in real life."

K.Dot remembers watching 'Pac film a scene from his "California Love" video in Compton, California, in the mid-1990s, catching his only a glimpse of the beloved rap hero before he was murdered in 1996. Last weekend's Coachella concert was a reminder.

"When I finally got to see it along with the other hundred thousand people, it was just something that I didn't think nobody could ever do," Kendrick said of Dr. Dre's stunt. "I didn't even know this dude was thinking up no crazy sh-- like that."

The young MC wasn't just a spectator; he also took part in the festivities, performing his new single "The Recipe" withDr. Dre at Coachella. "The moment that Dre and Snoop walked out on that stage, I knew it was something way bigger than what I imagined it to be," he said.

Warren G, on the other hand, has seen it all. The G-Funk regulator was part of the original Death Row posse and released a ton of classic records alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Warren also knew Tupac personally, so seeing the holographic incarnation of Makaveli was a bit surreal. "When I first seen it when we were in rehearsal, it gave me chills," he said. "I was like, 'Whoa, wow,' because it looked like him, it talked like him, it just moved like him, it's just like, 'Damn.' It was a trip."

Rumors swirled that there would also be a holographic version of the late Nate Dogg at Coachella, but Warren told MTV News that he had no knowledge of it. He was open to the possibility of seeing his old friend resurrected in concert, however.

"We worked with Dr. Dre on this, and it was Dre's vision to bring this back to life," Nick Smith — president of AV Concepts, the San Diego company that projected and staged the image — exclusively told MTV News on Monday. "It was his idea from the very beginning and we worked with him and his camp to utilize the technology to make it come to life. ... You can take their likenesses and voice and ... take people that haven't done concerts before or perform music they haven't sung and digitally re-create it."

Warren believes that the holographic technology used to bring 'Pac to the stage can be a powerful tool in uniting different rap factions. Ultimately he hopes the excitement surrounding Dre and Snoop's Coachella performance can spawn a bigger tour and possibly lead to a similar stunt starring the Notorious B.I.G.

"That would be dope for Puffy to come on and we just do one of the biggest, majorest tours ever where it happens like that," he said. "He could go out and do the same thing, but it would be dope to do it together."

Would you go see a late star on tour as a hologram? Let us know in the comments!

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Nate Dogg Bade Farewell By Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Warren G

26 Mar 2011 19:04:01 EDT

'I'm so honored, so happy that you gave me the opportunity, God, to know Nate Dogg,' Snoop eulogized at funeral.
By Rahman Dukes

LONG BEACH, California — On a dark and damp Saturday morning (March 26), thousands of family, friends and fans turned out for one last show from their hero, rap legend Nate Dogg, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Long Beach.

Inside the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, lights shined down on the wooden coffin adorned with red and white flowers. Two jumbo screens on opposite sides of his casket flashed six different photos of the singer from a childhood boy, when he was known to family as "Buddy," to the platinum singer known to the world as Nate Dogg.

West Coast rap artists including Dr. Dre, Game, DJ Quik, Mack-10 and WC, DJ Pooh, Battlecat and others were on hand to pay their respects to the singer with platinum vocal chords.

"1986, Poly High School, that's where we connected for the first time," an emotionally distraught Snoop reflected on his friend. "We didn't know each other, but the music connected us. We built a brotherhood, a friendship."

Snoop first met Nate along with his best friend Warren G at the school where they would go on to form the rap trio 213. Warren G spoke briefly, reminding mourners in attendance what a great man the music world has lost.

"It hurts me so much to see this," Warren G said somberly while looking down at the casket. "We been through a whole lot and that was my dog. He stayed down with me from the bottom to the top. I didn't ever think I would have to sit at a funeral for one of my dogs. All I can say is that was my friend, me him and Snoop was 213 from the balls to the walls. The music industry lost an incredible artist."

Several of Nate's closest friends, relatives and colleagues including Xzibit, Daz and Kurupt, Butch Cassidy, Los Angeles radio station personality Big Boy from Power 106, and producer FredWreck all shared memorable stories of their friend, who they said made an important impact on their lives. Xzibit recalled a time during the Up in Smoke Tour when Nate was arrested, but hours later somehow magically appeared at the show's next date. A teary-eyed Kurupt said Nate was the father figure who raised him.

Manager Rod McGrew acted as Nate's manager throughout his professional music career and was with him up until his last days.

"He fought a hard fight," McGrew said. He also thanked Dr. Dre and Eminem, in addition to Snoop, Warren G and Xzibit, for assisting the family in getting through the past several days. "The last three years were unbelievable. He didn't give up. He just had a talk with God and gave up. Two hours before that he was fine."

McGrew said that with Nate's passing, the singer's three wishes will now be granted.

"He wanted to go to heaven and hang with his boys," McGrew said. "He loved Tupac. He recorded with him. He wanted to hang with Biggie. But the most important thing is that he can walk around heaven with his favorite artist of all time, Michael Jackson."

With his deep, melodic voice and smooth soul rumble, Dogg was one of the key elements in the rise of the West Coast G-Funk sound pioneered by Death Row Records in the early 1990s. Along with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Warren G, Nate was a critical participant in a number of major left-coast gangsta hits, including G's "Regulate" and Dre's iconic solo debut, 1992's The Chronic.

The hip-hop singer passed away earlier this month after suffering multiple health setbacks in the past several years stemming from separate strokes.

The choir that sang during Nate's home-going was handpicked by the singer himself. One of its members, Jacob Lusk, is currently a contestant on "American Idol."

"He was a loving caring individual," said Snoop. "If you listen to his music, he took church melodies and flipped it with hip-hop. I'm so honored, so happy that you gave me the opportunity, God, to know Nate Dogg. I want to stand here and cry, but I have to have the strength for you Nate Dogg. It's 213, DPG for life."

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Nate Dogg's Death Was 'A Crushing Blow,' Warren G Says

21 Mar 2011 15:23:05 EDT

'I'm hurting,' Warren tells MTV News after raucous SXSW tribute to late friend.
By James Montgomery

On Saturday night at South by Southwest, Warren G, Daz, Kurupt and Snoop Dogg paid homage to their late friend Nate Dogg with a raucous tribute show that celebrated the music of a man who lived every day to the fullest.

And while the mood onstage was definitely joyous — the quartet performed many of the songs Nate leant his voice to, in a poignant tribute to his talents — backstage at Austin's Venue 222, things were much more muted. In fact, when Warren G spoke to MTV News about his late cohort, he didn't hide the fact that he (and everyone who ever knew Nate Dogg) was still hurting inside.

In fact, starting with the moment he heard the news of Nate's passing, things have been far from normal.

"I was out on the Sweat Tour with Snoop, and we had got the word from his family on what was going on, and it was just a crushing blow for us," Warren said. "Just, from going to see him and lifting his spirits up when he was in therapy, and stuff like that, it's just crazy for that to happen. And I still don't believe it, you know what I'm saying?

"It kind of hurts me when I look at this shirt [the organizers of the SXSW tribute show sold Nate Dogg T-shirts, with proceeds going to the late singer's family], it's like, 'Damn, that's my homeboy on this shirt,' " he continued. "And I'm hurting, and you know, a lot of people are showing tons of support for his family, for his homeboys, and we really and truly appreciate that. It's real love."

And though they took the stage that night with a heavy heart, Warren and his cohorts also did it knowing that their friend was with them in spirit, and that by honoring his music, they were also honoring a man they all knew and loved.

"It means a lot, you know, because this is something that's being done for a person that we really love. It's deeper than music, that's a brother to us, to me and Kurupt and Snoop and Daz ... it's really deeper than that," he said. "I mean, like, I'm not a psychic or a genie or a gypsy or anything, but I know deep down in my heart he's around us, he's with us ... he's with us in spirit. Everything we do, he's a part of it."

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Nate Dogg Remembered By Warren G, Snoop Dogg At South By Southwest

20 Mar 2011 10:12:36 EDT

Annual Respect the West SXSW party became a tribute to the late singer, who died earlier in the week.
By James Montgomery

AUSTIN, Texas — Less than 15 minutes before he was set to hit the stage, Warren G sat in a dressing room deep within Austin's Venue 222, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the picture of his late friend and cohort, Nate Dogg, who passed away on Tuesday, reportedly from complications from multiple strokes.

Obviously still dealing with the loss, Warren was silent, stoic and lost in his thoughts. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, he turned to MTV News' cameras and said, with the upmost sincerity, "I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out."

What he was talking about was his tribute to Nate Dogg, which capped off not only the annual Respect the West party (which showcases some of the West Coast's hottest up-and-coming MCs) but the South by Southwest music festival, too. Throughout the night, DJs spun the classics that featured Dogg's soulful voice on the hook — "Lay Low," "The Next Episode," "21 Questions" — and everyone from Kenan Bell to Kendrick Lamar had already made mention of his legacy during their performances, but really, it was the combination of G and his D.P.G.C. running mates Daz Dillinger and Kurupt that would serve as the final word.

So when Warren G said he had no idea how their performance would turn out, you really couldn't blame him. Sometimes, words fail us.

But roughly an hour later, as G, the Dogg Pound and surprise guest Snoop Dogg were exiting the stage, each in a white Nate Dogg T-shirt, the strains of Snoop's "Real Soon" (which featured Nate on the hook) still hanging in the air, it turns out those concerns were unwarranted. What had just transpired was a fitting tribute to their late friend, a man who, by all accounts, enjoyed his time on Earth to the fullest.

In short, it was a celebration, of Nate Dogg's life and his music, as presented by his closest friends and shared by every hip-hop fan who managed to cram inside Venue 222.

Daz and Kurupt were the first to appear onstage, smoking blunts, tearing though "Who Ride Wit Us," as the crowd — who had been waiting for nearly five hours for this moment — lost their minds. That insanity was only ratcheted up a few minutes later, when Snoop emerged from backstage, puffing a blunt of his own, rocking braids and shades, and the trio rolled through "Let's Play House."

Soon, they were joined by Warren G, and, at full strength, they launched into the Snoop classic "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" — which featured one of Nate Dogg's most memorable cameos — each man stepping to the front of the stage to deliver their verses. And at the end of the song, his worries subsided, G embraced Snoop and then cracked a wide smile.

Warren then took a solo turn on his "This D.J." and then the four men segued into the 213 track "Whistle While You Hustle," a move appreciated by fans who have hung with the West Coast since before Dr. Dre's The Chronic brought the music to the masses.

The classics only continued from there — "For All My N---az & Bitches," "New York, New York" (which saw a fiery back-and-forth between Snoop and Kurupt), Dre's "Xxplosive" — the audience throwing their W's up, the men on stage smoking and drinking in celebratory fashion. It all culminated, fittingly enough, with perhaps the two greatest songs Nate Dogg featured on: "Regulate" and, of course, "The Next Episode," the latter of which featured Snoop pausing mid-song to exhale a plume of smoke heavenwards, and then, at the end of the song, in perhaps the most fitting tribute of all, the DJ cut the record and the entire crowd sang Nate's famous "Hey, hey, hey, hey/ Smoke weed every day" sign off.

It was highest moment of revelry in a night filled with them, a tribute to the man whose voice sold millions of albums, and who was responsible for some of the greatest hooks in history. Warren G most certainly will miss his friend, but he no longer has to worry about doing his memory justice. He and his West Coast brethren did that on Saturday night at South by Southwest, in the most fitting way possible: with a celebration.

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Nate Dogg, Voice of G-Funk, Dead At 41

16 Mar 2011 09:03:25 EDT

Singer had suffered several strokes in recent years, but cause of death has not been announced.
By Gil Kaufman

One of rap's most lauded male hook singers, Long Beach, California, native Nate Dogg (born Nathaniel Hale) died on Tuesday at the age of 41 after several years of health problems.

With his deep, melodic voice and smooth soul rumble, Dogg was one of the key elements in the rise of the West Coast G-Funk sound pioneered by Death Row Records in the early 1990s. Though overshadowed by such peers as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Warren G, Nate was a critical participant in a number of major left-coast gangsta hits, including G's "Regulate" and Dre's iconic solo debut, 1992's The Chronic.

Photos from the life and career of Nate Dogg.

Hale's death was first reported by the Long Beach Press Telegram, which noted that his family announced his death on Tuesday. The cause of death was not announced at press time, but Hale had struggled with serious health issues recently, including suffering a massive stroke in 2007 that left him partially paralyzed and another the following year. A spokesperson for the singer could not be reached for comment at press time for further details on his passing.

Hale was born in Long Beach on August 19, 1969, and dropped out of high school at 16 to join the Marines, where he served for three years. He formed the rap group 213 — a reference to the local area code — in 1991 with then unknown pals Snoop Dogg and Warren G. The group's demo eventually made its way to Dre, who liked Nate's sound and recruited him to participate on The Chronic.

Nate was a four-time Grammy nominee, earning his first nod in 1995 for the legendary Warren G collaboration "Regulate," followed by another in 2001 for providing a hook to the Dre and Snoop tune "The Next Episode." He earned his third notice in 2002 for singing on Ludacris' "Area Codes" and another in 2007 for his work on Eminem's "Shake That."

Though his instantly recognizable, laid-back sound blessed countless songs by other artists over the years, Dogg also released a number of solo albums, including 1998's double-CD G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2 (featuring guest spots from Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg and Warren G), 2001's Music & Me and a self-titled 2008 effort.

Following news of Nate's passing, a number of his hip-hop brethren reflected on their fallen comrade. The news appeared to hit both Snoop Dogg and DPG member Daz the hardest.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb," Snoop tweeted. "One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met. I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit ... I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan. ... All doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!"

"R.I.P. TO MY HOMEBOY NATE DOGG DPGC DOGG POUND GANGSTA 4 LIFE," Daz tweeted.

"There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together. RT @SnoopDogg: RIP NATE DOGG," Ludacris tweeted.

"I lost a friend," an emotional Game wrote on his Twitter account. "Been here before. Tears. Memories. One day someone will lose 'US' as well. LIVING until that day comes is our only option. R.I.P. Nate Dogg. Why does it take Death to remind us about the importance of life ??? Cherish every moment cuz tomorrow he mite call your #."

"We love you Nate Dogg, it's never going to be the same" West Coast rapper Xzibit added. Among the others who weighed in on Twitter were Erykah Badu, reclusive comedian Dave Chappelle, Murs and producer Fred Wreck.

Send your wishes and condolences by leaving your comments below.

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Rick Ross, Pitbull, Busta Rhymes Rock 'New Mexico Takeover 4'

31 Aug 2009 13:48:00 EDT

Bun B, Flo Rida also perform sets on Sunday.
By Shaheem Reid

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — The summer concert season closed out with a bang at the Journal Pavilion on Sunday night, as Florida kings Rick Ross, Pitbull, and Flo Rida filled out a roster that included Bun B, Warren G, Twista and headliner Busta Rhymes at the "New Mexico Takeover 4."

Bun B was one of the first big names to hit the stage, tantalizing the crowd with way-back UGK hits such as Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'," then forwarding to current classics like "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)."

Backstage, Warren G and Rick Ross plotted future collaborations. "I need some of them beats," Ross, surrounded by the Carol City Cartel and Masspike Miles, said to Warren in his dressing room with a grin. Meanwhile Warren, who had performed some of his classics like "Regulate" and "This DJ," talked about working with Michael Jackson. The West Coast producer said he has three songs in the can from years back with MJ, however, Jackson controlled the music and Warren has never gotten his hands on the finished songs.

Later Ross took the stage with his swagger-filled brand of gangsta music.

"I need silence for one second," the Boss said early in his set. "I gotta talk a little business." All of a sudden, as if on command, it started raining. "I heard it ain't nothing but hustlas out here."

This led, of course, to "Hustlin'." Later came "We Takin' Over" and "Push It."

"I love it! The weather is beautiful," Ross said during "Yacht Club."

The show stayed Miami, with Flo Rida getting loud love from the spectators with his hits such as "Low" and "Sugar." Flo's finale was "Right Round" where he rode on a bodyguard's shoulders through the crowd while he rapped.

However, Pitbull — whose new LP, Rebelution, drops this week — was probably the star of the night. The largely Hispanic crowd sang and danced along with songs such as "Bojangles," "Toma" and "Pull Up."

"I know you want me, you know I want ya!" they sang along heavily on "I Know You Want Me." "Hotel Room" was his closer.

Pitbull was a tough act to follow, but the mighty Busta Rhymes kept fans on their feet with his set, which featured hits like "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," "Fire It Up," "Break Ya Neck," "Arab Money" and many others. Each record was performed with so much energy that you would have sworn it was Busta's last-ever concert.

"Pass the Courvoisier" ended the show, with Bus giving a champagne bath to the front row while Spliff Star showered people on the side of the stage.

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Omarion Gets Late Christmas Gift — #1 Debut — As Overall Sales Slide

03 Jan 2007 16:18:00 EST

Mos Def's Tru3 Magic is one of few charting albums to experience increase in sales.
By Chris Harris

A quick glance at this week's Billboard albums chart shows not only what finished on top — R&B hunk Omarion's sophomore LP, 21 — but the large number of albums that sustained painful post-Christmas sales hits.

For the second time in his brief career as a solo artist, the ex-member of B2K scores himself a chart-topping opening, selling 119,000-plus copies of his latest. Omarion's first LP, 2005's O, also bowed at #1 but sold about 60,000 more units (see "Omarion's Solo Debut Tops Albums Chart").

As is the norm, record sales during the final week of the year took a serious nose dive again in 2006 — down from 12.7 million the previous week to just 4.9 million. Comparatively, during the same week last year, Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable occupied the #1 slot with close to 200,000 copies sold and overall sales dropped to 5.8 million from 13.6 million the week before (see "Jamie Foxx Bumps Mary J. Blige From Billboard's #1").

Virtually every album on this last chart of '06 experienced some sort of sales decline, with Mos Def's Tru3 Magic being one of the sole exceptions. The album — which Geffen rushed into stores after it was leaked online — failed to chart last week after selling just 1,087 copies but finishes at #151 this time around with 10,000 scans — representing an 816 percent spike in sales, according to the latest SoundScan totals.

Omarion's 21 was one of seven new releases to crack Billboard's top 200. Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity debuts at #18 with 63,000 scans; the band's 2005's effort, Nothing Is Sound, opened at #3 with 131,000 sold, while 2003's The Beautiful Letdown took #85 with 14,000 copies snatched up.

At #100 this week is 15 Years on Death Row, a two-disc compilation that sold 14,400 copies and features classic cuts from Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Warren G and Nate Dogg. Meanwhile, Family Values Tour 2006, another collection featuring the likes of Korn, Deftones, Stone Sour and Flyleaf, follows at #102, selling 14,300 units. Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky, a greatest-hits comp surrounding Sylvester Stallone's epic boxing series, comes in at #109 with 13,700 in sales, while The Best of N.W.A. finishes at #143, selling 10,300 copies. And finally, Matisyahu's No Place to Be bows at #146 with 10,200 units scanned.

Following Omarion at #2 this week is Akon's Konvicted, which sold another 112,000 copies its seventh week in stores. Climbing 24 spots to #3 is the soundtrack to the motion picture "Dreamgirls," which sold 104,000 copies and features the film's stars Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Last week's #1, Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, falls three places to #4, with sales reported at 101,000 and change, and Young Jeezy's The Inspiration pops up at #5 with close to 92,000 sold.

The Now That's What I Call Music! 23 collection, boasting contributions from Justin Timberlake, Fergie, Snoop Dogg, Christina Aguilera and others, finished at #6 with 89,000 copies sold. That's followed at #7 by the Eminem-helmed 22-track Shady Records compilation The Re-Up, which notched 84,000 scans.

Timberlake remains in the top 10 with his FutureSex/LoveSounds, checking in at #8 with nearly 83,000 units flying off store shelves. Ciara's Evolution occupies the chart's #9 position with 79,000 scans, while the soundtrack to the Disney Channel original series "Hannah Montana" rounds out the top 10 with 78,000 copies sold. Total sales of that disc, however, were down from the previous week by 78 percent.

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Sway's Guide To A Great Day In L.A.

22 Jun 2006 09:38:00 EDT

Snoop's "Cali Iz Active" rings in a new era of California love. Who's in the video? How have things changed? What does it all mean? Don't sweat it -- Sway has the inside story.
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Warren G Finds The 'Light' With Nate Dogg; Considers More 213

01 Mar 2006 06:00:00 EST

'I Need a Light' charts rapper's journey from 'basket case' to 'just happy.'
By Brandee J. Tecson, with reporting by Jeff Cornell

Grinding the rough streets of Long Beach, California, as a youngster wasn't easy for Warren G.

The West Coast rapper, also known as the Regulator, has dealt with some harsh demons on his way up and out of the 213 — gangs and drugs, to name two. He describes his journey in In the Mid-Nite Hour's autobiographical second single, "I Need a Light," featuring longtime friend Nate Dogg, who, along with Snoop Dogg, took much of the trip beside him.

"The song talks about a lot of situations, what I've been through from me growing up to now," G told MTV News recently. "It's also a lot of situations Nate and Snoop have been through [too] — just us being hip-hop artists and the life of living in Long Beach."

"This is a lot deeper than other songs we've done together," Nate added. "It's about how when you're going through troubles, people deal with stress differently. Like, I have so much going on that I just need to relax. There's just so much stress going off."

Throughout the track, G, who refers to himself at one point as a "serious basket case," spits rhymes about running with a gang and getting arrested. Then he segues into his decision to leave that lifestyle and start doing right by his family and others, making the point that change is possible, though not always easy.

Directed by Paul Hunter (Snoop, Pharrell), the clip is a throwback to the early 1940s with a bit of contemporary flair — the duo are decked out in chic black suits, engulfed in rich colors and dark silhouettes and surrounded by flashy cars and beautiful women. But it also shows the rapper's sweet side, interspersing images of him with a bride, a wedding ring and babies.

"The tone of the video shows the classic side of Warren — how he built his empire from the streets of Long Beach and expanded it to the world," Hunter said in a statement. "He's showing everyone that it's all about class and treating people right."

G said he's in a much better place now, mentally, and he's ready to show that to the world. "I'm just happy, man," he said. "There's so much going on, and I just can't wait to have fun."

No doubt the rapper will have his share of good times reteaming with his 213 comrades, Snoop and Nate, as they prepare to unleash some new material in the coming months.

"We will probably drop a single called 'PYT' around early May so it can ride out the summer," G said, adding that he could be joining Snoop on tour this summer with Ludacris and Ice Cube. "He called me and asked if I wanted to get on the tour, and I was like, 'Let's do it!' That was it, done deal. Now we just have to work out the particulars."

Finally, G said another 213 record could soon be in the works, their first new album since 2004's The Hard Way (see "Snoop's 213 Get Wrong Number While Doing Things The Hard Way").

"I talked to Snoop the other day, and we talked about doing another one," he said. "We haven't set it in stone yet, but it's going to go down, and once we do it, it's going to go pretty fast."

G said he plans to step in as the album's producer this time around.

"I can't wait," he said of the supergroup's return. "We make hit records together, and when we get together, man, it's magic."

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New Releases: Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Warren G, Danger Doom, Gang Of Four & More

11 Oct 2005 06:00:00 EDT

Also due Tuesday are new releases by Jackson Browne, Drowningman, Sevendust, Hanson.
By Kurt Orzeck

More Keys Please: Devout Alicia Keys fans will want to nab the CD+DVD version of Unplugged, which boasts two additional audio performances, "Goodbye" and "Butterflyz," on the CD, and behind-the-scenes action and a video for "Unbreakable" on the DVD. That's not to mention a booklet that has poems, a letter from Keys, liner notes, photos and info on Keep a Child Alive, a nonprofit she aligned herself with for a World AIDS Day benefit last year.

Leading a Double Life: DualDiscs are all the rage, and record companies usually send them to stores at the same time as the standard album in order to maximize sales potential. Not so with Ricky Martin's Life, which will come out in regular form Tuesday but won't see a DualDisc release until November 22. Tracks on both editions include: "I Don't Care" (featuring Fat Joe and Amerie), a Luny Tunes reggaeton remix of "Que Mas Da" and the Spanish track "Déjate Llevar (It's Alright)."

A New G Thang: G-Funk guru Warren G resurfaces after his longest solo hiatus yet — nearly four years — with the indie release In the Mid-Nite Hour. After spending time with 213 for last year's The Hard Way, Warren gets some help from his comrades on a few tracks: Snoop crops up on "Chronic Break" and "Garilla Pimpin," while Nate Dogg chimes in on "We Need Each Other." Raphael Saadiq, Bishop Lamont and Chuck Taylor also lend their skills.

Dive Right In: Originally called [Adult Swim] Presents DangerDoom, The Mouse and the Mask still realizes what Danger Mouse and MF Doom set out to do: high-five the animated-TV block with a set of inspired songs, plus character voices and skits from shows like "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and "Sealab 2021." Cee-Lo and Ghostface Killah dip their toes into "Benzie Box" and "The Mask," respectively.

United They Stand: In addition to this week's two metal-champ collections — Numbers From the Beast: An All-Star Tribute to Iron Maiden and the Roadrunner Records 25th anniversary throwdown The All-Star Sessions — there's a spate of other kinetic alliances happening. Illinois punks Resident Genius jam along to a recorded phone conversation they shared with legendary Boston University prof/activist Howard Zinn for You Can't Blow Up a Special Relationship; elusive indie darling Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) hops onto grimy Aussie instrumental trio Dirty Three's Cinder; and ex-Swans singer Jarboe duets with members of Low, Ministry and Bauhaus on her new one, The Men Album. (For three points: Blixa Bargeld of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds also sings with Jarboe; her fellow Seed, Warren Ellis, is Dirty Three's violinist.)

SteEPed in EPs: Neo-goth dance punks American Eyes find an unlikely producer in Michael Patterson (Diddy, Notorious B.I.G.) for their first release, Never Trust Anything That Bleeds; likewise, chaotic London punks the Rakes make their debut with Retreat. Also, Lambchop pay Nashville neighbors Hands Off Cuba a visit with Colab; the country-rockin' Magnolia Electric Co. taped two of their Hard to Love a Man tracks at Steve Albini's, uh, Electrical Audio Studios; San Francisco solo artist Kelley Stoltz breaks bread with Sub Pop on The Sun Comes Through; and another solo artist, Amanda Rogers, goes even further out on a limb by covering At the Drive-In, among others, on Something Borrowed Something Blue.

Song Title of the Week: "Major Disappointment Reporting for Duty" (Drowningman's Don't Push Us When We're Hot)

Other Notables:

Sevendust's Next: After eight years and a bitter breakup with career-long label TVT Records, the metal squad is resurrecting itself with a fresh new label (the Universal-affiliated WineDark), single ("Ugly") and guitarist, Snot's Sonny Mayo. Keep an eye out for limited-edition copies of 'Dust's fifth studio record, which come with a bonus DVD.

Gang of Four's Return the Gift: The truly seminal U.K. dance-rock group initially decided to put out a batch of re-recordings of its classic songs as a stand-alone disc and hold off until 2006 for an equally tempting set of remixes by Hot Hot Heat, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, No Doubt's Tony Kanal and others. Now they've decided to simplify by melding the two into a 26-track, double-CD set.

Modest Mouse's Good News for People Who Love Bad News DualDisc: Humble-rodent connoisseurs probably have the bonus track "I've Got It All (Most)" — which previously appeared as a B-side but is tacked onto the Good News DualDisc for good measure — but they should take note of the many visual nuggets: two videos, behind-the-scenes stuff and an interview with main man Isaac Brock directed by — you guessed it — Isaac Brock.

New Releases:

31Knots - Talk Like Blood (Polyvinyl)
Abel - Alegria Musica (Tommy Boy)
Adult. - Gimme Trouble (Thrill Jockey)
Agents of the Sun - Monarchs of a Fallen Society (DCide)
Gary Allan - Tough All Over (MCA Nashville)
Allister - Before the Blockout (Drive Thru)
American Eyes - Never Trust Anything That Bleeds (EP; Side One Dummy)
American Werewolves - 1968 (Fractured Transmitter)
Apache Indian - Time for Change (Explorer)
Barr - Beyond Reinforced Jewelcase (5 Rue Christine)
Hudson Bell - When the Sun Is the Moon (Monitor)
Boris with Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave (Hydra Head)
Peter Brötzmann & Han Bennink - Schwarzwaldfahrt (Atavistic)
Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 (Inside)
Castanets - First Light's Freeze (Asthmatic Kitty)
Celebration - Celebration (4AD)
Cheetah Girls - Cheetah-Licious Christmas (Disney)
The Clientele - Strange Geometry (Merge)
Company - Parallel Time (Jagjaguwar)
Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (Sub Pop)
Susan Cowsill - Just Believe It (Blue Corn)
Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales (deluxe edition due same day; Verve)
Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph)
Deerhoof - The Runners Four (Kill Rock Stars)
Default - One Thing Remains (TVT)
Dios Malos - Dios Malos (Star Time)
Dirty Three - Cinder (Touch and Go)
Drowningman - Don't Push Us When We're Hot (Thorp)
Early Man - Closing In (Matador)
Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence (Temporary Residence)
Gamma Ray - Majestic (Sanctuary)
Gang of Four - Return the Gift (two CDs; V2)
Read: "No Doubt, Beck, Yeah Yeah Yeahs Plan Gang Of Four Remixes"
Mark Gardener with Goldrush - These Beautiful Ghosts (United for Opportunity)
Great Lake Swimmers - Bodies and Minds (Misra)
Hanson - The Best of Hanson: Live and Electric (limited edition; two CDs with DVD; Three Car Garage)
George Huff - Miracles (Word)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - The Sameness of Difference (Hyena)
Jarboe - The Men Album (Atavistic)
Jonathan Kane - February (Table of the Elements)
Alicia Keys - Unplugged (special edition due same day; J)
Read: "Alicia Keys Taps Mos Def, Common For 'Inspired' 'Unplugged' "
Lambchop/ Hands Off Cuba - CoLAB (EP; Merge)
The Living Blue - Fire, Blood, Water (Minty Fresh)
The Long Winters - Ultimatum (Barsuk)
The Magnolia Electric Co. - Hard to Love a Man (EP; Secretly Canadian)
Ricky Martin - Life (Columbia)
The Mass - Perfect Picture of Wisdom and Boldness (Crucial Blast)
Joe McPhee and John Snyder - Pieces of Light (Atavistic)
Minus Story - No Rest for Ghosts (Jagjaguwar)
Mouse on Mars - Live04 (Sonig)
New London Fire - I Sing the Body Holographic (Eyeball)
Dolly Parton - Those Were the Days (Sugar Hill)
Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later (Altitude)
Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter (Warner Bros.)
The Rakes - Retreat (EP; Dim Mak)
Resident Genius/ Howard Zinn - You Can't Blow Up a Special Relationship (Thick)
Roadrunner United - The All-Star Sessions (Roadrunner)
Amanda Rogers - Something Borrowed Something Blue (EP; Immigrant Sun)
Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly (Compass)
Saving Jane - Girl Next Door (Madacy)
Sevendust - Next (WineDark/Universal)
Read: "Sevendust Turn Up The Heaviness, Leave Beef Behind On Next"
Kelley Stoltz - The Sun Comes Through (EP; Sub Pop)
Story of the Year - In the Wake of Determination (Maverick)
T.A.T.U. - Dangerous and Moving (Interscope)
Susan Tedeschi - Hope and Desire (Verve)
Warren G - In the Mid-Nite Hour (Lightyear)
Paul Weller - As Is Now (Yep Roc)
Nancy Wilson - "Elizabethtown" score (RCA)
Woolly Bandits -

Related Artists
- Alicia Keys
- Ricky Martin
- Warren G
- DangerDoom
- Gang of Four