West Coast legend Warren G, the G-Funk pioneer who reshaped ’90s hip hop and rescued Def Jam with “Regulate”, recently joined Shannon Sharpe to talk about his long journey from Long Beach to global fame. The discussion covered his early years alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tyree, and how music became his passion.
When Sharpe asked about Eminem, Warren G recalled hearing him for the first time in Dr. Dre’s studio. “When Dre first brought him around, we were like, ‘Who is this motherfucker up in here?’” he laughed. “Then he started busting, and we were like, ‘God damn, he’s hard as fuck!’” Warren praised how naturally Eminem fit into Dre’s world, calling his skills “incredible”.
Eminem’s Place in Hip Hop History
When asked where he would rank Eminem, Warren G replied, “He’s definitely in the top 15. I don’t want to make it too small like the top 10, ’cause there are some dope motherfuckers. He’s dope. Eminem is an MC, straight hip hop”.
Importantly, Warren G did not mean to downplay Eminem’s place in history. He simply refused to confine hip hop’s best to narrow rankings. For him, the culture is too rich and diverse for that.
Warren also highlighted Eminem’s writing for Dr. Dre. “When he wrote for Dre, I was like, ‘This mother right here! He can write this and then turn around and make us laugh. I tripped off of that. ‘Things just ain’t the same for gangsters’. Eminem wrote that. That’s still one of my favourite songs to this day”.
Obviously, Warren G was quoting “The Watcher” from Dre’s 2001 album – a track Eminem wrote. The line recently resurfaced on Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s Missionary (2024), where Snoop opened “Thank You” by referencing that same verse.
Even decades later, Warren G’s respect for Eminem stands strong, a recognition that connects two generations of hip hop mastery.
