Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970 in Long Beach, California), bett… Read Full Bio ↴Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970 in Long Beach, California), better known simply as Warren G, is a Grammy award nominated American West Coast rapper, singer, DJ and producer signed to his own label, G-Funk Entertainment. In 1990, Warren G formed the group 213 with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, and in 1994 he exploded onto the Long Beach rap scene with the smash single "Regulate," a duet with Nate Dogg, and its accompanying album, Regulate...G Funk Era. He has since released a further 8 albums on Death Row Records. He grew up in Long Beach listening to his parents' extensive collection of jazz, soul and funk records, also frequently hanging out at the local record store. As a teenager, he and his friends Nate Dogg and future superstar Snoop Dogg formed a rap group called 213, after their area code. Unfortunately, all three had brushes with the law and spent time in jail, which motivated them to get jobs, also working on their music on the side. Eventually, the V.I.P. record store allowed the trio to practice and record in a back room. It was here that Snoop cut the demo "Super Duper Snooper," which G played for his half-brother Dr. Dre at a party. Dre invited all three to his studio and wound up collaborating with Snoop on The Chronic. While G also made several contributions, he opted to develop his talents mostly outside of Dre's shadow. He honed his musical skills while producing such artists as MC Breed and 2Pac. A break came when his vocal collaboration with Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke," appeared on the Poetic Justice soundtrack. Soon after that, G recorded his debut album for Death Row. "Regulate" appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack and was released as a single. It quickly became a massive hit, peaking at #2 on the Billboard charts and pushing the album up to the same position. The album eventually went triple platinum, with "This D.J." becoming his second Top 10 hit.

Warren G took nearly three years to complete his second album, returning in the spring of 1997 with Take A Look Over Your Shoulder, which was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews and weak sales. I Want It All followed in 1999 with The Return of the Regulator appearing two years later. In 2005 he signed with Lightyear Enterntainment and released In the Mid-Nite Hour.

What's Next
Warren G Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

featuring Mr. Malik

[Warren G]

This DJ, he gets down

mixing records while he go round

to the Hip to the Hop you just don't stop

producing funky tracks till it makes you drop

conjunction junction, what's my function

I'm hookin up tracks so that niggaz can function

its not Pete Rock or that nigga Dr. Dre

its this muthafuckin nigga from around the way

the one who brings you styles on timesy, whymsy

that's why its so hard to find me

conduction, construction when I bust choo choo, bustas

its a must when I bust when I bust, I gotta come correct

the are to the E to the S-P-ect architect

yup nigga no I'm not tweakin

its one of the 16 minds that I'm speaking

the W-A the double are the E into the uhh

A-be -see-D-E-F to the muthafuckin G

ooh shit as I flex I wrecks I checks

so what's next

[Mr. Malik]

Oh who's next, to catch flack on the menu

I snap necks when I flex let me continue

send you, on a mission when I rock

it goes on and on and on and you know it don't stop

yes I'm back on another route, ready to take em all out

now can't get with this, 'cause they get faded without a doubt

check em, I wreck em like 1-2-3 why

they can't fuck with that rude one Malik

will I drop, can't stop it, lit it up like a rocket

when they get out of line I grip the nine out my pocket

lock it down, yeah that's what I do

how could you come solo nigga when I run through ya whole crew

I rule, fool, act like you heard it

the one I run with, can't remember the last he murdered

dem do away or them get dealt with

give the noise I want silence, no bubbaclad bullshit

nigga, its all about my grip

so the one who starts to slip is the one who gets ripped

kept a chip on my shoulder not now that I'm older

they, all of me, the LBG high roller

'cause back in the days on the side where we sat

niggaz a come up missin if they didn't have they strap

so why, try to be, like me

just when you pull back a G and I think I'm Mr. Malik

(Chorus)

Well if the beat is funkadelic then the tune is right

Mr. Malik and Warren G so tonights the night that we spark

we spark in the dark when we do it in the park

[Mr. Malik]

Well its the A to the be

(and the see to the D)

Hey my name is Mr. Malik with that DJ Warren G

(Mr. Malik can you hear me)

Yes I'm the host with the most they can't get close or even near me

(I said a tick, tock, tickin to the Era)

I said a pick which glock bitches get shot its still terror

(terror, terror, pick which glock)

which one? (the black one with the big pin lock)

me and Dre and the fly honey so those who want to get dropped

nigga go knock, knock I trick a flow non-stop

fly double I never slip trip or flip flop

the tune is funkadelic, the crew was right

but if Malik will make ya smell it then tonights the night

for me to stay trump tight

up with my nigga Warren G

that's sorrow when you borrow but you can't be oweing me

what's next

[Warren G]

Woo!!

I say what's next, what's next what's N-X-E-T

its me, Warren to the muthafuckin G

flowin with my little homey named Malik

yes, everybody will just tweak

off the new style ill ease that we got

yes, its me Warren G on the block

pump pump, block glock, let me just tick tock

its me Warren G on the muthafuckin rock n roll

stroll, then stiff back to the rap

its me with the big black mack 11 strap

so let me uhh flix into the flex

Woo!! So what's next

(Chorus)

Well if the beat is funkadelic then the tune is right

Mr. Malik and Warren G so tonights the night that we spark

'cause we spark in the dark when we do it in the park

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Warren G’s “What’s Next” featuring Mr. Malik represents a tribute to their work as hip-hop artists, producers, and rappers. The song is about their creative process, the elements that their music has, and how they relate to the world. The song title suggests a sense of uncertainty about the future, but the lyrics convey confidence in their ability to continue to produce new, innovative tracks that will make people dance. The song also includes references to their personal experiences coming from a time and place where they would get into trouble if they weren’t carrying a weapon, which ties to the idea of needing to stay sharp to succeed.

The lyrics of the song are metaphorical, as they use train and travel imagery to describe their journey as artists. The mention of junctions and constructions highlights how they build tracks for people to move on, while the reference to guns is metaphorical, as they use those to protect their craft. Mr. Malik’s verse talks about his skills as a rapper and his ability to “wreck” his opponents, implying that he’s a force to be reckoned with. The chorus reinforces the importance of funkadelic beats and how they influence the music they make.

Line by Line Meaning

This DJ, he gets down
The DJ is skilled and experienced

mixing records while he go round
The DJ is able to seamlessly blend tracks while performing

to the Hip to the Hop you just don't stop
The DJ plays hip hop music that gets people moving and doesn't stop

producing funky tracks till it makes you drop
The DJ creates energetic and groovy beats that can make people dance until they are exhausted

conjunction junction, what's my function
Playing off the children's education song lyric, the artist is asking what is his role or purpose

I'm hookin up tracks so that niggaz can function
His role is making songs that people can enjoy and function to

its not Pete Rock or that nigga Dr. Dre
He's stating that he's not the famous producers Pete Rock or Dr. Dre

its this muthafuckin nigga from around the way
He's introducing himself as a locally famous rapper

the one who brings you styles on timesy, whymsy
He promises to bring a unique style to his music

that's why its so hard to find me
His unique style makes him difficult to distinguish from other rappers

conduction, construction when I bust choo choo, bustas
He uses the metaphor of a train to describe his process of creating music

its a must when I bust when I bust, I gotta come correct
It's important for him to make quality music

the are to the E to the S-P-ect architect
He spells out his name as an architect of music, emphasizing his role as a producer

yup nigga no I'm not tweakin
He is declaring that he isn't lying

its one of the 16 minds that I'm speaking
He is referring to himself as one of the many voices in hip hop music

the W-A the double are the E into the uhh
He's spelling out his rap name again

A-be -see-D-E-F to the muthafuckin G
He's spelling out the alphabet to lead into his name

ooh shit as I flex I wrecks I checks
He boasts about his skills and abilities

so what's next
He is asking what will happen next

Oh who's next, to catch flack on the menu
The featured artist takes over and asks who will be criticized next

I snap necks when I flex let me continue
He is promising to bring energy and excitement to his performance

send you, on a mission when I rock
He will inspire listeners to feel like they are on a mission

it goes on and on and on and you know it don't stop
The energy and excitement of the music will not stop

yes I'm back on another route, ready to take em all out
He announces his return and his intention to compete with other rappers

now can't get with this, 'cause they get faded without a doubt
He acknowledges that some other rappers can't keep up with him

check em, I wreck em like 1-2-3 why
He will defeat other rappers with ease

they can't fuck with that rude one Malik
Other rappers can't compete with his attitude

will I drop, can't stop it, lit it up like a rocket
He won't slow down, he will keep going like a rocket

when they get out of line I grip the nine out my pocket
If others try to mess with him, he will use his gun

lock it down, yeah that's what I do
He asserts his ability to control situations

how could you come solo nigga when I run through ya whole crew
He will easily defeat others even when they are in a group

I rule, fool, act like you heard it
He sets himself up as the ruler of the rap game

the one I run with, can't remember the last he murdered
His associates are so good that they can't even remember their last victory

dem do away or them get dealt with
Those who don't follow his lead will be removed or punished

give the noise I want silence, no bubbaclad bullshit
He demands respect and will not tolerate nonsense

nigga, its all about my grip
His focus is on making money and gaining power

so the one who starts to slip is the one who gets ripped
Anyone who shows weakness will be defeated

kept a chip on my shoulder not now that I'm older
He used to hold a grudge but no longer does

they, all of me, the LBG high roller
He's part of the Long Beach Gangster high roller lifestyle

because back in the days on the side where we sat
He reminisces about times when he hung out on the street

niggaz a come up missin if they didn't have they strap
People could die if they didn't carry a gun

so why, try to be, like me
He challenges others to try to be like him

just when you pull back a G and I think I'm Mr. Malik
He will win even if someone tries to copy him

Well if the beat is funkadelic then the tune is right
He discusses the importance of the beat of a song

Mr. Malik and Warren G so tonights the night that we spark
He announces the collaboration between himself and Warren G

we spark in the dark when we do it in the park
The energy they create while performing is like a spark in the darkness

Hey my name is Mr. Malik with that DJ Warren G
He introduces himself and Warren G again

Yes I'm the host with the most they can't get close or even near me
He considers himself the best and others can't compete

I said a tick, tock, tickin to the Era
He uses a ticking clock metaphor to emphasize the timelessness of his music

I said a pick which glock bitches get shot its still terror
He references violence in his lyrics

which one? (the black one with the big pin lock)
He discusses gun choice as if it's a normal conversation

me and Dre and the fly honey so those who want to get dropped
He references Dr. Dre and women while threatening those who want to fight with him

nigga go knock, knock I trick a flow non-stop
He tells challengers to come to him and that he will continue to rap non-stop

fly double I never slip trip or flip flop
He promises to always be on top of his game

the tune is funkadelic, the crew was right
The music is enjoyable and the partnership is successful

but if Malik will make ya smell it then tonights the night for me to stay trump tight
He uses a crude metaphor to explain that he will be successful tonight

up with my nigga Warren G
He is with Warren G again

that's sorrow when you borrow but you can't be oweing me
He jokes about lending to Warren G and not being able to ask for it back

Woo!! I say what's next, what's next what's N-X-E-T
He sounds excited and repeats the earlier question of what will happen next

its me, Warren to the muthafuckin G
He repeats his name

flowin with my little homey named Malik
He describes his partnership with Malik

yes, everybody will just tweak
He predicts that everyone will enjoy their music

off the new style ill ease that we got
He promises their music will be unique and impressive

yes, its me Warren G on the block
He references his background on the street

pump pump, block glock, let me just tick tock
He repeats sounds and continues to talk about guns

its me Warren G on the muthafuckin rock n roll
He is a rapper who is good at performing live

stroll, then stiff back to the rap
He is discussing the transition between different music styles

its me with the big black mack 11 strap
He is still talking about his gun