Warren G - In The Mid-nite Hour (CD)

All Music Guide

In the MidNite Hour is Warren G's first foray into the land of independent releases and, consequently, marks a huge shift in approach from the toomanycooksinthekitchen approach that had sunk his final album for Universal, The Return of the Regulator. This album is 100 percent Warren G, make no mistake, and its D.I.Y. feel seems fitting for the sort of guy who produces his own beats as well as raps his own songs. Granted, In the MidNite Hour isn't going to reestablish Warren as the hitmaker that he was for a quick second back in the Gfunk era when "Regulate" was the jam. It's simply too real to get picked up by urban radio or music television that is, real like that beathead dude living down your street who makes mixtapes in his bedroom and hands CDRs of them out to friends as well as complete strangers. For that reason, In the MidNite Hour isn't going to interest the majority of rap listeners. (Lil Jon doesn't produce anything, for one, and Ludacris doesn't guest.) Sadly, Warren lost ...his coolness a long time ago. But for older, more grownup rap listeners who fondly remember when "Regulate" was the jam (and how about "Hey DJ"?), In the MidNite Hour no doubt will be a curious listen. From the bedroom beatmaking and Everyman rapping, to the homePC graphic design and semiprofessional photo shoots gracing the inner booklet, this album is street, so to speak, and that makes it very easy for most folks to empathize with Warren. He's no blingblinger anymore he's just another dude at this point, albeit one with tight friends like Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, who both contribute heavily and bring some majorleague charisma to this minorleague charmer. Perhaps Warren should have went indie long ago. The pay probably isn't as nice, but he and his music seem better for it. - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less