Nate Dogg was one star, who, as far as releasing an album, got lost in the shuffle. With Death Row's president Suge Knight getting in various troubles with the law, Nate was having trouble getting his album released. This two-disc set, having the first disc recorded in 1995 for Death Row Records and being released in 1996. The second disc is composed of material recorded in 1998 for Nate's currently defunct Dogg Foundation Records. The second disc is actually the better of the two, although the first disc is amazing. Nate Dogg, unlike almost any other in the rap category, sings in the smooth manner of a jazz or blues singer. In fact, a large portion of this album is very jazzy, and shows Nate's roots have always been the blues. His style is more original than anyone else's; he has a voice smoother than glass, and as he often says, you can tell he loves to sing. His smooth voice goes perfectly with the cool production from the likes of Daz Dillinger, Soopafly Priest, Warren G, and many others, including the unlikely production resources of Kurupt, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and even Nate himself, and great guests such as Kurupt, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warren G, Daz Dillinger, Big Syke, Tupac Shakur, his sister Pamela Hale, and many more for this swinging album.

The first disc has many highlights, including the Teddy Riley-produced "The Hardest Man In Town", which features another unlikely resource of production, considering Riley's forte is R&B production, and he comes up with a beat that sounds like Daz or Dr. Dre. Nate's beautiful singing rounds the song. The funky "G-Funk" features Nate at his best, singing about what the greatest form of hip-hop means to him. "First We Pray" features Kurupt, and its soulful guitar beat and great lyrics make it classic Death Row material. The deep production of "My World" is amazingly interesting, and Nate's singing flows well over piano and guitars. "Crazy, Dangerous" is one of the greatest tracks on the album, produced by Johnny "J", who did tracks for Tupac. The soulful singing and guitar make this a must-listen. The second single, "These Days", is classic material with Daz Dillinger putting in a guest rap and Nate Dogg dissing B.G. Knocc Out & Dresta in his smooth "I caught you slipping" sort of laid-back GQ demeanor. "Bag Of Weed" is a comical track featuring Tray D, and a great, hypnotizing chorus. On another comical side, "Dirty Hoe's Draws", Nate joins DJ's and some other great singers including Butch Cassidy and Val Young for a slow jamming track you'll never forget. "Scared Of Love" is a jazzy track with a great trumpet and piano, plus Nate singing beautifully. Another classic is "Me & My Homies", which features Tupac Shakur, a classic friend song, with smooth keyboards and great lyrics. The swiftly-paced "Because I Got A Girl", is classic Nate Dogg, with its funky percussion-laced beat with keyboards and beautiful singing. The first single, "Never Leave Me Alone", is another classic song, produced by Kurupt, and featuring the playful rap of Snoop Doggy Dogg over a swinging beat. The prophetic "Where Are You Going?" is a slower song that really is great even though it drags out. This disc is great to listen to, especially if you love Death Row, but the second disc is even better.

Highlighting tracks on the second disc include "Dedication", a short introduction to the album, where Nate disses Death Row's management, angry about the way he was treated there. "Who's Playing Games?" is a funky party track (everyone loves DPG in party mode), and "I Don't Want To Hurt No More" ticks like a clock with a great beat and Nate's heartfelt lyrics. "Just Another Day" is a funky Nate production, and filled with great singing. My favorite is "She's Strange", which is a piano and keyboard-laced swing track, featuring Barbara Wilson, who's sultry voice is perfect for the song. "Almost In Love" is also a pretty ballad, with a great concept of Nate almost falling in love with a lady until he finds out who she really is. "No Matter Where I Go", is a classic Nate Dogg track, filled with organs and lively instruments. "Friends" is a 213 reunion, with fellow members Snoop Doggy Dogg and Warren G, for a track about homeboys and a slower beat. "Puppy Love", on the other hand, is a party track which features Daz, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Kurupt for a party track. The third single, "Nobody Does It Better", is a classic single featuring Warren G, a perfect duet between the two, up there with the classics "Regulate" and "Annie Mae". Another winner is "Sexy Girl", which features keyboards and guitars, plus a great hook and a rap from Big Syke. "Dogg Pound Gangstaville", is a classic DPG track with a funky beat and Kurupt and Snoop Doggy Dogg coming in for an appearance. The last track is the great "Never Too Late", with it's trumpets and keyboards, a great blues track.

To conclude my review, I would recommend this to anyone. Whether you like jazz, blues, rap, hip-hop, soul/R&B, or all, you will love this set. It's for any music lover.

Nate Dogg was one star, who, as far as releasing an album, got lost in the shuffle. With Death Row's president Suge Knight getting in various troubles with the law, Nate was having trouble getting his album released. This two-disc set, having the first disc recorded in 1995 for Death Row Records and being released in 1996. The second disc is composed of material recorded in 1998 for Nate's currently defunct Dogg Foundation Records. The second disc is actually the better of the two, although the first disc is amazing. Nate Dogg, unlike almost any other in the rap category, sings in the smooth manner of a jazz or blues singer. In fact, a large portion of this album is very jazzy, and shows Nate's roots have always been the blues. His style is more original than anyone else's; he has a voice smoother than glass, and as he often says, you can tell he loves to sing. His smooth voice goes perfectly with the cool production from the likes of Daz Dillinger, Soopafly Priest, Warren G, and many others, including the unlikely production resources of Kurupt, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and even Nate himself, and great guests such as Kurupt, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warren G, Daz Dillinger, Big Syke, Tupac Shakur, his sister Pamela Hale, and many more for this swinging album.

The first disc has many highlights, including the Teddy Riley-produced "The Hardest Man In Town", which features another unlikely resource of production, considering Riley's forte is R&B production, and he comes up with a beat that sounds like Daz or Dr. Dre. Nate's beautiful singing rounds the song. The funky "G-Funk" features Nate at his best, singing about what the greatest form of hip-hop means to him. "First We Pray" features Kurupt, and its soulful guitar beat and great lyrics make it classic Death Row material. The deep production of "My World" is amazingly interesting, and Nate's singing flows well over piano and guitars. "Crazy, Dangerous" is one of the greatest tracks on the album, produced by Johnny "J", who did tracks for Tupac. The soulful singing and guitar make this a must-listen. The second single, "These Days", is classic material with Daz Dillinger putting in a guest rap and Nate Dogg dissing B.G. Knocc Out & Dresta in his smooth "I caught you slipping" sort of laid-back GQ demeanor. "Bag Of Weed" is a comical track featuring Tray D, and a great, hypnotizing chorus. On another comical side, "Dirty Hoe's Draws", Nate joins DJ's and some other great singers including Butch Cassidy and Val Young for a slow jamming track you'll never forget. "Scared Of Love" is a jazzy track with a great trumpet and piano, plus Nate singing beautifully. Another classic is "Me & My Homies", which features Tupac Shakur, a classic friend song, with smooth keyboards and great lyrics. The swiftly-paced "Because I Got A Girl", is classic Nate Dogg, with its funky percussion-laced beat with keyboards and beautiful singing. The first single, "Never Leave Me Alone", is another classic song, produced by Kurupt, and featuring the playful rap of Snoop Doggy Dogg over a swinging beat. The prophetic "Where Are You Going?" is a slower song that really is great even though it drags out. This disc is great to listen to, especially if you love Death Row, but the second disc is even better.

Highlighting tracks on the second disc include "Dedication", a short introduction to the album, where Nate disses Death Row's management, angry about the way he was treated there. "Who's Playing Games?" is a funky party track (everyone loves DPG in party mode), and "I Don't Want To Hurt No More" ticks like a clock with a great beat and Nate's heartfelt lyrics. "Just Another Day" is a funky Nate production, and filled with great singing. My favorite is "She's Strange", which is a piano and keyboard-laced swing track, featuring Barbara Wilson, who's sultry voice is perfect for the song. "Almost In Love" is also a pretty ballad, with a great concept of Nate almost falling in love with a lady until he finds out who she really is. "No Matter Where I Go", is a classic Nate Dogg track, filled with organs and lively instruments. "Friends" is a 213 reunion, with fellow members Snoop Doggy Dogg and Warren G, for a track about homeboys and a slower beat. "Puppy Love", on the other hand, is a party track which features Daz, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Kurupt for a party track. The third single, "Nobody Does It Better", is a classic single featuring Warren G, a perfect duet between the two, up there with the classics "Regulate" and "Annie Mae". Another winner is "Sexy Girl", which features keyboards and guitars, plus a great hook and a rap from Big Syke. "Dogg Pound Gangstaville", is a classic DPG track with a funky beat and Kurupt and Snoop Doggy Dogg coming in for an appearance. The last track is the great "Never Too Late", with it's trumpets and keyboards, a great blues track.

To conclude my review, I would recommend this to anyone. Whether you like jazz, blues, rap, hip-hop, soul/R&B, or all, you will love this set. It's for any music lover.

Very few albums title and market themselves as classics from day one and live up to the reputation, but GFUNK was defined when Nate Dogg and company released this melodic 2 CD masterpiece. Back when we were all still spinning cds mostly the immaculate production mixed with the flowing harmonies and beats was the apex of the genre, Nate and his crooning/production went on to other guest spots on numerous other albums and made another full length LP with Music and Me. It is GFUNK Classics Vol 1&2 however that deserves a spot in the HIPHOP/RAP/GFUNK hall of fame. Timeless and potent lyrics from numerous rap guest stars as well as Nate on every track make for essential listening, especially now in this auto-tuned day and age we have on our hands. R.I.P Nate you are on short list of musical legends for me and your memory will carry on every time we play your songs.

Probably the best example of Industry Rule #4,080 ("record company people are shady...") is Nate Dogg's amazing double album "G-Funk Classics Vol. 1-2." This is a simply brilliant musical product that has never received fair sales or recognition because of poor decisions by record labels. "G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1-2" is in fact two separate albums. The second disc was recorded to be an album between 1995 and 1996 called "The Prodigal Son" on Death Row Records. Had this been released by Suge Knight, I am sure that this would have followed suit as a critical and commercial success in the procession of platinum selling classics like "The Chronic," "Doggystyle," and "Dogg Food," complete with the guest appearances, W-Balls interludes, and all. Of course, the collapse of Death Row around 1996 led to this album being shelved for years, with enough time for Nate to go back to the studio and independently record "The Ghetto Preacher," the first disc of this set, which he finished by 1998. Since time had passed and options were limited, Nate was forced to release these as a double album independently, and thus is this product with the fairly shabby packaging and virtually no promotion, so much that it was out of print within only a few years. Over the years both discs have been frequently and poorly re-released by multiple labels to little success.

But both discs are overall phenomenal. They sound like a full, cohesive album and there's really no flaw in any. On "G-Funk Classics" it's so easy to see why Nate is the world's most sought after hook man. Nate has more style than any three R&B singers combined. He comes across as a seasoned Long Beach gangster, as hard and tough as any gangsta rapper, yet the smooth edge he polishes over each of his productions leaves you with a great impression. The way he tells stories of his dealings in his hometown, interactions with women, philosophies, and problems are convincing and entertaining. As I'm sure you know by now, his voice is also very enticing. His deep, soulful baritone expresses so much emotion. The production is absolutely extraordinary. While Nate calls it G-Funk, the style he really puts across on these discs is not like the Warren G and Snoop Dogg G-Funk that we all think of. Over woozy, soulful beats, Nate's solo songs could be labeled G-Soul. There's not a poor production to be found on either disc, these are the kind of songs that get stuck in your head and you love it. An all-star production team including LT Hutton, Warren G, Teddy Riley, Daz Dillinger, and Soopafly make what is some of the best laidback west coast music I've ever heard. This is the perfect soundtrack for riding slow in the car or chilling out by yourself. People who think that Nate carry an album by himself have no idea. He exhibits enough talent, character, and style that easily fill two discs of ultimate quality. Another piece that makes "G-Funk Classics" so fulfilling is the guest appearances. Each guest appearance is A-list, making for a who's who of west coast hip hop. Guest rappers include Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Tray Deee, Big Syke, and even 2Pac. "G-Funk Classics" is completely unlike anything I've ever heard and if this weren't such a victim of misfortune this would be an undisputed classic among the top of west coast albums. I can't recommend it any higher.

Disc 1, aka "The Prodigal Sun," is the one recorded later. It starts off with one of Nate's best songs ever, "The Hardest Man in Town." This song is produced by New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley, of Guy and Blackstreet fame, so it's surprising to hear a beat from him that is so lovably woozy with synths and heavy bass with funk instrumentation. It's an excellent production and Nate totally does it justice with a perfect performance. His lyrics speak of "the hardest man in town," the guns that cause and solve problems in lives. The song "G-Funk" has a great musical track too, using funky guitars for a great backing. Nate sings in an emotional joyful style, expressing happiness of seeing "Long Beach on the map" and talking about what music means to him. "First We Pray" is upbeat and hard, discussing the daily dealings in Long Beach. Nate talks about what he would do if he owned the world on "My World," and on the wonderful "Crazy, Dangerous," he makes a soulful performance about the hood mentality over an excellent, droopy beat. "These Days" is another remarkable song, where Nate expresses sadness over the tough state of his life, with great production from Daz. The nice "Bag o' Weed" precedes the slow and bass-heavy "Dirty H...'s Drawers." "Scared of Love" is a softer and enjoyable song, which comes before the phenomenal "Me & My Homies," a joyful anthem about hanging out with his friends, featuring one of 2Pac's last verses. "Because I Got a Girl" shows a lot of style, and the upbeat and ultra-funky "My Money" is another of my absolute favorites. "Never Leave Me Alone" is just wonderful, and the album ends with the conscious "Where Are You Going?" which addresses the state of the world with a great performance.

Either one of these discs is perfect by itself, but the fact that they're together makes it that much better. The second one, the earlier Death Row material, begins with the extra-funky "Who's Playing Games?", a definite highlight. "I Don't Wanna Hurt No More" is a mournful and deep performance. My favorite track on either disc, though, is "Just Another Day," a perfect, fast beat with heavy bass and synths that allows Nate to shine with a great chorus and verses talking about the strains of being a performer. After the good collabo "She's Strange" is the slow and excellent "Almost in Love." "No Matter Where I Go" is fast, soulful, and a lyrical highlight. "Stone Cold" is a very unique and interesting song, which comes before "Friends," a classic featuring Snoop and Kurupt, a g-funk update to the Whodini standard. Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound show up again for "Puppy Love," an archetypical DPG track. "It's Goin' Down Tonight" once again displays Nate Dogg at his best, and the Warren G collabo "Nobody Does It Better" entertainingly speaks of life after "Regulate." The light "Sexy Girl" features Big Syke from Thug Life, and the self explanatory "Dogg Pound Gangstaville" follows. The last song is "Never Too Late," a horn-fueled Nate Dogg signature ballad.

If you take nothing else from this review, know that "G-Funk Classics" is a truly special double album from an amazing talent with amazing production. His next album "Music and Me" is also good but not on the level of this one. Everything goes right on these records. It's an absolute shame that this is so hard to find today. Is it worth the $30-$40? Well, for two full CDs of rare, 5-star material, this reviewer says yes, although that's a steep price to pay for any music. If this comes your way, it would be a crime not to pick it up. "G-Funk Classics" is that remarkable.

Nate Dogg brings us the kind of music you'll never hear anywhere else.GFunk, a mix of jazz, funk and dance that is unique.Nate also has an exquisite voice.This album's a masterpiece:too bad Nate didn't release it earlier.He talks about everything, from the gang life..., hustling, love life and fame.The best tracks: GFunk, My World, These Days, Bag oWeed..., Scared of love,Me N'My Homies(with 2pac!),My Money, Whos playinGames , I don't wanna Hurt no More, Just another day, She's strange,Almost in Love, Puppy love, It's goin Down Tonite, sexy Girl, DoggpoundGangstaville, and Never too Late.This album should have been on the charts. It moved me and will move you.