Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970), better known by his stage name Warren G, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and DJ, known as one of the pioneers of West Coast hip hop. Griffin's career began in the early 1990s as part of the California hip-hop trio 213 alongside Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, but he is best known for his work as a solo artist, most notably for his first two studio albums, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder and Regulate...G Funk Era, which are certified gold and triple platinum respectively by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Warren Griffin III was born on November 10, 1970 in Long Beach, California to Ola and Warren Griffin, Jr. Griffin's parents divorced when he was four years old, and he spent the majority of his childhood living with his mother and three sisters in East Long Beach. At the age of 12, he moved to North Long Beach, where he lived with his father and his father's second wife. By his father's marriage, Griffin's stepbrother is Dr. Dre.