In The Mid-Nite Hour

2004年には幻の213も復活を遂げたLBCのオリジネーター、Warren Gが実に4年ぶりの5thアルバムを完成！横ノリ必至なＯ.Ｇファンクの復活に、クリーク213のスヌープ、ネイト・ドッグはもちろんのこと、サイプレス・ストリートからはサイプレス・ヒルのBリアルもフックに参加！さらにオーガニック・サイドからはラファエル・サディークもヴォーカル参加と、またしてもボム連発の超強力盤に！先行でドロップされる「Get U Down」は異色ファンク・バンド、WARの「Don't Let No One Get You Down」の大ネタにBリアルとサイド・エフェックトを迎えた話題曲！

In the Mid-Nite Hour is Warren G's first foray into the land of independent releases and, consequently, marks a huge shift in approach from the too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen 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 Mid-Nite Hour isn't going to re-establish Warren as the hitmaker that he was for a quick second back in the G-funk 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 beat-head dude living down your street who makes mixtapes in his bedroom and hands CD-Rs of them out to friends as well as complete strangers. For that reason, In the Mid-Nite Hour isn't going to interest the majority of rap listeners. Sadly, Warren lost his coolness a long time ago. But for older, more grown-up rap listeners who fondly remember when "Regulate" was the jam (and how about "Hey DJ"?), In the Mid-Nite Hour no doubt will be a curious listen. From the bedroom beat-making and Everyman rapping, to the home-PC graphic design and semi-professional 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 bling-blinger 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 major-league charisma to this minor-league 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|

〈周囲に何を求められているか〉ではなく、〈自身が作品に何を求めるか〉に忠実なスタンスは過去から一貫している。ウォーレンGの約4年ぶりとなるソロ・アルバムは、大した宣伝もなく地味なリリースと思われそうだが、総合力に長けた充実作だ。真っ先に耳を惹くのは、しっとりとしたネイト・ドッグのリードによる“I Need A Light”で、ノスタルジックなウォーレンのリリックを導く好サポート。ヴォーカルとラップが凛と立ったこの曲のスタンスは、本作のオープニングから脈々と繋がる静かな流れにうまく溶け込んでいる。キャッチーながらも抑制の利いたフックを入れ込む“Get U Down”も然り、各曲の構成バランスに対する配慮はそのまま全体の空気感に対する調和へと繋がり、アルバム・タイトルにも納得の素晴らしい統一感だ。単なる〈ラッパー〉ではなく、〈音楽家〉としての手腕が見事に発揮された傑作といっていいだろう。
bounce (C)高橋 荒太郎