Regulate: A Revolutionary Wikipedia Entry
Many moons ago, when Wikipedia was still in its relative infancy, a member of the site’s editing community took it upon himself to become a mythical hero. Not for fame, nor for infamy, did our unknown (and perhaps unknowable) protagonist undertake his Herculean task though – achievement, it would seem, was reward in and of itself.
From behind a keyboard, perhaps the most powerful position in which any one of can reside in our age of mass digital communication, an anonymous scribe became a William Tyndale for a new generation. However, instead of risking death for translating the bible into English, our enigmatic man of courage presented to the world an in-depth literary translation and chronicling of the images found in Warren G and Nate Dogg’s video for their hit song Regulate.
Alongside Richmond Lattimore’s vivid translation of Homer’s The Iliad, scholars across the globe unanimously, and instantaneously, agreed that the enigmatic author’s re-tooling of the rap single may be among the greatest achievements in modern art. The languid prose, the detailed re-telling which added layers of dramatic irony and subtext to an already profound work, shocked and delighted all who saw it.
Yet, like a Russian general falling out of favour with Stalin, the Wikipedia edit was removed and all mentions of its existence were effectively excised from the web. The fact that the edit is not mentioned on the song’s page in the “Cultural Influence” section is peculiar; the fact it does not have a page of its own is both stunning and shameful.
So, we ask – whatever happened to the great anonymous edit of Regulate’s Wikipedia? Who removed it and why? How exactly did these philistines spend their thirty pieces of silver?
Furthermore, we should ask – was this the greatest political cover up of our age that has never been the subject of a lengthy, factually inaccurate Youtube documentary? Maybe. Is it a gap in the cultural knowledge of the Western world we could, and should, all learn from? Most definitely.
To right the karmic wrongs of this despicable act of cultural homicide, to return the justice to the world Lemar sought so passionately, we present to you the fully recovered edit below.
The Recovered Regulate Wikipedia Entry...
On a cool, clear night (typical to Southern California) Warren G travels through his neighborhood, searching for women with whom he might initiate sexual intercourse. He has chosen to engage in this pursuit alone.
Nate Dogg, having just arrived in Long Beach, seeks Warren. Ironically, Nate passes a car full of women who are excited to see him. He insists to the women that there is no cause for excitement.
Warren makes a left at 21st Street and Lewis Ave, where he sees a group of young men enjoying a game of dice together. He parks his car and greets them. He is excited to find people to play with, but to his chagrin, he discovers they intend to relieve him of his material possessions. Once the hopeful thieves reveal their firearms, Warren realizes he is in a considerable predicament.
Meanwhile, Nate passes the women, as they are low on his list of priorities. His primary concern is locating Warren. After curtly casting away the strumpets (whose interest in Nate was such that they crashed their automobile), he serendipitously stumbles upon his friend, Warren G, being held up by the young miscreants.
Warren, unaware that Nate is surreptitiously observing the scene unfold, is in disbelief that he's being robbed. The perpetrators have taken jewelry and a name brand designer watch from Warren, who is so incredulous that he asks what else the robbers intend to steal. This is most likely a rhetorical question.
Observing these unfortunate proceedings, Nate realizes that he may have to use his firearm to deliver his friend from harm.
The tension crescendos as the robbers point their guns to Warren's head. Warren senses the gravity of his situation. He cannot believe the events unfolding could happen in his own neighborhood. As he imagines himself escaping in a surreal fashion, he catches a glimpse of his friend, Nate.
Nate has seventeen cartridges (sixteen residing in the pistol's magazine, with a solitary round placed in the chamber and ready to be fired) to expend on the group of robbers. Afterward, he generously shares the credit for neutralizing the situation with Warren, though it is clear that Nate did all of the difficult work. Putting congratulations aside, Nate quickly reminds himself that he has committed multiple homicides to save Warren before letting his friend know that there are females nearby if he wishes to fornicate with them.
Warren recalls that it was the promise of copulation that coaxed him away from his previous activities, and is thankful that Nate knows a way to satisfy these urges. Nate quickly finds the women who earlier crashed their car on Nate's account. He remarks to one that he is fond of her physical appeal. The woman, impressed by Nate's singing ability, asks that he and Warren allow her and her friends to share transportation. Soon, both friends are driving with automobiles full of women to the East Side Motel, presumably to consummate their flirtation in an orgy.
The third verse is more expository, with Warren and Nate explaining their G Funk musical style. Warren displays his bravado by daring anyone to approach the style. There follows a brief discussion of the genre's musicological features, with special care taken to point out that in said milieu the rhythm is not in fact the rhythm, as one might assume, but actually the bass. Similarly the bass serves a purpose closer to that which the treble would in more traditional musical forms.
Nate displays his bravado by claiming that individuals with equivalent knowledge could not even attempt to approach his level of lyrical mastery. Nate goes on to note that if any third party smokes as he does, they would find themselves in a state of intoxication almost daily (from Nate's other works, it can be inferred that the substance referenced is marijuana). Nate concludes his delineation of the night by issuing a threat to "busters," suggesting that he and Warren will further "regulate" any potential incidents in the future (presumably by engaging their antagonists with small arms fire).