By Gina-Marie Cincinnati | gcincinnati

Each week, MOG's gcincinnati offers in-depth explanations to obscure lyrical references submitted by non-English speakers. In her inaugural column, she dives into the work of Lebowski-abhorred outfit the Eagles.

Why do Regulators need to Mount Up? - Regulated, New York

Because we've got some effing work to do, that's why. Because someone started some trouble and needs to have their ass put in line. That's why.

Let's clarify:
Warren G's song "Regulate" begins with a quote from the movie Young Guns:

Regulators.
We regulate any stealing of his property
and we damn good too
But you can't be any geek off the street,
gotta be handy with the steel if you know what I mean, earn your keep!
REGULATORS!!! MOUNT UP!

Young Guns is another gem to come out of the '80s. 1988, to be exact. It's a film about the origins of Billy the Kid in 1878, starring members of the brat pack. These guys were 'regulators' and were pretty badass. Well, actually, I'm pretty sure that all western films feature some sort of gun twirling badassery, but these Young Guns spent the majority of the movie running around shooting up bad guys to avenge the death of their mentor, getting chased by the military, and being revered as people's people by the... um... people. Kind of like an old Samurai movie, except the good guys also have guns.

Nate Dogg and Warren G are playing their own versions of Regulators in the 1994 hit from the Above the Rim soundtrack. In the fair LBC (Long Beach, CA, area code 213 for those who may be wondering) where we lay our scene, from west-coast strife break new wars: the wars on the streets, yo, where civil war makes not-so-civil hands unclean. Warren G is out seeking some tail and gets distracted by some dudes playing Dice. Priorities, man, priorities. He jumps out to join in the reindeer games and OF COURSE becomes the victim of a (soon to be attempted) mugging. Guns are pulled, profanities are most likely exchanged, and Warren has found himself in some deep sh*t. They even take his rings and Rolex. Damn, what's next?

Thankfully, Nate was already out looking for Warren so they could hunt the strange together. He is not spotted entering stage left and sees his homie all hemmed up... and THIS is where the effing regulating takes place: He laid all them busters down and let his gat (gun) explode, then quickly switched his mind back into freak mode. Since all of the perps dropped, yelled, and most likely turned cold (because they're dead), Nate and Warren made a clean getaway, went back and found the skirts (females) in the broken-down car and promptly made their way with said females to the East Side Motel. Happy Ending... for everyone, ZING!

Take note, fools: If your ass is a buster, 213 will regulate.

Oh yeah, why do Regulators need to mount up? Aside from the copious amounts of ass kicking that the phrase suggests, it's because in Young Guns, they rode horses. Duh. Mount up.

The best version of Regulate to date, via youtube:

Mount your steeds, good sirs. We've got some bodies to drop.

READ MORE FEATURES, NEWS, AND REVIEWS