RIP: Nate Dogg

Posted March 17, 2011 by J Matthew Cobb in News

Snoop Dogg protege and hip-hop hook singer dies from stroke complications

Nate Dogg delivered the memorable vocals on familiar rap choruses on a number of Warren G and Snoop Dogg hits in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, like Warren G’s Michael McDonald-sampled “Regulate.” His presence helped push ’90’s rap up the R&B charts and into the pop world – giving new life to the rap/vocal format which continues to invade hip-hop music.

Nate Dogg began his musical career on Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking LP, The Chronic, singing outros and hooks on several of the album cuts. His work continued with Dre and with Warren G; resulting with an appearance on Mista Grimm’s “Indo Smoke,” heard on the Poetic Justice motion picture soundtrack. In 2000, Nate Dogg joined up with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Kurupt to assemble the Grammy-nominated “The Next Episode.” It managed to climb to #11 R&B and #23 pop. His work as a hook singer continued with Xzibit, E-40, Mos Def and Fabolous. His success peaked with his collaboration with Ludacris on Top Ten R&B hit “Area Codes” in 2001 and on 50 Cent’s No. 1 pop/R&B smash “21 Questions” in 2003. He was fortunate to release three albums as a solo artist, including the Elektra Records-released Music & Me in 2001. Other than the support he received from his California base, his solo work was predominately ignored in the public’s eye. In 2007, “Shake That,” a song done in collaboration with Eminem, was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Nate Dogg, real name Nathaniel Hale, passed away at the age of 41 from complications arising from previous strokes. In 2007, Nate Dogg suffered a stroke and entered into rehabilitation to assist him in his recovery. A second stroke in January 2008 left his left side paralyzed. Although his voices wasn’t affected, doctors believed he would have rebounded in his recovery efforts.