Nate Dogg

The King of Hooks who defined the G-Funk sound with soulful melodies and deep vocals.

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American singer, rapper, and songwriter born on August 19, 1969. He gained recognition for providing soulful choruses and guest vocals on notable hip-hop songs between 1992 and 2007, earning the title "King of Hooks." A member of the trio 213 alongside his cousin Snoop Dogg and friend Warren G, Hale frequently collaborated with Dr. Dre and Xzibit in the 1990s. His distinctive tone became highly sought after for hooks on tracks by artists like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Tupac Shakur. He performed on 18 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 before his death from congestive heart failure at age 41.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale

Born

19 August 1969

Birthplace

Long Beach, California, U.S.

Died

15 March 2011

Burial place

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Long Beach, California, U.S.

Education

Long Beach Polytechnic High School

Occupation

Singer
rapper
songwriter

Years active

1992–2011

Lore & Background

Hale began his career in 1990 as part of 213, recording a demo heard by Dr. Dre that led to an invitation to his studio. He debuted on The Chronic (1992), where his singing complemented the new G-funk sound, and later signed to Death Row Records in 1993. In 1994, he co-wrote and sang on "Regulate" with Warren G, a track that reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. He also appeared on Thug Life, Volume I. His solo double album, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2, released in July 1998, featured "Nobody Does It Better," which peaked at number 18. In 2001, his follow-up Music & Me peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Reader's Guide

Nate Dogg is considered the inventor of "gangsta singing," a style blending R&B vocals with gangsta rap lyrics that influenced artists like R. Kelly and Chris Brown. His vocal range spanned from tenor to baritone, and he cited gospel music from his childhood in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as well as soul legends Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder as major influences. He released three studio albums and several singles, with notable collaborations including "21 Questions" by 50 Cent (which reached number 1) and "Shake That" by Eminem (number 6). In 2007, he founded Innate Praise, a gospel music choir, where Jacob Lusk successfully auditioned. After his death on March 15, 2011, a posthumous album was speculated in November 2012 but never released, while Warren G included unreleased verses from Hale on Regulate... G Funk Era, Part II in 2015.

Did You Know?

Nate Dogg performed on exactly 18 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100: 16 as a featured artist and 2 as a primary artist.
Hale enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17, serving three years as an ammunition specialist before receiving a discharge in 1989.
He suffered two strokes: one on December 19, 2007, which weakened his left side, and a second on September 5, 2008, which left him paralyzed and unable to speak.
Nate Dogg had nine children and died without a will; his wife, Latoya Calvin, was legally married to him for only 19 days in 2008 before a divorce was filed but never finalized.