One of Hip-Hop’s highly coveted and influential artists Nate Dogg, born Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, passed away on March 15th 2011. The legendary Long Beach, California emcee began his career in the early 1990s as the leading member of ‘213’ – an iconic Hip-Hop collective consisting of Nate Dogg’s cousin Snoop Dogg and friend Warren G. For many, Dogg is the greatest to ever do it in rap music.
After achieving global recognition for his guest verse on Warren G’s “Regulate”, Dogg went on to become a West Coast Hip-Hop pioneer and frequently worked with Dr Dre, Xzibit and Snoop Dogg. Some of his highly influential works include “The Next Episode” from The Chronic, “21 Questions” with 50 Cent and “Till I Collapse” & “Shake That” with Eminem and his classic G-Funk raps on Tupac Shakur’s “Thug Life: Volume 1”. Further, Dogg was one of the earliest signees to the historic Death Row Records.
Nate Dogg’s solo discography is a riveting body of work amidst America’s final days of gangsta rap. Mired by notorious themes of sex, classic G-Funk, street code and pure hustle, Dogg released three classic LPs – “G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2” on July 21st 1998, “Music & Me” on December 4th 2001 and the self-titled “Nate Dogg” on February 25th 2003. Notably, the “Nate Dogg” LP was bootlegged and released officially for a brief period, prior to Elektra Records shutting down their rap division.
To honour Nate Dogg’s everlasting legacy, please listen to his influential rap records here.
