Nate Dogg

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, was an American singer, rapper and songwriter. Recognisable for his deep singing voice, Hale became best known for providing guest vocals for a multitude of hit rap songs between 1994 and 2007, earning the nickname "King of Hooks".[2][3]

Nate Dogg
Hale at Recording Academy Honors in Hollywood in 2006
Background information
Birth nameNathaniel Dwayne Hale
Born(1969-08-19)August 19, 1969
Long Beach, California, U.S.[1]
DiedMarch 15, 2011(2011-03-15) (aged 41)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1990–2008
Labels
Associated acts

Hale began his career in the early 1990s as a member of 213, a trio formed in 1990 with cousin Snoop Dogg and friend Warren G.[2] In 1994, he co-wrote and sang as the featured performer on Warren G's hit single "Regulate", which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as a breakout success for both artists.[4][5] Nate Dogg would soon become a fixture in the West Coast hip-hop genre, regularly working with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit in the 1990s; his deep vocals became sought after for hooks, and he would expand to work with a larger variety of artists in the 2000s, such as Eminem, 50 Cent, Fabolous, Mos Def and Ludacris. As a featured artist, Nate charted 16 times on the Billboard Hot 100, and in 2003 reached number one via 50 Cent's "21 Questions". In addition to his guest work, Nate Dogg released three studio albums, as well as a string of moderately successful singles of his own in the 1990s.

In December 2007, Nate sustained a stroke, weakening his body's left side, while his cognition and voice remained intact.[6] Several months later, he sustained another stroke.[7] In 2011, he died of heart failure at age 41.[4][7]

Early life

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale was born on August 19, 1969, in Long Beach, California.[1] Nate began singing in childhood at the New Hope Baptist Church—where his father Daniel Lee Hale was pastor and his mother Ruth Holmes led the choir.

While friends with Warren G and RBX, he was a cousin of Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Butch Cassidy, and Lil' ½ Dead.

Military career

At age 17, Hale dropped out of high school, left home, and 30 days later enlisted in the Marines.[8] He was stationed at Camp Schwab, in Okinawa, Japan, in the Material Readiness Battalion of the 3rd Force Service Support Group, which supplied ammunition to most of the Pacific. After three years as an ammunition specialist, he was discharged in 1989. Hale would recall that he had joined the military since he had "wanted to see if he was a man".[9]

Entertainment career

213 trio

In 1990,[10] Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg,[11] and Warren G, formed a rap trio called 213.[10] They recorded their first demo tape in the back of the famed V.I.P. record store in Long Beach. The demo was later heard by Dr. Dre at a bachelor party.[12]

Solo career

Nate Dogg debuted on Dr. Dre's first solo album, The Chronic, in 1992. Nate's trademark singing, complementing the new gangsta rap sound G-funk, was well received by fans and critics alike, and he signed to Dre's label, Death Row Records, in 1993. Nate Dogg also featured on Snoop Dogg's debut solo album, Doggystyle, in 1993, his singing prominent on the track "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)".

In 1994, Nate Dogg cowrote his duet with Warren G, the single "Regulate". Nate was also featured on 2Pac releases, including his group's Thug Life's album, also released in 1994. In July 1998, amid his departure from Death Row Records, the label released his double album, delayed about two years, G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2. In 2001, his Elektra Records followup, Music & Me, peaked at #3 on the Billboard hip-hop chart.[13] He also had an eponymous album that saw unauthorized release in 2003.

Collaborations

Nate Dogg was often sought to sing on other artists' tracks, usually to sing the hook. As a featured artist, he charted 16 times on the Billboard Hot 100, and in 2003 reached #1 via 50 Cent's "21 Questions".

Otherwise, his successful collaborations are numerous, including 2Pac's "All Bout U", Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode", Westside Connection's "Gangsta Nation", Mos Def's "Oh No", Fabolous' "Can't Deny It", Ludacris's "Area Codes", Kurupt's "Behind the Walls", Mark Ronson's "Ooh Wee", Houston's "I Like That", Eminem's "'Till I Collapse", his "Never Enough", his "Shake That", and Mobb Deep's "Have a Party".[14]

Further, in 2002, appearing on television, Nate Dogg was on a celebrity episode of The Weakest Link, where, finally eliminated by Xzibit and Young MC, he was among the final three.[15]

Artistry

Rather than traditionally rapping, Hale was known for his deep, melodic vocals, with his music often described as a mix between hip-hop and R&B, and his vocal range between tenor and baritone.[16] Hale himself considered his voice and style to be mostly influenced by the gospel music he performed in the church choir as a child, though he also grew up listening to soul and cited Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire as some of his biggest musical influences.[17]

Nate Hale was charged for a 1991 robbery of a Check Changers shop and for a 1994 robbery of Taco Bell in San Pedro, but was acquitted.[18][1][19] In 1996 he was convicted of a drug offense in Los Angeles County.[20]

On June 17, 2000, for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend and setting her mother's car afire in Lakewood, Hale was charged with kidnapping, domestic violence, terrorist threats, and arson.[21] Andre "Dr. Dre" Young posted $1 million bond.[22] The charges were dismissed while he pleaded no contest to illegal gun possession by a felon,[20] and received a $1,000 fine and three years probation.[23]

On April 12, 2002, a tour bus carrying Hale, while outside of Kingman, Arizona, was found with two pistols and four ounces of cannabis, whereby he was booked and then released on $3,500 bond.[24] The next month, the weapon charges were dropped for his guilty plea on a drug charge, and he was sentenced to probation, community service, and drug counseling.[25]

In July 2006, Hale was charged with misdemeanor aggravated trespassing, telephone harassment, battery assault, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, and breaking a restraining order. On March 20, 2008, pleading guilty to trespassing and battery, he lost gun-ownership rights for 10 years, received three years probation, and was ordered to a domestic-violence intervention program.[26]

On June 23, 2008, after allegedly threatening his estranged wife by emails and chasing her on Interstate 405, Hale was charged with two felony counts of criminal threats and one count of stalking.[27][28] He pleaded not guilty.[28] In April 2009, as the alleged victim had failed to contact prosecutors, the charges were dropped.[27] Incidentally, he was also convicted of driving under the influence of drugs.[28]

Health problems and death
Graffiti on Solidarności Avenue in Warsaw, Poland, 2012

On December 19, 2007, Hale suffered a stroke.[6] After a week in Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, he entered a rehabilitation facility.[6] Although his body's left side was weakened, neither his cognition nor voice were affected and a full recovery was expected.[6]

Hale sustained another stroke on September 12, 2008.[29] On March 15, 2011, Hale died at age 41 in Long Beach, California, of complications of multiple strokes,[7] or by congestive heart failure.[4] He was interred in Long Beach at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.[30]

In 2013, Nate Dogg's son Naijiel Hale committed to play football at the University of Washington.[31] A couple of years later, in 2015, Nate's other son, Nathaniel Jr., having adopted the stage name Lil Nate Dogg, released his own album, Son of a G.[32]

Discography
Main article: Nate Dogg discography

Solo albums

Collaboration albums

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Nate Dogg was nominated for four Grammy Awards.

Category Genre Song Year Result
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Eminem) Rap "Shake That" 2007 Nominated
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Ludacris) Rap "Area Codes" 2002 Nominated
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (uncredited with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg) Rap "The Next Episode" 2001 Nominated
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Warren G) Rap "Regulate" 1995 Nominated

References
  1. Kennedy, Gerrick D.; Nelson, Valerie J. (March 17, 2011). "Nate Dogg dies at 41; West Coast rapper created the blend of singing-rapping known as G-funk". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Tronc. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. Garth Cartwright, "Nate Dogg obituary", The Guardian (UK), 16 Mar 2011.
  3. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9326820/nate-doggs-elaborate-new-headstone-honors-the-late-king-of-hooks
  4. John Bush, "Nate Dogg: Biography", AllMusic.com, Netaktion LLC, visited 24 Apr 2020.
  5. Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th edn. (New York: Crown Publishing, 2010), p 462.
  6. MTV News staff, "Hannah Montana contest winner apologizes for fake essay; plus 'American Idol,' C-Murder, R.E.M., Birman & more, in For the Record", MTV.com, 4 Jan 2008.
  7. Matthew Perpetua, "Rapper and singer Nate Dogg dead at 41" and appended update, Rolling Stone website, Wenner Media LLC, 16 Mar 2011.
  8. "Joining the Ranks of Famous Marines". USMC.net. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  9. Arnold, Paul (May 28, 2012). "Soulja's Story: 10 Hip Hop Artists Who Served Their Country". hiphopdx.com. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  10. "Warren G". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  11. Nate Dogg Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2006.
  12. Ness, Jimmy (August 25, 2015). "Where Rhythm is Life & Life Is Rhythm: An Interview with Warren G". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  13. Nate- Charts and Awards, AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2006
  14. Perpetua, Matthew. "Nate Dogg's Best Guest Appearances". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  15. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rapper-and-singer-nate-dogg-dead-at-41-235438/
  16. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nate-dogg-singer-who-gave-a-soulful-dimension-to-a-raft-of-g-funk-and-gangsta-rap-records-2245051.html
  17. "L.B. Rapper Nate Dogg Out On Bail In Robbery Charge" (Fee required). Press-Telegram. December 14, 1994. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  18. "L.B. Rapper Suspected of Robbery" (Fee required). Press-Telegram. December 19, 1994. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  19. "Firearm charges dog another rapper". The Post and Courier. March 16, 2001. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  20. "Nate Dogg arrested". Associated Press. June 16, 2000. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  21. "Rapper Nate Dogg Charged on 5 Counts" (Fee required). Press-Telegram. July 15, 2000. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  22. "Rapper Nate Dogg takes plea bargain". Press-Telegram. August 22, 2001. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  23. Seckler, Jim (April 16, 2002). "Rap singer released on bond after drug, gun arrest locally". Kingman Daily Miner. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  24. Callahan-Bever, Noah (May 28, 2002). "Nate Dogg Sentenced For Drug Possession". MTV News. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  25. "Nate Dogg Pleads Guilty In Domestic Violence Charge". HipHopDX. March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  26. "Stalking charge dropped against Nate Dogg". Associated Press. April 16, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  27. "Nate Dogg Pleads Not Guilty to Making Threats, Stalking Estranged Wife" (Fee required). Long Beach Press-Telegram. July 17, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  28. Jayson Rodriguez, "Nate Dogg paralyzed after stroke; manager slams coverage of 911 call", MTV.com, 18 Jan 2008.
  29. "Nathaniel Dwayne "Nate Dogg" Hale (1969 - 2011) - Find A Grave Memorial".
  30. https://247sports.com/Player/Naijiel-Hale-26958/high-school-43866/
  31. "Nate Dogg's son Lil Nate Dogg "Son Of A G" album out now".
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