Grammy Nominee Nate Dogg Dead At 41

Robbie Daw | March 16, 2011 7:05 am

G-funk crooner Nate Dogg (real name: Nathaniel Hale) died all too soon yesterday at the age of 41, reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Dogg was best known for his appearances on singles by others such as Dr. Dre (“The Next Episode”), Warren G (“Regulate”), Ludacris (“Area Codes”), Fabolous (“Can’t Deny It”), 50 Cent (“21 Questions”) and Eminem (“Shake That”). No cause of death has been stated by the musician’s family. Nate, who suffered from strokes in 2007 in 2008, was a longtime friend of fellow Long Beach resident Snoop Dogg. Both of them formed the rap trio 213 with Warren G before being signed to Death Row Records in 1993. Nate Dogg made his major debut on “Deeez Nuuuts” on Dr. Dre’s seminal album The Chronic.

Dogg found his biggest success with Warren G on the 1994 Above The Rim soundtrack jam “Regulate,” which peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. The song earned Nate one of his four Grammy nominations over the years.

Nate Dogg released three of his own albums between 1998 and 2004, including G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2, Music And Me and Nate Dogg.

“We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met,” Snoop Dogg tweeted earlier this morning. “I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit … I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan … all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!”

Warren G has not posted anything on Twitter since early yesterday.