Nate Dogg
Real Name: Nathaniel Dawayne Hale
D.O.B.: 1969 Clarksdale, Mississippi
Known as Nate Dogg he is the silky-smooth R&B voice of the west coast gangsta rap/G-Funk genre. Brought up alongside the legendary forces behind the gangsta rap movement in the powerhouse LA based record label Death Row with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg he was signed with Death Row as the R&B backing vocals for the rap artists’ tracks. He is just about the most collaborated artist in the complete hip-hop community. Today any single with his choir-like voice on it is undoubtedly a huge hit.
Young Nate began singing in the New Hope Trinity Baptist Church choir as a child where his father, Daniel Lee Hale, was pastor at the time. During his childhood his family had moved out west to Long Beach in California where he formed the longstanding friendship with his cousin Snoop Dogg and Warren G both of whom were born and raised in Long Beach. It was in his teenage years where Nate fell into the street gangs and lined himself up with the Rolling 20 Crips along with young Snoop. To avoid a prison sentence he escaped gang life at the age of 16 dropping out of high school to join the United States Marine Corps where he served for 3 years before being dishonourably discharged. In 1991 Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and Warren G formed a rap trio called 213 in Long Beach who weren't to release an album until 2004. This union with Warren G led them to being recognized by his half-brother Dr. Dre when he was scouting for new talent for the new Death Row Records. Warren played a demo tape of 213 for Dre who approached Snoop to work with him, along with Nate for his vocal presence. Warren however opted to continue a solo career elsewhere.
Nate Dogg first made his debut on the groundbreaking 1992 album from Dre called ‘The Chronic’. His trademark style of singing would be well-received by fans and critics of both gangsta rap and R&B. By 1993 Nate Dogg had signed with Snoop Dogg to Death Row Records and backed Snoop up on his debut album ‘Doggystyle’. In ‘94 he produced his first hit single ‘Regulate’ with Warren G. Although he collaborated with almost every Death Row Inmate on their projects, unfortunately he would not be given the opportunity to produce a debut album under Death Row Records. In 1998 on Breakaway Records Nate recorded his debut double album ‘G-Funk Classics Vol 1&2’ and follwed this with ‘Music & Me’ in 2001 on Elektra Records.
However Nate has found far greater success on the mainstream pop charts collaborating with other hip-hop artists rather than in solo projects. By 2004 Nate Dogg has featured in and contributed to over 60 chart singles. Nate Dogg has now begun work on a project executively produced by the west coast legend Dr. Dre.
Discography:
* 1998 G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1: Ghetto Preacher & Vol. 2
* 2000 The prodigal Son
* 2001 Music & Me
* 2005 Nate Dogg (Sold as singles over the Internet only)
Guest appearances:
* "Gangsta Nation" Westside Connection featuring Nate Dogg
* "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" Tupac featuring Thug Life and Nate Dogg
* "Bitch Please II" Eminem featuring Dr Dre, Snoop, Xzibit, & Nate Dogg
* "The Next Episode" Dr Dre featuring Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg
* "Xxplosive" Dr Dre featuring Kurupt and Nate Dogg
* "Area Codes" Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg
* "Thugs Get Lonely Too" Tupac featuring Nate Dogg
* "Till I Collapse" Eminem featuring Nate Dogg
* "21 Questions" 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg
* "Never Enough" Eminem featuring 50 Cent and Nate Dogg
* "Til the End" Lloyd Banks featuring Nate Dogg
* "My Name" Xzibit featuring Eminem and Nate Dogg
* "Shake That" Eminem featuring Nate Dogg
* "Skandalouz" Tupac featuring Nate Dogg
* "All About U" Tupac featuring Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and Outlawz
* "Ain't No Fun" Snoop Dogg featuring Nate Dogg & Warren G
* "Dump" Mobb Deep featuring Nate Dogg
* "Sammy Da Bull" Proof featuring Nate Dogg and Swifty McVay
* "Oh No" Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, & Nate Dogg
* "Have a Party" Mobb Deep featuring 50 Cent and Nate Dogg
* "Regulate" Warren G featuring Nate Dogg
* "Special" The Game featuring Nate Dogg
* "Where I'm From" The Game featuring Nate Dogg
* "If We" Mariah Carey featuring Ja Rule & Nate Dogg
* "What Would You Do?" Shade Sheist featuring Nate Dogg & Mariah Carey
* "Cali Diseaz" Shade Sheist featuring Nate Dogg
* "The Set Up" Obie Trice featuring Nate Dogg
* "Look in My Eyes" Obie Trice featuring Nate Dogg
* "All My Life" Freeway featuring Nate Dogg
* "I Like It" Mr Capone-E featuring Nate Dogg
* "Black Mercedes" DJ Quik featuring Nate Dogg
* "Can't Deny It" Fabolous featuring Nate Dogg
* "Child of the Night" Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg
* "I Like That" Houston featurting Nate Dogg, I-20, and Chingy
* "Time's Up" Jadakiss featuring Nate Dogg