Nate Dogg was a famous American singer and rapper born on 19 August 1969 and died on 15 March 2011. He became well-known for singing hooks in many popular rap songs from 1992 to 2007 earning him the title “King of Hooks.”
His career began in the early 1990s when he teamed up with his cousin Snoop Dogg and friend Warren G to form the group 213. One of his big breaks came in 1994 when he was featured on Warren G’s hit song “Regulate” which was a major success.
Nate Dogg became a prominent West Coast hip-hop figure, collaborating with artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Xzibit in the 1990s. His deep voice was in demand for singing catchy hooks and he worked with various artists in the 2000s including Eminem 50 Cent Fabolous Mos Def and Ludacris.
He appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 16 times as a featured artist reaching number one in 2003 with 50 Cent’s “21 Questions.” He was also featured on Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” and Eminem’s “Till I Collapse.” Besides his guest appearances, Nate Dogg released three albums and had some successful solo singles in the 1990s.
| Full Name | Nathaniel Dwayne Hale |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1969 |
| Died | March 15, 2011 |
| Place of Birth | Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA |
| Occupation | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actor |
| Height | 6 feet (183 cm) |
| Spouse | – |
| Children | Six children |
| Net Worth | $500 Thousand |
Nate Dogg Early Life and Education
Nate Dogg also known as Nathaniel Dwayne Hale was born in Long Beach, California on August 19, 1969. He met Warren G while they were both students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. When he was young he sang at New Hope Baptist Church in Long Beach where his dad was a pastor. He also sang at Life Line Baptist Church in Clarksdale Mississippi.
When he was 17 Hale quit high school left home and joined the US Marines 30 days later. He served at Camp Schwab in Okinawa Prefecture Japan in a unit that provided ammunition across the Pacific. After three years he left the military in 1989. He later said he joined the Marines to test his manhood.
Career
In 1990, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, and Warren G teamed up to form a rap group called 213. They made their first demo tape in the back of a record store in Long Beach called V.I.P. Dr. Dre heard this demo at a bachelor party.
Nate Dogg made his debut on Dr. Dre’s first solo album The Chronic in 1992. His singing style which matched the new gangsta rap vibe called G-funk was liked by critics. He then signed with Dr. Dre’s label Death Row Records in 1993. Nate Dogg also appeared on Snoop Dogg’s first solo album Doggystyle in 1993, where his singing stood out on the song “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)”.
In 1994, Nate Dogg co-wrote and sang with Warren G on the song “Regulate”. That same year he also featured on “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” from Thug Life’s album Thug Life, Volume I. In July 1998, when he left Death Row the label released his double album G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2, which had been delayed for about two years. His next album Music & Me released in 2001 under Elektra Records reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Nate Dogg was often asked to sing choruses on other artists’ songs. He appeared as a featured artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 16 times and hit No. 1 in 2003 with 50 Cent’s “21 Questions”.
He collaborated with many other successful artists including 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Westside Connection, Mos Def, Fabolous, Ludacris, Kurupt, Mark Ronson, Houston, Eminem, and Mobb Deep. In 2002, he appeared on a celebrity episode of Weakest Link but was eliminated by Xzibit and Young MC landing among the final three contestants.
Evolution
Hale was famous for his deep smooth singing voice which combined elements of hip hop and R&B. His voice ranged from tenor to baritone. He credited his gospel choir experience as a child for shaping his singing style though he also drew inspiration from soul music and artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Maurice White from Earth Wind & Fire.
He’s credited with creating “gangsta singing” a style that mixed R&B and soul vocals with gangsta rap lyrics. This style had a big impact on urban culture influencing artists like R. Kelly and Chris Brown later on.
Net Worth
Nate Dogg has an estimated net worth of $500 Thousand at the time of his passing, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Nate Dogg’s net worth came from his music career. He was a well-known rapper and singer, famous for his collaborations with other big artists in the hip-hop and rap industry. His income mainly came from album sales, concert tours, and royalties from his music..
Legal issues
Nate Dogg had a lot of legal troubles over the years. In 1991, he was accused of robbing a Check Changers store and then again in 1994 for robbing a Taco Bell in San Pedro but he was found not guilty both times.
However, in 1996, he was found guilty of a drug crime in Los Angeles County.
Then in June 2000, he was charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend and setting her mom’s car on fire in Lakewood. The charges included kidnapping domestic violence making threats and arson. Dr. Dre helped him post a $1 million bond but eventually, the charges were dropped except for him having an illegal gun for which he got a $1000 fine and probation.
In April 2002, police found two guns and marijuana on a tour bus he was on in Arizona. He was arrested but released on bond. The gun charges were dropped later and he got probation and had to do community service and attend drug counseling because of the drug charge.
In July 2006, he got in trouble again for trespassing harassing someone over the phone assaulting someone stopping a witness from reporting a crime and breaking a restraining order. He pleaded guilty to trespassing and assault lost his right to own a gun for ten years got probation for three years and had to go to a program for domestic violence.
Then in June 2008, he was accused of threatening his ex-wife by email and chasing her on a highway. He was charged with making threats and stalking but the charges were dropped because his ex didn’t talk to the prosecutors. He also got in trouble for driving under the influence of drugs around that time.
Death and Legacy
In December 2007, Nate Dogg had a stroke. He spent a week in the hospital and then went to a rehab center. His left side got weaker but his thinking and speaking stayed okay and doctors thought he would fully recover.
Then on September 12, 2008, he had another stroke. Finally on March 15, 2011, at 41 years old Hale passed away in Long Beach because of problems from multiple strokes or heart failure. He was buried in Long Beach at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
In 2013, Nate Dogg’s son Naijiel Hale committed to playing football at the University of Washington. A couple of years later in 2015 Nate’s other son Nathaniel Jr. who goes by Lil Nate Dogg released his album called Son of a G. Around the same time Naijiel started making music under the name NHale and dropped his first album Young OG in 2020.
In 2012, it was announced that Nate Dogg’s final studio album Nate Dogg: It’s a Wonderful Life would be released in late spring or early summer 2013 by Seven Arts Music and United Media & Music Group. However, as of 2024 the album still hasn’t been released and there haven’t been any updates—it seems the project has been put on hold indefinitely.
