Nate Dogg

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hale began his career in 1990 as part of 213, recording a demo heard by Dr. Dre that led to an invitation to his studio. He debuted on The Chronic (1992), where his singing complemented the new G-funk sound, and later signed to Death Row Records in 1993. In 1994, he co-wrote and sang on "Regulate" with Warren G, a track that reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. He also appeared on Thug Life, Volume I. His solo double album, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2, released in July 1998, featured "Nobody Does It Better," which peaked at number 18. In 2001, his follow-up Music & Me peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

In Their Own Story

In June 2000, Hale faced serious legal trouble after being charged with kidnapping, domestic violence, terrorist threats, and arson for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend. That same day, Dr. Dre posted a $1 million bond to ensure Hale could perform at the Up in Smoke Tour. The charges were eventually dismissed in March 2001, but in August 2001, he pleaded no contest to illegal gun possession by a felon, receiving a $1,000 fine and three years' probation. Later, in April 2002, a tour bus carrying Hale was found with two pistols and four ounces of cannabis outside Kingman, Arizona; the weapon charges were dropped after his guilty plea on a drug charge. His health declined significantly after suffering a stroke on December 19, 2007, followed by a second, more serious stroke in September 2008 that left him paralyzed and unable to speak.

Reader's Guide

Nate Dogg is considered the inventor of "gangsta singing," a style blending R&B vocals with gangsta rap lyrics that influenced artists like R. Kelly and Chris Brown. His vocal range spanned from tenor to baritone, and he cited gospel music from his childhood in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as well as soul legends Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder as major influences. He released three studio albums and several singles, with notable collaborations including "21 Questions" by 50 Cent (which reached number 1) and "Shake That" by Eminem (number 6). In 2007, he founded Innate Praise, a gospel music choir, where Jacob Lusk successfully auditioned. After his death on March 15, 2011, a posthumous album was speculated in November 2012 but never released, while Warren G included unreleased verses from Hale on Regulate... G Funk Era, Part II in 2015.

Did You Know?

• Nate Dogg performed on exactly 18 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100: 16 as a featured artist and 2 as a primary artist.
• He was the first person to earn the honorific title "King of Hooks" due to his soulful chorus work between 1992 and 2007.
• Hale enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17, serving three years as an ammunition specialist before receiving a discharge in 1989.
• He suffered two strokes: one on December 19, 2007, which weakened his left side, and a second on September 5, 2008, which left him paralyzed and unable to speak.
• Nate Dogg had nine children and died without a will; his wife, Latoya Calvin, was legally married to him for only 19 days in 2008 before a divorce was filed but never finalized.