As the hip-hop nation mourns the death of Nathaniel “Nate Dogg” Hale on Tuesday, the exact cause of death is still unknown, although Hale’s family has noted his history of strokes. What is certain, however, is the indelible impact the singer/rapper’s smooth baritone had on gangsta and G-Funk rap music.
Nate Dogg lent his vocal talents to a plethora of songs over the years, with his smooth but gangsta crooning serving as the cherry on top of many a hip-hop hit. The Long Beach, California, native collaborated with both up-and-coming acts and A-listers, including Dr. Dre, Eminem, Tupac and 50 Cent.
A number of artists who knew and worked with Nate took to Twitter to express their condolences. And few rappers worked as extensively with Nate Dogg as did Snoop Dogg. The two, along with Warren G, were once part of a group called 213 that sparked Dr. Dre’s initial interest in Snoop.