UB Celebrates #HipHop50: Honoring Nate Dogg + ReVisit UB Interview

Day four of UB’s Celebration of Hip Hop 50 continues today with someone who didn’t spit rhymes when he held the mic.

Nate Dogg masterly laid vocals down on countless classic tracks, that changed the course of Rap and Hip Hop music in the 90s and early 2000s.

Nate Dogg made 16 appearances on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart during the five year span of 1996-2001.

Nate Dogg was the first artist Aries of UB ever interviewed for our first e-zine site T M H back in 2001 on the verge of his Elektra debut.

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale known as Nate Dogg was born August 19th, 1969 in Long Beach City, a suburb of Los Angeles. The son of a pastor, his parents took him to church so that he could escape the street violence and gang warfare in LBC, by joining The New Hope Baptiste Church.

It was then that he met Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. known as Snoop Dogg and Warren Griffin III, Warren G.

A strong friendship grew from love for rap which lead them to form a group Three The Hard Way later, renamed into 213 (their Long Beach area code).

Nate Dogg always showed love and appreciation to Snoop Dogg in interviews; “Snoop started out broke in Long Beach and was the first person to actually make gangsta rap mainstream. He has become one of the premier rappers of all time – and he’s had longevity. Nobody can do what Snoop does. When you think about rap, you’re always going have to include Snoop Dogg.”

At the age of 16, he left Long Beach polytechnic high school and joined the marines. He served for three years and, on returning to Long Beach, found that the west coast rap scene was starting to take shape in the nearby suburb of Compton.

In 1991 Nate recorded songs with 213 and became popular in Long Beach. Warren G got their tape to his famous sibling Dr. Dre. at the time had just left Ruthless Records and the group NWA.

Dr. Dre was setting up his label with ex-professional footballer Marion Suge Knight, Death Row Records. Dr. Dre invited them to participate on his 1992 debut solo album “The Chronic.”

Nate sang the hook on the track “Lil’ Ghetto Boy” and the outro to “Deeez Nuuuts.” Dr. Dre then produced Snoop Dogg‘s hit album, “Doggystyle,” which featured Nate among other artists. Nate Dogg shared with UB, his favorite collaboration was from that album; “I would have to say “Ain’t No Fun” with Snoop. That time in the studio was just fun, it was a lot of good memories.”

Nate Dogg was on a roll, and appearing shortly after on Mr. Grim‘s hood classic “Indo Smoke.” In 1993 Nate Dogg officially signed with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight on their Death Row label and began working on his solo album.

In 1994 Nate Dogg and Warren G released the Grammy-nominated single “Regulate,” which used a sample of Michael McDonald‘s “I Keep Forgetting.” The song recounts a wild night of sex and violence in their native of Long Beach. From the “Above The Rim” soundtrack, the double platinum single was a #1 Hot Rap Song and a hit around the world.

The term “G-funk” was coined to describe the mix of soul, funk and rap that Nate and his west coast associates made popular.

Nate Dogg appeared on various tracks on Tupac‘s 1996 diamond plus “All Eyez on Me.”

While 1998 found Nate Dogg splitting from Death Row and forming his own label, Dogg Pound Records. After his departure, a battle began to release the album he originally had planned for 1994-1995.

Nate Dogg managed to release “G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 and 2,” in July of 1998 after he recovered the rights.

The album featured the hit single “Never Leave Me Alone,” along with “These Days” and “Nobody Does It Better.”

His collaboration on Mos Def’s “Oh No,” was also a turning point in Nate‘s career, as he told Billboard. Since the release of “Oh No,” Nate averaged about three calls per day, from other artists eager to work with him for their own albums. “It’s going to be tight,” Nate Dogg stated. “I’m trying to make a big statement – that I’m not just a hook singer.”

Nate hoped his sophomore album release “Music & Me” would deliver him two things. “No. 1: respect,” he stated. “And No. 2: a platinum plaque on his wall that said his name on it.”

The album was released in October of 2001, and was geared more towards R&B. “Music & Me” peaked at #3 Billboard’s Hip-Hop chart.

In the summer of 2004, the long-awaited 213 album finally hit stores, entitled “The Hard Way.” The album landed at #1 on the Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and Top 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 95,000 copies the first week. The album featured the hit “Groupie Luv.”

Also in 2004, Nate Dogg‘s self-titled album was released under Affiliated Entertainment and in 2015 a final studio album “Nate Dogg: It’s A Wonderful Life” was released via Seven Arts Music and United Media and Music Group. Featuring unreleased material from Nate Dogg, as well as appearances from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z.

Some of the many classic‘s Nate performed the hooks on include; “The Next Episode,” with Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg & Kurupt, 50 Cent‘s “21 Questions,” Eminem‘s “Shake That” and “Bitch Please II.”

Not to mention the Fabolous hit “Can’t Deny It” and Snoop Dogg‘s “Lay Low.”

Check Out Our Interview with Nate Dogg from 2001!

UrbanBridgez.com: Among all of your collaborations, which do you like the best & why?
Nate Dogg: I would have to say “Ain’t No Fun” with Snoop (Dogg). That time in the studio was just fun, it was a lot of good memories.

UrbanBridgez.com: Will you, Warren G and Snoop be putting out a record together anytime soon as 213?
Nate Dogg: Yes, we’re actually in discussion with it now. We’re going to make it happen.

UrbanBridgez.com: If you could change anything about your career what would it be?
Nate Dogg: Um nothing. I mean I would make all of my records go platinum in one day (Nate laughs). Everything was a learning experience, so I wouldn’t change it.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who would you like to work with on future projects?
Nate Dogg: Dr. Dre again.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who do you admire in the music industry & why?
Nate Dogg: Dr. Dre because of his longevity & he’s a perfectionist.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s your next single?
Nate Dogg: It looks like “Your Woman Has Just Been Sighted (Ring The Alarm)”, it’s still up in the air.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next & upcoming in 2002 for Nate Dogg?
Nate Dogg: A tour to start in February. It’s still being put together, so right now it’s tentative.

Nate Dogg was paralyzed on one side of his body after a stroke in 2007. He suffered another stroke the following year.

Nathaniel “Nate Dogg” Dwayne Hale passed away from the complications of these strokes on March 15th, 2011, in Long Beach, California at the age of 41.

We Thank You Nate Dogg for Sharing Your Talent & Music With Us!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with Nate Dogg!