On this date in 2011 in Long Beach, California, Nathaniel Hale, better known as rap/R&B crooner Nate Dogg, died from complications after suffering several strokes. He was 41 years old.
Introduced to the rap game by his Long Beach homie Snoop Dogg via their trio 213, which was the group that was brought to Dr. Dre by his little brother Warren G that made everyone in the trio West Coast legends. Nate was a trailblazer in the rap/R&B fusion, with smash hits with Fabolous, Mobb Deep, Mos Def, Ludacris and many more, earning four Grammy nods.
Salute and condolences to the entire 213 family from the Mind Squad, The Source Magazine and the entire Northstar Media Group. Nate was an intricate member of our culture and will truly be missed.
On this day in 1999, legendary super-producer Dr. Dre put out Chronic 2001, his last album before a 16-year hiatus. Containing some of the most known tracks in rap, Chronic 2001 has been extremely successful over the years. As of July 2013, the album has been certified septuple platinum, selling 7,664,000 copies in the United States alone and with the recent success of the film Straight Outta Compton, one can only imagine the increase in its sales that is to come. Dr. Dre is an artist known for the breaks he takes between albums. Chronic 2001, the follow-up to The Chronic, came seven years after its predecessor and although it may have been an excruciating period of time to wait, each project he’s delivered has been more than worth the time spent wondering what it would consist of.
The quality of work that makes up Chronic 2001 is epic. Of course, the production of this album is more solid than most coming from Dre himself along with Mel-Man and Lord Finesse, but the vocal features that were at Dre’s disposal due to his success at the time also helped to make this project such a classic. Rappers such as The D.O.C., Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Nate Dogg, and Eminem made appearances on this album. It would be an understatement to say that this project was an influential part of west coast rap and culture.
As previously stated, this album was widely regarded and critically acclaimed. It debuted in 1999 at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart where it peaked and sold 516,000 copies in its first week. The album also claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, #4 on the UK Album Chart, and #17 in the Dutch Albums Chart. As far as its legacy, the album has made its appearances on music charts worldwide since its release and is #17 on the Billboard 200 chart for the 2000s. Its hit single “Still D.R.E.”, is certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA and is a household name in the Hip Hop world.
Dr. Dre’s successes following this album are enough to make a second movie about. His influence on rap and rap culture spans a generation and his place in pop culture as a whole has been cemented due to what he has accomplished. We can only sit back and watch what the mastermind that is Dr. Dre has in store for us in the coming years.
Hip-hop has lost so many greats throughout the now 50 years it has been a part of the music industry. Notorious B.I.G., DMX, Tupac, and Nipsey Hustle, all are gone way too soon. Another icon to add to those legends up above is Nate Dogg, who met his demise in 2011. A variety of health complications were the root cause of his death, after battling and suffering from a series of strokes in 2007 and 2008. Furthermore, Nate’s left side of his body was left incredibly brittle as a result.
Luckily though, the hitmaker never was diagnosed with cognitive or vocal impairments, so he kept on returning to the studio to record more music. That strength is a true testament to why Nate Dogg is beloved by the rap community and his fans as his legacy continues to live on. One person that has to deal with this harder than most is his cousin and long-time collaborator, Snoop Dogg. The two of them were so interconnected, making song after song together such as “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)” and “Lay Low.”
Snoop posted a couple of pictures to his Instagram account to remember his dear family member on his birthday. Nate would have turned 54 and possibly still crafting more hits with Snoop. The photo with just Nate Dogg in it says, “Happy. C. Day big homie ” He also performed with Wiz Khalifa a few days ago on their High School Reunion Tour. He shared a flick from that too with his late friend projected on a screen in the background.
What are your thoughts on Snoop Dogg’s posts to Instagram, celebrating Nate Dogg’s birthday? What is your favorite song from these two legends? Is Nate Dogg a generational artist? We want to hear all of your thoughts and opinions, so be sure to put them all in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all breaking news around the music world. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family and friends of Nate Dogg.
Sending a 21 gun soldier salute Rest In Peace one of Hip Hop’s favorite crooners
There were many who tried, but nobody put R&B into Hip Hop the way it was supposed to sound better than the late, great Nate Dogg of the legendary Dogg Pound. The Source Magazine would like to send him a posthumous shout in recognition of his contributions to the game.
Besides his obvious links to Snoop Dogg and the original Death Row Family, Nathaniel Hale, born on this date in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1969, Nate appeared alongside several iconic artists in the game including 2Pac, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. The world lost a talented singer, actor and musician when Nate succumbed to multiple strokes on March 15, 2011. He was 41 years old.
Condolences go out to Warren G, Dr. Dre, Snoop and the entire 213 on the day an entire community lost a Hip Hop legend.
Sending a 21 gun soldier salute Rest In Peace one of Hip Hop’s favorite crooners
There were many who tried, but nobody put R&B into Hip Hop the way it was supposed to sound better than the late, great Nate Dogg of the legendary Dogg Pound. The Source Magazine would like to send him a posthumous shout in recognition of his contributions to the game.
Besides his obvious links to Snoop Dogg and the original Death Row Family, Nathaniel Hale, born on this date in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1969, Nate appeared alongside several iconic artists in the game including 2Pac, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. The world lost a talented singer, actor and musician when Nate succumbed to multiple strokes on March 15, 2011. He was 41 years old.
Condolences go out to Warren G, Dr. Dre, Snoop and the entire 213 on the day an entire community lost a Hip Hop legend.
Thursday would’ve been the 51st birthday of the King of Hooks. Nate Dogg passed away in 2011 but his legacy has carried on through music to this very day. He was more than a musician though, and the frequent Eminem and 50 Cent collaborator made friends in all places. Here’s four shots of the King […]
The ‘King of Hooks’ was born on August 19th, 1969. He died in 2011 at the age of 41 due to multiple strokes and ongoing heart issues. In between that time, Nathanial Dwayne Hale a.k.a. Nate Dogg sang for his church choir where his father preached, completed a 3 year Marine enlistment, and became the […]
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