Nate Dogg

Nate Dogg Remembered: One Year Later

15 Mar 2012 16:53:56 EDT

'Where would artists like Akon and T-Pain, Drake [be]?' actor Ricky Harris says of G-Funk icon's impact in previously unseen MTV News clip.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Rahman Dukes

One year ago to the day (March 15), hip-hop suffered a great loss when singer Nate Dogg died due to complications from multiple strokes. Nate was a pivotal figure in the West Coast's dominating G-Funk sound in the 1990's, and his closest friends and collaborators still feel his impact.

He added deep and soulful melodies to many hit records, notably appearing alongside Dr. Dre and his childhood friends Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Who could forget his bass-heavy bellows on Warren's 1994 hit "Regulate" or Dre's 2000 club banger "The Next Episode"? Not his fans, and surely not his loved ones.

Last year, MTV News took a trip out to Nate's old stomping grounds in Long Beach, California, and made a pilgrimage to the store World Famous V.I.P. Records. While there, we got reactions from some who knew the singer best. Read on and be sure to click on the embedded video for an exclusive clip.

"To me, and probably all Nate Dogg fans and to the city of Long Beach, this is just as big to hip-hop as Big L, [Big] Pun, Jam Master Jay, somebody leaving the world of hip-hop," said actor Ricky Harris, who appeared on skits on Snoop's Doggstyle LP and Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. "He created a lane where there was no lane to get paid. If it weren't for Nate Dogg — no disrespect to other artists — but where would artists like Akon and T-Pain, Drake [be]? A lot of cats that do that, as far as singing choruses and hooks, and nobody did it better than Nate Dogg."

Nate's cousin Deirdre Nichols remembered that even as a child, the iconic hip-hop crooner was always singing. "Him coming up, all I can remember is, him, his sister and brother, they always sung gospel in church and their mother always directed them," she said. "Out in the streets here in Long Beach, in the neighborhoods and garages and parks, he was singing and rapping with his other friends such as Warren G and Snoop Dogg."

Before his health issues began to arise, Nate lent his voice to so many hits. He didn't just limit himself as a West Coast hookman, either. In 1998, he released his debut, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2, and then branched out and collaborated with a number of notable East Coast and southern artists like Mos Def, Fabolous, Ludacris and 50 Cent.

DJ Battlecat, who has produced for Snoop, Xzibit and Game, told MTV News that he was proud to have played a role in Nate's career. After Nate's death, he urged fans to look on the positive side. "It's never an ending situation, it's a new beginning for Nate, so let's celebrate that," he said.

What is your fondest Nate Dogg memory? Tell us in the comments.

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In Memoriam: Nate Dogg, Heavy D Among Stars We Lost In 2011

23 Dec 2011 08:54:16 EST

MTV News remembers 'Jackass' daredevil Ryan Dunn, Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr and Cali Swag District's M-Bone, among others.
By Tami Katzoff

This year we lost some of our brightest stars: artists that spanned the genres of rock, hip-hop and pop, as well as TV and film. They were at different stages in their careers — some just starting to rise, others already legends — but all left a distinct mark on pop culture, and their deaths affected us deeply.

Beloved hip-hop icons Nate Dogg and Heavy D influenced the generations of artists who followed them. Nate (born Nathaniel Hale) died at age 41 after suffering several health setbacks related to a stroke. One of the key players in the birth of the West Coast G-Funk sound, the crooner's silky smooth vocals touched classic tracks from Snoop Dogg and Warren G to 50 Cent and Ludacris. Fun-loving Heavy D, a major force in the New Jack Swing era, had hits with songs like "We Found Love" and "Nuttin' But Love," but he had also branched out into film and theater. He was 44 when he died this past fall.

Photos: The celebrities gone too soon in 2011.

We lost Mike Starr, former bassist for the groundbreaking Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains. Like Amy Winehouse, who also died this year at the age of 27, Starr's talent was often overshadowed by dependency on alcohol and drugs.

Gun violence claimed the life of 22-year-old Montae Talbert, the Cali Swag District dancer otherwise known as M-Bone. And Australian actor Andy Whitfield, who got his big break when he was cast as the lead in the Starz TV series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," was 39 when he succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Finally, the MTV family mourned the death of "Jackass" daredevil and "Viva La Bam" star Ryan Dunn. The 34-year-old died on a rural Pennsylvania road along with his 30-year-old passenger, Zachary Hartwell, when their car slammed into a guardrail and caught fire.

Share your memories of those we lost this year in the comments below.

MTV continues our Best of 2011 coverage by looking back at the biggest pop-culture stories of the year. As we count down the newsmakers that mattered to you most, also check out our Best Artists, Best Songs, Best MTV Live Performances and Best EDM Artists of 2011.

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Snoop Dogg Remembers Nate Dogg As A 'Genuine' Homey

28 Mar 2011 21:32:03 EDT

'It was the things he did for me as a friend before I had a record deal,' Snoop tells MTV News.
By Steven Roberts

Nate Dogg was laid to rest this past weekend in his hometown of Long Beach, California. Several artists came to pay their last respects, including Dr. Dre, Daz and Kurupt. They gathered alongside the G-Funk crooner's friends and family on a gloomy Saturday morning. At his funeral, an emotional Snoop Dogg spoke about how the two attended the same high school.

"1986, Poly High School, that's where we connected for the first time," Snoop reflected on his friend. "We didn't know each other, but the music connected us. We built a brotherhood, a friendship."

On Monday (March 28), MTV News caught up with Snoop after his appearance on "The Seven," and he elaborated on what his friendship with Nate meant to him.

"As a friend, Nate Dogg, was like a brother, a homey, someone who understood Snoop Dogg, someone who understood the struggle of Snoop Dogg, because he was a part of the struggle of Snoop Dogg. We created a group, 213: me, him and Warren G, back in the late '80s that spawned our careers."

The rapper and the crooner collaborated frequently throughout their careers, recording G-Funk hits like "It Ain't No Fun" and "Bitch Please," but for Snoop it was all about the time they spent together coming up.

"His friendship meant so much to me, because it was more about before we made records, as opposed to when people [saw] us in the limelight. It was the things he did for me as a friend before I had a record deal. The belief he had in me as an artist, as a homey, and just staying down and sticking to the rules of the game. That's what made Nate so genuine."

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Nate Dogg Remembered With 'Positive Energy' At L.A. DUB Show

28 Mar 2011 09:10:25 EDT

Singer's son helps DJ Quik celebrate Nate during car show and concert.
By Rahman Dukes

LOS ANGELES — The spirit and music of hip-hop hook messiah Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale was alive and strong at the 2011 DUB car show and concert on Sunday at Los Angeles Convention Center. Thousands of fans flocked to the trendy downtown district to catch a glimpse of the city's elite toys, brought out by automobile connoisseurs as well as a number of high-profile rappers, including Lupe Fiasco, the Game, Lazy Bone and Waka Flocka Flame.

The show took place the day after the funeral for Nate Dogg, who died two weeks ago following complications of two strokes. And though it wasn't an official memorial to the Long Beach singer, his music was celebrated during friend DJ Quik's set. The producer introduced Nate's son Nigel for a performance of his dad's smash record "Regulate."

"It's just a lot of positive energy in there, man," said Power 106 radio host Big Boy, who also spoke at Nate's funeral. "Of course, yesterday it was Nate's memorial service and that was Nate's 15-year-old son right there. It's paying homage, man. We shared Nate Dogg with everyone around the world, so it's definitely up to us to make sure that we honor him. He opened up a lot of doors, man; he gave the world a lot of music. He loved where he was from and we loved him. It's like our honor and duty to make sure that we continue to honor him."

Snoop Dogg's longtime mentor, Archbishop Don Magic Juan, also reflected on Nate Dogg's legacy. "One thing about it is, we gonna miss our hook man," Bishop said. "But we know he up in glory, doing some hooks for the lord. He gonna be at a better place. So we're thankful that we had the time to enjoy with Nate. That's what we should remember, the time with Nate. Not the time that he's gone. We gonna continue to uplift him. He gonna continue to live, not only in music but in our spirits. Snoop Dogg fainted at the funeral, right by his casket, but we can understand that 'cause that's what they call a real homeboy."

While Nate's passing was a consistent theme highlighted by patrons — some wore "R.I.P. Nate Dogg" shirts, and his music blared throughout the convention center — another West Coast legend was also remembered at the car show.

"We came out here to honor Eazy-E and his legendary legacy," said Bone Thugs N Harmony's Lazy Bone. "[I] came out here for Eazy-E, Nate Dogg and everybody just to tell them, 'Rest in peace.' It's been 16 years yesterday since Eazy-E passed. He gave us all this opportunity. We at the DUB Show, and I don't think it would be poppin' without Eazy, Eric Wright."

The showroom was packed wall to wall with jaw-dropping vehicles, ranging from an Escalade with "suicide" doors emblazoned with animations of the Hulk to a 1969 Chevrolet with a cut-out back that served as one half of a hot dog stand, and dozens of trophies were handed out to the auto stakeholders at the end of the event. As the cars exited the venue, the consensus was that the show's unofficial tribute to Nate Dogg was just the first of many events in his honor.

"Nate's legacy is gonna continue, 'cause Nate made great music, man," Big Boy said. "We got so many anthems, and there's so many people — not just with the music, but people that loved Nate — that's still here to make sure that we grab that banner and keep running up that mountaintop for him."

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Remembering Nate Dogg

28 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EDT

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Nate Dogg Bade Farewell By Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Warren G

26 Mar 2011 19:04:01 EDT

'I'm so honored, so happy that you gave me the opportunity, God, to know Nate Dogg,' Snoop eulogized at funeral.
By Rahman Dukes

LONG BEACH, California — On a dark and damp Saturday morning (March 26), thousands of family, friends and fans turned out for one last show from their hero, rap legend Nate Dogg, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Long Beach.

Inside the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, lights shined down on the wooden coffin adorned with red and white flowers. Two jumbo screens on opposite sides of his casket flashed six different photos of the singer from a childhood boy, when he was known to family as "Buddy," to the platinum singer known to the world as Nate Dogg.

West Coast rap artists including Dr. Dre, Game, DJ Quik, Mack-10 and WC, DJ Pooh, Battlecat and others were on hand to pay their respects to the singer with platinum vocal chords.

"1986, Poly High School, that's where we connected for the first time," an emotionally distraught Snoop reflected on his friend. "We didn't know each other, but the music connected us. We built a brotherhood, a friendship."

Snoop first met Nate along with his best friend Warren G at the school where they would go on to form the rap trio 213. Warren G spoke briefly, reminding mourners in attendance what a great man the music world has lost.

"It hurts me so much to see this," Warren G said somberly while looking down at the casket. "We been through a whole lot and that was my dog. He stayed down with me from the bottom to the top. I didn't ever think I would have to sit at a funeral for one of my dogs. All I can say is that was my friend, me him and Snoop was 213 from the balls to the walls. The music industry lost an incredible artist."

Several of Nate's closest friends, relatives and colleagues including Xzibit, Daz and Kurupt, Butch Cassidy, Los Angeles radio station personality Big Boy from Power 106, and producer FredWreck all shared memorable stories of their friend, who they said made an important impact on their lives. Xzibit recalled a time during the Up in Smoke Tour when Nate was arrested, but hours later somehow magically appeared at the show's next date. A teary-eyed Kurupt said Nate was the father figure who raised him.

Manager Rod McGrew acted as Nate's manager throughout his professional music career and was with him up until his last days.

"He fought a hard fight," McGrew said. He also thanked Dr. Dre and Eminem, in addition to Snoop, Warren G and Xzibit, for assisting the family in getting through the past several days. "The last three years were unbelievable. He didn't give up. He just had a talk with God and gave up. Two hours before that he was fine."

McGrew said that with Nate's passing, the singer's three wishes will now be granted.

"He wanted to go to heaven and hang with his boys," McGrew said. "He loved Tupac. He recorded with him. He wanted to hang with Biggie. But the most important thing is that he can walk around heaven with his favorite artist of all time, Michael Jackson."

With his deep, melodic voice and smooth soul rumble, Dogg was one of the key elements in the rise of the West Coast G-Funk sound pioneered by Death Row Records in the early 1990s. Along with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Warren G, Nate was a critical participant in a number of major left-coast gangsta hits, including G's "Regulate" and Dre's iconic solo debut, 1992's The Chronic.

The hip-hop singer passed away earlier this month after suffering multiple health setbacks in the past several years stemming from separate strokes.

The choir that sang during Nate's home-going was handpicked by the singer himself. One of its members, Jacob Lusk, is currently a contestant on "American Idol."

"He was a loving caring individual," said Snoop. "If you listen to his music, he took church melodies and flipped it with hip-hop. I'm so honored, so happy that you gave me the opportunity, God, to know Nate Dogg. I want to stand here and cry, but I have to have the strength for you Nate Dogg. It's 213, DPG for life."

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Nate Dogg Mourned By Family, Friends And Fans At Public Wake

25 Mar 2011 23:02:06 EDT

'I'm just glad to know that my brother was able to do what he loved,' sister Pamela Hale-Burns tells MTV News.
By Tamara Palmer, with reporting by Rahman Dukes

LONG BEACH, California — One of the West Coast's most iconic hip-hop voices filled the air on Friday (March 25) as family, friends and fans waved goodbye to Nate Dogg.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the New Hope Baptist Church to pay tribute to the late singer, who died last week at age 41. The service, which was open to the public, included close friend and actor Ricky Harris and collaborators Daz Dillinger and producer Battlecat. Some mourners came from as far away as London, New York and San Francisco to pay their respects to the golden-voiced singer.

Nate Dogg was an accomplished artist who not only helped define the sound of West Coast rap via his memorable collaborations with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and others, but also helped earn top 10 tracks for Eminem and 50 Cent in the past decade. He died on March 15 due to complications sustained in the years following two separate strokes. At the time of his death, he had been resting at the home of his mother Ruth Holmes, not far from the church.

New Hope was more than a temple of worship for Nate Dogg; it is also where he got his start in music, honing what would later be an inimitable voice by singing gospel in the choir there with sister Pamela Hale-Burns, now a reporter for the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

"Singing is something that we grew up doing, and I'm just glad to know that my brother was able to do what he loved," Hale-Burns told MTV News. "I said earlier that he chose a career where he never worked a day in his life, because he loved doing what he did."

The church is also just a few blocks away from VIP Records, the legendary independent shop where Nate started his career along with Snoop. It's immortalized in Snoop's video for his debut single "Who Am I (What's My Name?)."

"What this means for me today is just to keep on striving, to keep on pushing the line that we set 20 years ago until now," said Daz, who ended his tour to attend the service. "I'm just here to celebrate Nate Dogg's life."

Nate's older sibling Samuel Hale, a.k.a. Sam Dogg, asked that Nate's fans never forget the man who left a legacy of countless hit records behind.

"Remember his voice, his talent, and keep the family in prayer," Sam said. "My brother is a legend, and we're going to miss him a whole lot."

Nate Dogg's funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal (formerly the Spruce Goose Dome), adjacent to the Queen Mary hotel. While access to the funeral will be limited, a service for the public will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Dome, the Press-Telegram reports.

Share your memories of Nate Dogg in the comments below.

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Nate Dogg To Be Mourned At Public Wake Today

25 Mar 2011 15:06:17 EDT

The event will precede the 'Regulate' singer's funeral service, which is expected to be held on Saturday.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Nate Dogg is set to be celebrated and honored on Friday (March 25) in his hometown of Long Beach, California. The hip-hop singer unexpectedly passed away earlier this month after suffering multiple health setbacks in the past several years stemming from separate strokes.

His life will be recognized at a public viewing to be held at the Queen Mary hotel. His family and close friends, in addition to fans, are expected to attend the event, which is taking place a day before the singer's funeral is expected to be held.

Last week, Warren G., who teamed with Nate Dogg for the pair's breakout hit, "Regulate," spoke about his friend's death to MTV News while attending a tribute show at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

"I was out on the Sweat Tour with Snoop, and we had got the word from his family on what was going on, and it was just a crushing blow for us," he said. "Just, from going to see him and lifting his spirits up when he was in therapy, and stuff like that, it's just crazy for that to happen. And I still don't believe it, you know what I'm saying?"

Warren added, "It kind of hurts me when I look at this shirt [the SXSW tribute show's organizers sold Nate Dogg T-shirts, with proceeds going to the late singer's family], it's like, 'Damn, that's my homeboy on this shirt.' And I'm hurting, and you know, a lot of people are showing tons of support for his family, for his homeboys, and we really and truly appreciate that. It's real love."

Stick with MTV News throughout the weekend for coverage of Nate Dogg's memorial services.

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Nate Dogg Funeral Set For This Weekend

21 Mar 2011 18:39:02 EDT

Crooner is tentatively set to be laid to rest Saturday.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

Plans for Nate Dogg's funeral and wake are starting to shape up, according to a source close to the late singer's family.

Nate Dogg died last week of yet-undetermined causes. The "Regulate" star suffered two strokes in recent years and never fully recovered from the setbacks brought on by the second one, his manager, Rod McGrew, told the media.

The crooner is tentatively set to be laid to rest this Saturday with a ceremony preceding the event at the Queen Mary hotel, which will be open to fans, according to the family friend.

McGrew did not respond to MTV News' request for comment about the service.

Warren G, who teamed with Nate Dogg for his hit "Regulate," spoke to MTV News about his friend's death following a South by Southwest tribute concert.

"I was out on the Sweat Tour with Snoop, and we had got the word from his family on what was going on, and it was just a crushing blow for us," he said. "Just from going to see him and lifting his spirits up when he was in therapy and stuff like that, it's just crazy for that to happen. And I still don't believe it, you know what I'm saying?

"It kind of hurts me when I look at this shirt [the organizers of the SXSW tribute show sold Nate Dogg T-shirts, with proceeds going to the late singer's family], it's like, 'Damn, that's my homeboy on this shirt,' " he continued. "And I'm hurting, and you know, a lot of people are showing tons of support for his family, for his homeboys, and we really and truly appreciate that. It's real love."

Share your well-wishes for Nate Dogg's friends and family in the comments.

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Nate Dogg's Death Was 'A Crushing Blow,' Warren G Says

21 Mar 2011 15:23:05 EDT

'I'm hurting,' Warren tells MTV News after raucous SXSW tribute to late friend.
By James Montgomery

On Saturday night at South by Southwest, Warren G, Daz, Kurupt and Snoop Dogg paid homage to their late friend Nate Dogg with a raucous tribute show that celebrated the music of a man who lived every day to the fullest.

And while the mood onstage was definitely joyous — the quartet performed many of the songs Nate leant his voice to, in a poignant tribute to his talents — backstage at Austin's Venue 222, things were much more muted. In fact, when Warren G spoke to MTV News about his late cohort, he didn't hide the fact that he (and everyone who ever knew Nate Dogg) was still hurting inside.

In fact, starting with the moment he heard the news of Nate's passing, things have been far from normal.

"I was out on the Sweat Tour with Snoop, and we had got the word from his family on what was going on, and it was just a crushing blow for us," Warren said. "Just, from going to see him and lifting his spirits up when he was in therapy, and stuff like that, it's just crazy for that to happen. And I still don't believe it, you know what I'm saying?

And though they took the stage that night with a heavy heart, Warren and his cohorts also did it knowing that their friend was with them in spirit, and that by honoring his music, they were also honoring a man they all knew and loved.

"It means a lot, you know, because this is something that's being done for a person that we really love. It's deeper than music, that's a brother to us, to me and Kurupt and Snoop and Daz ... it's really deeper than that," he said. "I mean, like, I'm not a psychic or a genie or a gypsy or anything, but I know deep down in my heart he's around us, he's with us ... he's with us in spirit. Everything we do, he's a part of it."

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