Nate Dogg was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on August 19, 1969. He moved to Long Beach, California when he was 14, following his parents’ divorce. He was friends with rappers Warren G, RBX, and Daz Dillinger and cousin of Butch Cassidy, Snoop Dogg, and Lil’ ½ Dead. He began singing as a child in the New Hope Baptist Church in Long Beach and Life Line Baptist Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi where his father Daniel Lee Hale was pastor. At the age of 17 he dropped out of high school in Long Beach and left home to join the US Marine Corps, serving for three years.He was a munitions specialist.He was quoted as his reason for joining “I wanted to see if I was a man.”

In 1990, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, and their friend Warren G, formed a rap trio called 213. 213 recorded their first demo in the back of the famed V.I.P. record store in Long Beach, the demo was later heard by Dr. Dre at a house party and he was instantly hooked on the soulful voice of Nate.

Nate Dogg made his debut on The Chronic. Singing in what later became his trademark style, he was well received by fans and critics alike, and would go on to sign with Death Row Records in 1993. Nate Dogg was also featured on Mista Grimm’s “Indosmoke” with Warren G. Then in 1994 he produced his first hit single “Regulate” with Warren G. Nate Dogg was also featured in many 2Pac releases, including his collaboration record Thug Life: Volume 1. Then in 1998 after a tumultuous time at Death Row Records he released another album. The double album was titled G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2 and was followed up in late 2001 with Music & Me on Elektra Records. Music & Me peaked at number three on the Billboard hip-hop charts in 2001. After a number of delays and an original release date of April 2004, his self-titled album was released under the Affiliated Entertainment Group on June 3, 2008. In the first half of 2014 his final studio album Nate Dogg: It’s A Wonderful Life will be released by Seven Arts Music and United Media and Music Group. The album will feature unreleased material from Nate as well as appearances from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z.

In 2002, Nate Dogg appeared on a celebrity episode of the Weakest Link, making it to the last three players before being eliminated by Xzibit and Young MC.  Nate Dogg found success, not only in solo projects, but in collaborations with other hip-hop artists. In the 2000s, Nate’s high-ranking collaborative singles, according to Rolling Stone, includes 2Pac’s “All About U”, Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” Westside Connection’s “Gangsta Nation,” Mos Def’s “Oh No,” Fabolous’ “Can’t Deny It,” Ludacris’ “Area Codes,” 50 Cent’s “21 Questions,” Kurupt’s “Behind The Walls”, Mark Ronson’s “Ooh Wee,” Houston’s “I Like That,” Eminem’s “‘Till I Collapse”, “It’s Never Enough”, and “Shake That”, and Mobb Deep’s “Have a Party.”

On December 19, 2007, Nate Dogg suffered a stroke, according to a coordinator from his recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. Reports had circulated that Nate Dogg had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and was admitted to a medical rehabilitation facility to assist him in his recovery. On January 18, 2008, it was officially reported that the stroke had rendered the left side of his body paralyzed. Doctors believed there would be a full recovery, and his voice was not affected. In September 2008, he suffered a second stroke. Nate Dogg died on March 15, 2011 in Long Beach, California at the age of 41. On March 17, his attorney Mark Geragos confirmed that the cause of the death was from complications of multiple strokes.