I would feel comfortable betting that most hip-hop heads could recognise Nate Dogg’s signature gospel baritones, on one or more of their favourite tracks. The legendary hook singer has helped numerous rappers get their songs into the charts and has been apart of many artists most pivotal album cuts including: Dr. Dre’s Next Episode, Snoop Dogg’s Ain’t No Fun, 2Pac’s All About You and Westside Connection’s Gangsta Nation. But, what do you know of Nate’s life? I can sing every word to his 2001 album Music and Me, but I could barely tell you about his life before his untimely passing in 2011 from stroke complications.
Fortunately, Unsung (the documentary series that takes a look at some of the top R&B and soul artists of the last several decades) has delved into Nate Dogg’s life and honoured the rap crooner, in its latest episode.
Nate Dogg never had the commercial recognition with his solo work that other artists he worked with received. However, he became a hip-hop household name after dropping the classic Regulate with Warren G in 1994, which to this day is one of the greatest hip-hop tracks of all time. Nate Dogg is surely missed. Check out the full Unsung episode below.
Unsung has covered other hip-hop acts including: Whodini, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Kid N Play, Kool Moe Dee, EPMD, The Fat Boys, Arrested Development, Geto Boys, DJ Quik, Too $hort, Heavy D and The Boys and Big Daddy Kane.