RIP- the mighty Nate Dogg

The son of a Baptist preacher we all came to know as the inimitable g-funk vocalist Nate Dogg died last night. He was 41 years old...
There was no cause of death given so far in reports that I read, but Nate's passing has been confirmed by close friend and collaborator Snoop Dogg (among others).
"We lost a true legend n hip hop & RnB." Snoop lamented  on Twitter. "One of my best friends, and a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met..."

Originally part of the Long Beach hip hop trio 213 (with Warren G and Snoop), the rap world discovered Nate Dogg providing background vocals, hooks and overall ambiance to Dr Dre's "solo" debut album, the seminal rap classic The Chronic. Nate Dogg released three solo records (G-Funk Classics, Vols. 1 & 2, Music & Me and his last album, 2003's Nate Dogg) and linked up with his 213 fam Snoop and Warren G for 2004's The Hard Way. Nate Dogg did so many guest features that he became synonymous with the West Coast G-Funk sound, and provided voclas for many classic joints (like my favorite Nate Dogg track Oh No, which he did with the mighty Pharoahe Monch and Mos Def for the Lyricist Lounge Volume 2 mixtape).

Nate had legal and medical problems over the past few years, but in today's web-based and mixtape-heavy hip hop market, comebacks can never really be ruled out. I would actually have expected to see more music from Nate Dogg, a prolific artist whose music maintains relevance today. If only for the loss of his future artistic presence, he would be missed, but my prayers definitely go out to his loved ones, who have lost a friend, family member and colleague at such a young age.
Rest In Peace, Dogg...

-samax.

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