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RIP: Nate Dogg

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale – aka Nate Dogg – passed away on March 12 at the age of 41. by Karanja Ade Mose Ajanaku
Special to the Tri-State Defender

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale – aka Nate Dogg – passed away on March 12 at the age of 41.

Nate Dogg

I remember my first time listening to one of Nate Dogg’s collaborations with 50 Cent, “21 Questions”. It became one of my favorite songs then, and still is to this day.

 Nate Dogg was known as the “Hook Master” of gangster rap, and he earned the title, being nominated for Grammy awards for collaborations with big names such as Snoop Dogg in “The Next Episode,” in 2001; Eminem in “Shake That,” 2007; Ludacris in “Area Codes,” 2002; Warren G. in “Regulate,” 1995, and Dr. Dre, also in “The Next Episode.”

He brought a soulful sound to rap, made you bob your head whether you wanted to or not. His caliber was evident as top artists in the industry sought to collaborate – talent ranging from B.I.G. to Nelly, Tupac, and Fabulous, to Mariah Carey to a New York rapper who goes by the name of Memphis Bleek.

As of 2004, Nate Dogg was featured in 40 hit singles. I am saddened by his death, and, not to my surprise, many of my peers are also. Yesterday, his death was among the hot trend topics on Twitter and Facebook. Fans posted condolence messages and consoled each other.

Bianca Rhodes, 22, of San Bernardino, Calif., went on for thirty minutes about how much she and her family listened to Nate Dogg while growing up.

“If you knew good music, and what was hot back then, you definitely knew his music,” she said.

Derrick Thompson, 20, of Memphis said, “Coming up in a rough neighborhood, I could really relate to what he talked about. I send condolences to his loved ones.”

As I sit here and write, I hear Nate Dogg’s voice on a local radio station.

His voice will live on.

RIP Nate Dogg.

(Karanja Ade Mosi Ajanaku, now 20, was the Tri-State Defenders first iTeen Reporter)