Nate Dogg's Real Name: Nathaniel Dwayne Hale

Quick answer: Nate Dogg's real name was Nathaniel Dwayne Hale. He was born on August 19, 1969, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, raised largely in Long Beach, California, and died on March 15, 2011, in Long Beach at age 41 (New York Times; Los Angeles Times; LOC).

Long Beach and 213

Hale sang in church as a child, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then returned to Long Beach. With childhood friends Warren G and Snoop Doggy Dogg he formed the group 213. His smooth baritone hooks became a signature of West Coast G-funk — the sung chorus that answered gangsta-rap verses.

"Regulate" and the featured-hook era

His breakout with Warren G, "Regulate" (1994), was a multi-platinum hit built around Michael McDonald's "I Keep Forgettin'" sample and Nate's melodic storytelling. Through the 1990s and 2000s he appeared on countless tracks for Dr. Dre, Snoop, 50 Cent, Ludacris and others, often billed as the go-to singer for choruses. Solo albums included G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 and Music & Me (NYT; LAT).

Health and death

Nate Dogg suffered strokes in 2007–08 that limited his mobility and speech. He died in 2011 from complications related to those strokes, according to contemporaneous reports from his family and major newspapers. Peers across hip-hop publicly credited him with inventing a lane — the specialist hook singer — that later artists still fill.

Why the hooks mattered

Producers sought Nate Dogg because his melodies made hard verses radio-ready without softening their attitude — a template later used by singers from Akon to the weeknd-era featured vocalists. Compilation culture and streaming playlists keep "Regulate," "The Next Episode" (with Dr. Dre and Snoop) and dozens of cameos in rotation, so new listeners still meet Nathaniel Hale first as a voice, then learn the name behind the credit.