The King of G-Funk: Happy Birthday Nate Dogg!
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale aka Nate Dogg. When I think of hip hop singers, he’s definitely the one. The East Coast have Mary J. Blige and the West Coast have Nate Dogg. I personally don’t know his solo stuff too much but when you hear joints like “Ain’t No Fun”, “21 Questions”, “Area Codes”, “Regulate”, or “The Next Episode” there’s no denying that deep singing voice with a bit of that West Coast attitude underneath it that makes him stand out in a room full of rappers. I just remember feeling so shocked about his sudden death back 5 years ago, it doesn’t even seem like 5 years ago. I might have to spend the day checking out his music. I’m not a fan of too much West Coast hip hop but Nate Dogg I can definitely listen to all day and just like Mary J. Blige, he provides those smooth soulful but gangsta hooks that can give a hip hop track that feeling that you can feel when you hear it. Singing along to it is one thing but feeling it and understanding where that voice comes from and how it makes you feel is another. Happy birthday and rest in peace to the king of hooks, the king of G-Funk.