RIP Nate Dogg

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale AKA Nate Dogg passed away last night after several years dealing with severe illnesses. Dude was a don, and I got to thinking about how, no matter what scene you were in, you dug the brother. A West Coast head, an East Coast head, into underground, into mainstream, no matter where you came from or where your tastes lay, Nate Dogg was your shit. He truly was a unifying artist. Funny how, you never really think about what you have until it’s gone, right? Regulate In Power, Nate.

Back in 2000 I was out at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas and it was fight night so the electricity in the air was crazy. I was up in my hotel room just chilling and decided to run to the ice machine. I opened up the door, turned left, and who was walking right towards me? THIS GUY. As he walked passed me, wearing the craziest diamond pendant I had ever seen, with two girls flanking him on both sides, I thought to myself “Holy shit.” I guess in thinking it to myself, I must have actually said it. He looked right at me as he passed, and gave me a little head nod, and kept it moving, leaving the smell of straight dank in the air following him. Needless to say, inspired, I went in HEAVY on some G-Funk shit that night at the club. Ah, memories…

My homie Steve1der did a fantastic all Nate Dogg mix that is a must cop. Grab it below…

NATE IN ’08 (MIXED BY DJ STEVE1DER) by DJ STEVE1DER

Nate Dogg “I Got Love” (Elektra, 2001)