Nate Dogg’s Top 10 Collaborations

This is DJ Special Blend from Chicago. What’s up America and the World! Gotta give big-ups to Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), who was known to us fans as Nate Dogg. Dude unfortunately passed away from heart failure, complicated from prior strokes. Only forty-one years young on us. Its weird as time goes on. We witness more and more of the people we love or admire pass away. Nate Dogg is no exception, as we have heard his voice on the hooks of many of our favorite songs. In honor of his life, let’s count down the top ten songs that featured Nate Dogg as a guest artist. The four time Grammy Award nominated Hip-Hop singer was the man on the West Coast, and we’re about to big him up, as we start it off a little something like this…

Number 10

At number ten, we start it off with “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre. This one features Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, and at the time, it was considered by many as Dre’s come back single. Nate Dogg famously ended this song with a few seconds of accapella. Those words arguably became Nate’s catch phrase. “Hey, hey, hey. Smoke weed, everyday.”

Number 9

Number nine is “Area Codes” by Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg. “I’ve got hoes, I’ve got hoes . . . in different area codes, area codes.” I recall the very first time I played this song was at Dan Ryan Woods. I put the needle to the wax, and the rain drops came, and washed the gig away. Of course, this wasn’t Nate or Luda’s fault. I just recall that song was fresh out, and it was the last one I played that day.

Number 8

“Gangsta Nation” is next on the countdown at number eight. Ice Cube, Mac 10, and WC showed that they still had some West Coast flavor to put out, when this was released. They were smart in having Nate Dogg sing the hook. Almost every song Nate appears, fans can’t help but sing along when we hear it. “Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na.” Makes me wanna bust the Crip-walk.

Number 7

“I’m Fly” by Snoop Dog featuring Nate Dogg and Warren G is in at number seven. Peep the live version off of BET 106 and Park. We get to see Nate sing live, and we also get to see Free’s fine-ass come out at the end.

Number 6

“Bitch Please” in in at the six-spot. This one is Snoop’s song, and it features Xzibit and Nate Dogg. No, Xzibit doesn’t pimp anyone’s ride in the video. This jam is still a stepper’s cut that gets the floor pack in the city of Chi. There’s an instrumental version out there that features Martin Luther King’s “I have A Dream speech” mashed-up on top.

BMSRadioChicago.com

Number 5

This one is my personal favorite song off of “The Chronic” album. “Lil’ Ghetto Boy” by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, was the one I used to put on repeat. I didn’t even know who Nate Dogg was at the time. I thought they had sampled that hook from some cold-ass seventies song, off of some Blaxploitation movie or something. The CD version starts with audio directly from the Rodney King riots.

Number 4

“Regulate” by Warren G featuring Nate Dogg is certainly at the number four spot. This song is probably the second best commercial success for Nate Dogg without Snoop or Dre. Many people could relate to the Michael McDonald sample, “I Keep Forgetin’.” I personally liked this song, cause I felt Nate and Warren’s styles matched perfectly. When Warren G raps, it sounds like he is singing. When Nate Dogg sings, it sounds like he is rapping. The two should’ve done more songs together.

Number 3

“Xxplosive” by Dr. Dre featuring Hittman, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Six-Two is in at number two. There wasn’t an Urban DJ on the planet that didn’t mix this song in with Erykah Badu, “Bag Lady.” It was like it was automatically assumed that one would be played next, when one heard the other. Meanwhile, this song is an excellent example of how Nate would just steal the show on some of these songs.

Number 2

“Where I Wanna Be” is a summertime classic song in inner-cities across the country. Another Hip-Hop song that is a stepper’s cut in Chicago. Shade Shiest is the artist, but God bless his heart, Nate Dogg and Kurupt’s appearances has people assuming, to this day, that this is a Dogg Pound song. This song is so cold, that it can make a brotha write a run on sentence. This is probably Nate Dogg’s most commercially successful song without Dre or Snoop.

Honorable mention:

• “Boss’ Life” by Snoop Dogg featuring Nate Dogg
• “Deez Nuts” by Dr. Dre featuring Dat Nigga Daz and Nate Dogg

A Couple of his solo favorites:

• “I Got Love” by Nate Dogg
• “One More Day” by Nate Dogg

Tribute, immediately released upon his death:

• “All Dogs Go To Heaven” by The Game featuring Nate Dogg samples

remembering nathaniel dwayne hale. rest in peace

And now…

Number 1

Look me in the eye, and tell me that Nate Dogg did not steal the show on this song. “Ain’t No Fun” by Snoop Dog featuring the Nate Dogg, Warren G, and Kurupt was one of many B-side hits off of Snoop’s debut album, “Doggystyle.” This is a nice clip to end the countdown. Snoop and the Dogg Pound perform this song live. Nate’s not there, just as he’s no longer with us now, but the crowd sings his part collectively. In honor of Nathaniel Hale, press play, hold up your lighter, and sing along one time. ‘Ain’t No Fun” is at number one for this countdown. All congrats due . . .

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Rest in peace to the West coast, four time Grammy nominated artist. Your music will live on forever, and your fans will never forget your style. You will be missed. We know you are singing hooks up there in the sky now.

Meanwhile, I will see you all next time. Same time, same place. ’til then, don’t bump into the turntables!

5000!