Nathaniel Dawayne Hale, commonly known as Nate Dogg (born 1969) is a singer and occasional rapper who was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He began singing as a child in the New Hope Trinity Baptist Church choir where his father, Daniel Lee Hale, was pastor at the time. At the age of 16 he dropped out of high school in Long Beach, California and left home to join the United States Marine Corps where he served for 3 years before being dishonourably discharged. In 1991 Nate Dogg, his cousin Snoop Dogg and their friend Warren G formed a rap trio called 213 in Long Beach, California, who weren't to release an album until 2004.

Nate Dogg made his debut on Dr. Dre's 1992 album, The Chronic. Singing in what would later become his trademark style, he was well-received by fans and critics alike, and would go on to sign with Death Row Records in 1993. In 1994 he produced his first hit single "Regulate" with Warren G. Nate Dogg released his debut album under Breakaway Records in 1998 after a tumultuous time at Death Row Records. The double album was titled G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2 and was followed up in late 2001 with Music & Me on Elektra Records.