Do yourself a favor: go to ITunes and download The Best of Nate Dogg. Halfway through, you will have the following revelation: this is the dopest CD ever. It is.
Whatever your longitude or latitude, you must respect the Robert Horry of Rap, the secret weapon of the Westside Dynasty.
Q: Can we please find a category for guys such as Robert Horry and Nate Dogg? Everything they touch turns to gold, yet neither of them are that great at what they do. I don't think Nate Dogg has ever had a hit on his own, but if you add "Featuring Nate Dogg" to a song, the record just automatically goes platinum. Robert Horry has won five championships on two different teams, yet never was the main focus on the team. Probably dozens more of these guys, this list needs to happen.
--R. Nugent, Pleasantville, N.Y.
Bill Simmons’ Mailbag, June 21, 2002
Nate Dogg’s baritone is a crisp as a game-winning shot, all-net, his lyrics as coldblooded as a series-turning flagrant. “Sixteen in the clip and one in the hole / Nate Dogg is about to make some bodies turn cold,” and yet inside the chest of Nathaniel Dawayne Hale beats a heart warm and tender.
The song’s premise is relatively simple. On a clear black night, with a clear white moon, Warren G and Nate Dogg are driving in separate cars with a plan to meet up. Trouble arrives, however, when some “busters” rob Warren. As Nate searches for his friend, he sees some “skirts” in another car:
Since these girls peeping me, I’ma glide and swerve.
These hookers lookin so hard they straight hit the curb.
Want to think of better things than some horny tricks,
I see my homey and some suckers all in his mix.
Though Nate’s good looks are the cause of the accident, he must leave the ladies to go and save his friend.
I laid all those busters down, I let my gat explode,
Now I’m switching my mind back into freak mode.
If you want skirts, sit back and observe,
I just left a gang of hoes over there on the curb…
Just like I thought they were in the same spot, in need of some desperate help,
But Nate Dogg and the G Child were in need of something else.
One of them dames was sexy as hell, I said ‘ooh I like your size.’
She said, ‘my car’s broke down and you seem real nice, would you let me ride.’
I’ve got a car full of girls and it’s going real swell.
The next stop is the Eastside Motel.
Ooh, I like your size—only Nate Dogg could deliver such a line. When Nate Dogg feels it, it’s on. The longest note is on Eastside Motel. Nate Dogg certainly feels that Motel. If you smoke like I smoke, then you’re high like everyday. And if your ass is a buster, 213 will regulate.
2. AIN’T NO FUN (IF THE HOMIES CAN’T HAVE NONE),
(with Kurupt, Snoop, and Warren)
A NateDoggian sonnet.
sestet
When I met you last night baby,
Before you opened up your gap.
I had respect for you lady,
But now I take it all back.
Cause you gave me all your pussy,
And you even licked my balls.
octave
Leave your number on the cabinet,
And I promise, baby, I’ll give you a call.
Next time, I’m feeling kinda horny,
You come on over, and I’ll break you off.
And if you can’t fuck that day, baby,
Just lay back and open your mouth.heroic couplet
Cause I’ve never met a girl,
That I’ve loved in the whole wide world.
In the sestet, Nate Dogg reveals himself a true romantic. But when the lady does not offer sufficient resistance, Nate Dogg doggs. In the octave he makes clear the terms of the relationship. And in the heroic couplet Nate reveals his infinite sadness and melancholy. At what movies does Nate Dogg cry? What would Warren and Snoop say if they saw him shed a tear?
OLD SCHOOL LIBERAL: Nate Dogg is the product of a matriarchal culture, who uses misogyny to assert his masculine identity.
But the truth is that Nate Dogg’s parents are married. His father was the pastor at New Hope Trinity Baptist Church. Nate Dogg, Ice Cube, and Eazy E were all middle class. But perhaps they saw that middle class was not what America wanted them to be, and that they could join the upper class by pledging allegiance to the streets.
At age 15, Nate moved back to his native California, where he began running with his cousin Snoop Dogg. At age 16, he dropped out of school and joined the Marines, where he was dishonorably discharged.
In 1996, Nate Dogg stood trial on two accounts of armed robbery. Nate was accused of robbing a Taco Bell. But was later acquitted in what was determined to be a case of mistaken identity.
In March, 2001, five of six charges were dropped against Nate in a case in which he allegedly kidnapped his former girlfriend before setting fire to her mother’s car. A judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to hold him on accounts of kidnapping, domestic abuse and battery, arson and terrorist threats. The loyal woman refused to cooperate with the prosecution. But months later Nate Dogg did plead guilty to possession of an unmarked gun. He received three years probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
It appears he truly loved her.
3. GANGSTER NATION. The first song to give Nate his due: It ain't a hit till Nate Dogg spit. This is straight church, with organs, NateDoggian chants nah-nah nah-nah nah-nah nah-nah, and Ice Cube thanking the congregation.
This game right here is rough as fuck.
These hoes out here are ‘bout the bucks.
These fools out here afraid of us.
I have no fear, afraid of what?
And with my peers we’re coming up.
Fools talk real loud, but don’t run up.
When we come through, they run and duck,
We still right here, so what the fuck.
4. OH NO (with Mos Def and Talib Kweli)
Oh no! Niggaz ain’t scared to hustle.
It’s been seven days the same clothes.
Ask them originals because they know,
Mos Def, Nate Dogg and Pharoah.
Step away from the mike, we too cold.
Funk might fracture your nose.
Have you ever worn the same clothes for seven straight days? Rodney has. And we can tell you one thing: the funk might fracture your nose.
Nate has named “Oh No!” his favorite song. In two other songs, Nate mentions the odoriferous feet that result after wearing the same clothes for several days. Perhaps the wound never fully healed; perhaps a young woman smelled said feet. In Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, young Pip undergoes a similar experience when Estella exclaims, "And what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots!”
“I had never thought of being ashamed of my feet before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. Her contempt for me was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it.”
5. XPLOSIVE (with Kurupt and Hitman)
(“Ain’t No Fun,” revisited)
All my real dogs still kick it with me,
All my down hoes still trickin with me,
All the true gangstaz know
Nate ain’t never loved no hoe.
All the hood rats still shake it for me,
All my true fans still checkin for me,
All the real smokers know
Nate ain’t passing nothing but dro indeed,
Real trees, chronic leaves, no seeds.
When I met you last night, baby,
Before I blew your mind (blew, blew, blew your mind).
I thought we had a chance lady (no more)
Now that I’m sober you ain’t that fine (ummmm).
Don’t want to treat you wrong,
Don’t want to lead you on,
Hear baby, hit the bong,
While the West Coast rolls along.
While we still making gangster hits,
You’ll be still jocking gangster dicks.
Damn, girl, you think you slick,
Somebody better get this bitch (this bitch).
6. LAY LOW (with Snoop, Dre, Master P)
For the nigga who be talking loud and holding his dick (talking shit),
He better lay low.
For the bitch who said I shot some shit up out of my dick (now she sick),
She better lay low.
For the niggaz who be claiming my hood and really ain’t from my gang,
Better lay low.
I hope he don’t be thinking I’m just talking and I won’t do a thing.
Really hope so.
7. BITCH PLEASE (with Snoop, Dre, Xibit, Eminem)
NATE: And you really don’t want to fuck with me,
Only nigga that I trust is me,
Fuck around and make me bust--did he
SNOOP: He’s the devil. they always want to dance.
8. THE SET UP (with Obi Trice)
Thick thighs but she’s full of surprises.
I swear that bitch is shady.
Sex on her mind all the time,
And you think that that’s your baby.
You’re a good guy that’s living a lie
But she told him, man you saved me.
If you’re cool and she’s satisfied,
How come that bitch just paid me?
As Samuel Johnson once said, “maternity is always a matter of fact, paternity one of mere inference.” A study conducted by Dr. Robin Baker confirmed that in at least ten percent of all pregnancies the alleged father is not. And you think that that’s your baby?
9. THA NEXT EPISODE
Hold up, Hey! For my the niggaz who be thinking we soft,
We don’t play! We gonna rock it to the wheels fall off.
Hold up, Hey! For my niggaz who be acting too bold
Take a seat. Hope you’re ready for the next episode.
Hey-hey-hey-hey…..smoke weed everyday.
10. AREA CODES
I’ve got hoes (I’ve got hoes)
In different area codes. (area codes)
Hoes (hoes, hoes) in different area codes (area codes)
Hoes
Is it cause they like my gangsta walk? (gangsta walk)
Is it cause they like my gangsta talk? (gangsta talk)
Is it cause they like my handsome face? (handsome face)
Is it cause they like my gangsta ways? (gangsta ways)
Whatever it is, they love it and they just won’t let me be.
I handles my biz. Don’t rush me just relax and let me be free.
Whenever I call, come running 212 or 213.
You know that I ball. Stop fronting or I’ll call my substitute three.
Possibly Nate Dogg’s most famous song. Who else could put so much feeling into the word “hoes.”
Nate’s voice runs the scale just as he has run the scale of hoes, around the world, in different area codes. You better stop fronting or he’ll call his substitute three. Who else has three substitutes?
11. THE GAME DON’T WAIT (with Snoop and Warren G)
The hits don’t stop because the game don’t wait.
I got no time for no demonstrate.
I gotta go out and buy some brand new clothes and change my socks before they reveal my toes.
The hits don’t stop because the game don’t wait.
And the girls don’t stop because the deal is straight.
Let me tell you what I already know.
The hits don’t stop so it’s time I flow.
An underrated classic. Have you ever had to run out and buy some brand new clothes and change your socks before they reveal your toes? Rodney has. And we can tell you one thing: the funk might fracture your nose. Again Nate returns to his roots, to the seven days the same clothes. The world will never forget.
12. ME AND MY HOMIES (with Tupac)
Me and my homies, we kick it like everyday.
Nate’s only love song, dedicated, of course, to his homies.
13. DIRTY HOE’S DRAWS
A dirty hoe’s draws
That was the cause of it all.
Enough said.
13. GROUPIE LUV (with Snoop and Warren G)
I was just about to call“We’re trying to find groupie love,” says Snoop. “That means beautiful girls who want to become video stars aspiring to do something with their careers. We can get you that upliftment. We can get you in the video.”
When Snoop Dogg told me that he phoned you,
When Warren G told me that he rolled you.
(I told you she was a groupie).
Nate Dogg in the house tonight looking for some groupie luv.
14. NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
They can come closer than close,
Original they never will be.
We rocking from coast to coast,
Just trying to make y’all see:
Nobody does it better than me.
The Gospel Truth. When Nate Dogg feels it, it’s on. “That’s all I know how to do, just make music. Wherever I go with my life, even the good times and the bad times, only two people are with me, God and my music. That’s what keeps me from killing people.”
In an interview Nate was asked, what are you about? “All about being Nate, all about making music, and trying to feed my kids, and make the future for my children better. That’s exactly what I’m about, and I’m about drinking now and then and girls and shit, you know.”
Nate Dogg may have not found his girl, but he is not without hope. “When I do get married, I’m gonna sing to my wife. If a woman makes me fall in love, I’ve got to sing to her.” 
Do it raw.
Do it Rodney.