Nate Dogg

A Long Beach native who sang in church, Nathaniel Hale formed the group 213 with Snoop Dogg and Warren G before becoming hip-hop's premier hook singer.

His unmistakable baritone graced an extraordinary run of hits — "Regulate," "The Next Episode," "Area Codes," and "21 Questions" among them — making him the go-to voice for rap choruses.

He sang on dozens of charting singles across two decades before his death in 2011, an unrivaled record as a featured vocalist.

Nate Dogg defined the art of the rap hook, his melodic delivery woven into the fabric of West Coast and mainstream hip-hop.