RIP Nate Dogg: The soundtrack
In my prior post, I feebly attempted to pay tribute to Nate Dogg, who died Tuesday at age 41.
In this post, it’s all about the music, from the perspective of this semi-charmed life.
Nate was on a lot of hits. These are the baker’s dozen for which I’ll remember him most (click song titles for YouTube links):
Regulate (with Warren G): The most memorable track from the “Above the Rim” soundtrack — a movie I’ve watched often since I was about 10 — as well as the (sort-of) title track from Warren’s album, “Regulate … G-Funk Era”. A catchy-as-hell loop from an old Michael McDonald track, and a crowd-pleasing staple of this author’s karaoke repertoire…usually with the third verse a capella and audience participation in Nate’s finish.
Ain’t No Fun (with Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Warren G): Oddly enough, Nate wasn’t really part of the hook on his contribution to “Doggystyle”. He did, however, take the first verse and set the tone for a true classic. After all, it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.
Xxplosive (with Kurupt and Six Two): Nate was on “The Chronic”, but “2001″ contained his best contributions to Dre tracks. When I met you last night, baby / Before I blew your mind often was the start of an impromptu, drunken, a capella lyrical exhibition with one of my buddies in college on the sidewalks/streets of Spokane.
The Next Episode (with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg): Just when you think it’s over … Hold up / Heyyyyy… and there’s Nate sending out Part 2 of one of the greatest three-song runs on a hip-hop album (“Forgot About Dre”, this and “Let’s Get High”). Also, a surefire way to impress people is, after the final “Heyyyyy”, to hit “Smoke weed everyday” right on cue. Try it sometime.
Bitch Please II (with Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit): With a West Coast producer and a West Coast label, it didn’t take much to put a West Coast track on an Eminem album. It’s basically a Murderer’s Row with Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit, and Nate keeping it all together as only he can.
Lay Low (with Snoop Dogg, Master P, Butch Cassidy and The Eastsidaz): Snoop went to No Limit, and Dre “didn’t say shit on your whole motherfucking album.” Even then, Nate was on the hook, reminding basically everybody they better lay low. Also, what the hell was so great about Master P?
Area Codes (with Ludacris): Nate did a little bit of branching out after a while, heading south to tell people where they can find his hoes via telephone. This song, probably more than any other, only makes me wonder who else he could’ve collaborated with had his body not started to fail him in recent years.
All Bout U (with 2Pac, Snoop Dogg and the Outlawz): A predecessor to “Area Codes”, but Nate basically has the same premise on this track from when 2Pac was still alive. Basically, Nate had a lot of hoes in a lot of places.
Can’t Deny It (with Fabolous): The song that introduced me to Fabolous, and eventually subjected us all to DJ Clue screaming about “NEW SHIT!” on a shitload of, well, new shit afterward. While Jay Jackson was showing off his throwback collection, Nate may have managed to actually give the Los Angeles Clippers (of which I was a fan at the time) a tad bit of street cred.
From LB to Brick City (with Snoop Dogg and Redman): OK, so this is far from a single, there’s no actual hook and Redman’s the one who makes this track. It’s my list. And you can’t really go wrong on a track with Redman, Nate and Snoop.
Get Up (with Eve): If you actually bought Nate’s self-titled solo album, or if you played “NBA Street Vol. 2″, you know this one. I did the latter — a lot — so I heard this one often. It’s really the only track I’ve heard that’s actually his, where he carries the bulk of the load. No matter what role he was in, it certainly seemed to work.
Too Much (with The Game): The Game tried to bring the West Coast back. It almost worked. Either way, he had an OG’s seal of approval.
Gangsta Nation (with Westside Connection): The best 11-word assessment of Nate comes from Ice Cube at the end of the third verse: It must be a single with Nate Dogg singin’ on it. That’s really all you need to know.
