Nate Dogg passed away last night (15th March 2011) at the age of 41.
Nate Dogg, the infamous 'Death Row' artist and acclaimed rapper, has died at the age of 41, reports MTV News.His family announced that the rapper, real name Nathaniel D. Hale, died last night but the cause of death has not yet been established. Nate had suffered from a number of serious health issues in recent years, most notably in 2007 when he suffered a massive stroke, followed by another in 2008. News of the rapper's death has sent shockwaves through the music industry, with a number of his friends and colleagues paying tribute to the man that first made a name for himself on Dr Dre's classic album 'The Chronic'. He later worked on Warren G's smash hit record 'Regulate' and released several solo albums himself, including 'G-Funk Classics' and 'Music & Me' in 2001. Following his stroke in 2008, Nate's representative claimed that the singer was on the mend, saying, "On behalf of Nate, he would like to thank all of the well-wishers, both friends and fans. He appreciates it deeply, and he plans on fully recuperating and getting back in the studio".
As news of Nate Dogg's death began to circulate, his brother Samuel phoned into the Los Angeles based radio station Kday thanking fans for their tributes and kind words. Samuel noted that Nate had experienced declining health for the past three years, but declined to reveal the exact cause of death.