R.I.P Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale - 08/16/69 - 03/15/11

The music industry is mourning the loss of another veteran. Singer and Hip Hop Artist, Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale, reportedly passed away last night in his home town, Long Beach, California at the age of 41.

His cause of death is unknown, however, he had been battling health issues for some time following two strokes--one in December 2007 and another in 2008 which paralyzed the left side of his body.

As a child, Nate Dogg sang in church. After dropping out of high school and serving three years in the United States Marine Corps, Nate Dogg started out in the music industry in 1991 in a group called 213 with his cousin, Snoop Dogg and Warren G. The group made a demo and in 2003, and after Music Producer, Dr. Dre, heard it, Nate Dogg was signed to Death Row Records.

Nate Dogg was a huge contributor to the popularity of the west coast hip hop music scene and a major collaborator with many notable hip hop artists including Tupac Shakur, Ludacris, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mack 10, Obie Trice, Fabolous and The Game, with more than 40 tracks topping the music charts. As a solo artist, he released three albums.

Nate Dogg was a four-time Grammy nominee in the Rap category for the collaborations he did with Eminem, "Shake That" in 2007; Ludacris, "Area Codes" in 2002; Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, "The Next Episode" in 2001 and his first and one of his best known hits that he produced with Warren G, "Regulate" in 2005.

Last November, Warren G had appealed to fans to make contributions to go to Nate Dogg's rehabilitation therapy.

Despite his health, Nate Dogg had formed a Los Angeles based gospel choir called, InNate Praise in 2007. TMZ reports that current American Idol contestant, Jacob Lusk, was a member of the choir and they performed at churches across the city.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.