US musician Nate Dogg, best known for his collaborations with rappers such as 50 Cent and Eminem, has died aged 41.
His near-monotone crooning anchored some of rap's most seminal songs and helped define the sound of west coast hip-hop.
He died yesterday of complications from multiple strokes. Nate Dogg's real name was Nathaniel D. Hale.
He was not a rapper, but he was an integral figure in the genre. His voice was featured on hits including Warren G's Regulate, 50 Cent's 21 Questions, Dr Dre's The Next Episode and countless others.
While Nate Dogg provided hooks for rappers from coast to coast, he is best known for his contributions to the West Coast soundtrack provided by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, the Dogg Pound and more.
Nate Dogg was part of a supergroup featuring Snoop Dogg and Warren G, called 213 and also put out his own solo projects. He had suffered a number of strokes in recent years.
Commenting on Nate Dogg's death on Twitter, Snoop Doggy Dogg, who attended school with the musician, described him as a "true legend in hip-hop and R'n'B."