Rap star Nate Dogg dies at 41

TN TITAN Fan In STL · #1 03-16-2011, 10:27 AM

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Rapper and music producer Nate Dogg, a prominent figure in the world of hip-hop, has died at the age of 41, the Hollywood Reporter wrote Wednesday without giving a cause of death.

Best known for his 1994 hit "Regulate," Nate Dogg -- a longtime friend and collaborator of rap Legends Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur -- died late Tuesday, the trade newspaper wrote.

It quoted a tweet from Snoop Dogg lamenting the death of his friend.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986," the rap megastar wrote on this Twitter microblog posting.

"I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan all doggs go to heaven."

Born Nathan Hale, in Long Beach, California, Nate Dogg made his debut on rap artist Dr. Dre's seminal 1992 album "The Chronic," the Hollywood Reporter wrote.

Hale was a rapper and producer on one of the biggest hip-hop singles of the 1990s, "Regulate" with Warren G, a hit which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1994.

News reports said he suffered from ongoing health problems, including two strokes over the past four years.