Let's pour a bit of beer on the ground to mourn the passing of Nate Dogg (AKA Nathaniel Hale), one of rap's finest male hook singers, who died Tuesday at the age of 41 after several years of health problems.
The four-time Grammy nominee was a key player in the rise of the West Coast G-Funk sound, and paramount participant in several gangsta hits.
"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb," Snoop Dogg tweeted. "One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met. I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit ... 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 yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!"