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Nate Dogg - Long Beach-native Nathanial "Nate Dogg" Dwayne Hale passed away three years ago this Saturday (March 15, 2011), after years of suffering from health issues. Before those complications took hold, however, the bandanna-bearing baritone lent his vocals to many hip hop classics. Read on to see why the hip hop crooner is still an all-around favorite. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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California Crooner - Though Nate Dogg did release solo albums, it was his collaborative projects that achieved the most success. He has contributed to over 40 Billboard-charting singles among many more. He's been on tracks with 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Erykah Badu, Eminem and Uncle Snoop, for example.(Photo: Todd Williamson/FilmMagic)

Photo By Todd Williamson/FilmMagic

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213 - Nate Dogg started his hip hop career as part of the trio 213, which also included childhood friends Snoop Dogg and Warren G. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Death Row - In 1993, Nate Dogg signed to Death Row records. He made his singing debut on Dr. Dre's classic album The Chronic. (Photo: David Livingston/WENN)

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Ain't No Fun - On Snoop's classic debut, Doggystyle, Nate Dogg was featured on the song "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)." It has become a West Coast hip hop anthem.(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Area Codes - Nate Dogg teamed up with Ludacris to provide the chorus for the hit record "Area Codes." The song was Grammy nominated for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

Photo By Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

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Regulate - Over the years, Nate Dogg has collaborated with both Snoop and Warren G, his 213-brethren, many times. But no song has been more memorable than the one that introduced Warren G to the world at large, 1994's "Regulate."(Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

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R.I.P. - Neither Nate Dogg nor Tupac held their tongues when they got in the booth, and once 'Pac moved to the West, both were integral parts to the success of the legendary Death Row Records. They worked together on Tupac's "Skandalouz" and "All About U."

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106 & Hollywood - Being in Cali put Nate in direct vicinity to Hollywood. Being the G that he is, he kept his appearances mostly to reality, appearing as himself in numerous documentaries detailing the musical legacy of his region, as well as on the celebrity version of The Weakest Link (almost beating out Xzibit), on America's Next Top Model and lending his voice to an animated version of himself on The Boondocks. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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The Next Episode - Nate Dogg has assisted two of the most revered collections in the rap game — when Dr. Dre returned to the game with 1999's The Chronic 2001, he called on the most of the same individuals that made his first album, 1992's The Chronic, a true classic. (Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage)

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Grammy Nominee - Nate's 2002 Grammy nod with Luda wasn't the only recognition he received from the committee. From his repertoire of legendary collaborations, he was also nominated for "Regulate" in 1995, Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode" in 2001, and Eminem's "Shake That" in 2007. Here, he's at 2002's 44th Annual Grammy Awards. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Solo Career - Nate Dogg released several solo albums throughout his career. G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 in 1998, Music and Me in 2001 and the self-titled Nate Dogg in 2003. Word is, a posthumous fourth has been in the works, Nate Dogg: It's a Wonderful Life. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)