Nathaniel Dwayne Hale ( August 19 , 1969 â `` March 15 , 2011 ) was an American rapper who was better known by his stage name , Nate Dogg . Nathaniel Dwayne Hale ( August 19 , 1969 - March 15 , 2011 ) , better known by his stage name Nate Dogg , was an American musician .