Nate Dogg Suffers Stroke

Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 11:07 AM PST by Josh Grossberg

The Prodigal Son is on the rebound.

Nate Dogg, the rapper who's collaborated with the likes of Eminem, 50 Cent and his similarly monikered cousin Snoop Dogg, was hospitalized last month in California after suffering a mild stroke, but is now on the road to recovery, according to his reps.

Early reports indicated that the 39-year-old emcee, whose real name is Nathaniel Hale, might have had a heart attack Dec. 19, when he was admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. He remained there through the Christmas holiday.

But the hip-hopster's manager, Rod McGrew, has clarified that Dogg suffered a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body and affected his nervous system, including his sense of touch and ability to walk.

"Time will tell everything, obviously," his manager told MTV News. "The doctor can only guess what the outcome will be. But based on situations with similar people his age, and based on his health, the prognosis is good right now."

Thankfully, the stroke did not cause any brain damage or vocal impairment and was confined to "neural muscular issues that have to be jump-started," McGrew said.

Nate Dogg was released from the hospital Dec. 26 and is currently in a medical rehab facility, where he will work intensively with therapists to recover his motor skills.

The artist's manager also smacked down gossip sites for making light of the 911 call from his girlfriend.

"I'm not sure what people are trying to glean from that tape," McGrew said. "The media wants to create something, but I'm not sure what the point is. If you had an emergency and someone was in your presence, they would call 911."

McGrew said the rapper's camp had not ruled out some kind of legal action.

He also requested that fans and media respect Nate's privacy as he works on his recovery.

After making his rap debut on Dr. Dre's classic 1992 album, The Chronic, Dogg has released four solo albums and won four Grammy Awards.

But he remains best known for his guest vocals on Warren G's "Regulate," Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode," 50 Cent's chart-topping 2003 single "21 Questions" and Eminem's "Shake That" from Curtain Call.