Album: G Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 (Death Row; 1996/ Breakaway; 1998)
Songwriters: Nate Dogg, Ralph MacDonald, William Slater and Snoop Dogg
R&B Peak Position: #22
"I'll ask you one time only/....Baby, won't you be there when it's hectic/ When I don't have a hit record"
The explicit lyrical themes that dominated West Coast gangsta rap definitely made it a hard sell for older crowds; but when dressed in those satiny G-funk beats and blessed with the smooth crooning of go-to hook man Nate Dogg, the records became far more easier to swallow. Like the Akon's and T-Pain's of today, the placement of Nate Dogg somewhere in your song in the '90's almost guaranteed it becoming a universal favorite, no matter how mature the involved subject matter was (even if, as was usually the case, it was Nate, himself, dishing out the R-rated dialogue).
Already well-established with scene-stealing cameos on Snoop's "Ain't No Fun", The Dogg Pound's "Let's Play House", 2Pac's "All About U" and, of course, Warren G's "Regulate", by late '96, Nate was ready to transfer the adoration he received from his collaborations into his own solo career and plans were put in motion for the release of his long-awaited debut album, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1: Ghetto Preacher.
The project's first single was the Kurupt-produced "Never Leave Me Alone", a laidback, "Where Is The Love"-sampling, summertime jam that finds Nate feeling all giddy inside after being shot with Cupid's arrow. Though he's caught a little off-guard by his bubbling romantic feelings ("D-O-G's ain't supposed to feel like this/...I don't even know what it is"), he can't resist what it does to his insides, resulting in him "singin' in the morning" and praying that the object of his affection will never ever leave his side.
By the second verse, life has gotten in the way of their fairy-tale union (read: he's got his third strike and is going to prison), and his plea for her undying commitment takes on a sadder meaning. Phoning his girl to "kiss my baby" and inform lil' Nate all about "his Daddy", he ends the call with one last request: "There's one more thing I really want you to do...Never leave me alone". A somber ending to a song that started off so happy.
As with anything Nate touched, the song benefited from the ear-coating comforts of his stoned "old soul" drawl and the way it made each line he sang sound like a mini-hook; throw in a slick (though equally sad) verse from Snoop centering on his own behind-bars worries ("I try to walk the yard with my head to the sky/ And hope my baby-boo ain't got somebody on the outside") and "Never Leave Me Alone" was sure to launch Nate's solo career in a major way.
Unfortunately, just as the single was picking up steam on radio, behind-the-scenes complications with Death Row forced Ghetto Preacher to be temporarily shelved. It wouldn't hit stores for another year and a half (this time via the independent Breakaway Records), to which it was then coupled with an entirely brand new album and released as the double-disc set, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2. Despite the addition of new material, in between the lull, audience focus had been re-applied to the rap sounds of the East; as a result G-Funk ended up a commecial flop, critically deemed a decent, but sadly dated-sounding, premiere effort.
Best Moment: The circuitous vocal harmonies in the chorus.
DL: "Never Leave Me Alone" (YFH)
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