Critic's Review
Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
Nate Dogg was ahead of his time, which is severely unfortunate due to mishaps with record company delays and bungled mismanagement. Had the record company in question used their intuition, they could have easily made him one of the biggest stars in their stable. His extremely slick production and smooth vocal delivery were a benchmark in the development of the G-funk sound and fueled many imitators within months of his arrival on the scene. To say Essential is the essential Nate Dogg collection is somewhat accurate, as it takes almost every well-known hit he's ever been on and compiles them all on to one disc. However, curiously absent are the centerpieces of his career to date: the Warren G collaboration that turned into the G-funk anthem "Regulate" and selections from his 2001 release Music & Me. Had these two things been included, Essential would be a more well-rounded representation of the man's career thus far. Instead, it's more for the die-hard fans and those looking to get a deeper picture of Nate Dogg beyond the major-label releases.
