Music & Me (2001)

This California crooner gives more assists than John Stockton, adding gangsterfied vocal muscle to scores of hip-hop songs. Past collaborators Snoop Dogg and Ludacris join Nate on his second major-label album, a g'd-up affair that caters to Nate's strengths and exposes his weaknesses. Teaming with Dr. Dre on ''Your Wife,'' his womanizing sounds devilishly fun. But alone, Nate sounds less urgent and loses potency. Tha Dogg definitely has a pack mentality.