Rapper, actor, and producer Coolio, who won a Grammy, has died. His track “Gangsta’s Paradise” from 1995 is what made him most famous. He was 59.
The rapper’s longtime manager, Jarel Posey, confirmed the information to ComingSoonNews and said that Coolio passed suddenly on Wednesday at around 5 p.m. PT. TMZ claims that Coolio was discovered at a friend’s home.
“Coolio was a close friend and a client of ours, therefore his demise this afternoon has left us in shock. According to Sheila Finegan, his manager at Trinity Artists International, he made a significant impact on the world and will be sorely missed.” I want to thank everyone who enjoyed his music and got in touch with me after learning of his loss. Please remember to pray for and think about the Coolio family.
After writing the song “Gangsta’s Paradise” for the Michelle Pfeiffer-starring film “Dangerous Minds” in 1995, Coolio rose to fame in the 1990s’ Los Angeles rap scene. It was his big chance. After spending three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, it quickly became one of the most well-known rap songs of all time. It ended 1995 as the number one single in the United States. In 1996, Coolio won the Grammy for best rap solo performance, while “Gangsta’s Paradise” received a record of the year nomination.
When Artis Leon Ivey Jr., then known as Coolio, moved to Compton, California, in 1991, he joined the hip-hop crew WC and the Maad Circle. On August 1st, 1963, Coolio was born in Pennsylvania. A record deal with Tommy Boy Records was secured by Coolio a few years later, in 1994, and he released his self-titled debut album. The debut song from It Takes a Thief, “Fantastic Voyage,” helped the album reach its peak position of No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and earn platinum certification.
Despite Coolio emphatically denying that he had given “Weird Al” Yankovic permission to do so, the song was promptly spoofed as “Amish Paradise” by the comedian. However, Coolio later asserted that they reconciled in interviews.
The following five studio albums by Coolio would be out in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2009: “Coolio.com,” “El Cool Magnifico,” “The Return of the Gangsta,” and “From the Bottom 2 the Top.” Coolio made the switch from music to television after his fame as a performer diminished. He placed third in a German talent contest for musicians hoping to make a comeback in 2004 and had an appearance on “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2009. Additionally, Coolio had a deep love of eating. His cookbook, “Cooking With Coolio,” was released in 2009, and in 2012, he competed in “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” on the Food Network, coming in second.
Coolio’s fame increased after “Gangsta’s Paradise” rose to prominence in the middle of the 1990s. He eventually cut “Aw, Here It Goes!” for “Kenan & Kel” on Nickelodeon, in which he also appeared. His 1997 third album, “My Soul,” featured the single “C U When U Get There,” which reached at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite being gold-certified, the album didn’t have the same impact as his first two releases, being his final record with Tommy Boy.
Throughout his career, Coolio—who was also a talented actor—appeared in a lot of movies and TV shows. Beginning with a guest appearance as himself on “Martin,” Coolio’s credits also include the “Dangerous Minds” TV spinoff (1996), “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Batman & Robin,” “The Nanny,” “Tyrone,” “Midnight Mass,” “Charmed,” “Star-ving,” “Futurama” (2001, 2010), and “Gravity Falls” (1995). (2012).
