Coolio

Coolio, the '90s rapper who lit up the music charts with hits like "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage," has died, his friend and manager Jarez Posey ...

He won a Grammy in 1996 for the song. “I wasn’t looking for a career, I was looking for a way to clean up – a way to escape the drug thing,” he told the publication. I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did.” “It was going to kill me and I knew I had to stop. In recent years, Coolio enjoyed the perks of being a nostalgic figure, making television appearances on shows like “Celebrity Cook Off” and “Celebrity Chopped.” In firefighting training was discipline I needed.

The rapper Coolio died at the age of 59 in Los Angeles, his manager has confirmed. The artist, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, passed away at a friend's ...

He also [wrote a cookbook](https://www.amazon.com/Cookin-Coolio-Star-Meals-Price/dp/1439117616) and appeared on [celebrity cooking shows](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped/photos/chopped-tournament-of-stars-round-2-highlights). [cooking series](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/oct/06/coolio.cookery.book) which grew an [online following](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOB6XH-e-RA). [told the Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-24-ca-19374-story.html) in 1994. I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did.” He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to hip-hop. Earlier this year, the song hit one billion views on YouTube.

Coolio, whose birth name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1996 for “Gangsta's Paradise.” “ ...

[The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/golfa-s-paradise-interview-coolio-1247021.html) in 1997 that as a child, he would play board games with his mother, to whom he later dedicated his success. Coolio’s other hits included “Fantastic Voyage” — the opening song on his debut album — and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New),” which were both nominated for Grammys. [his official online biography](https://coolioworld.com/me/). She wrote that the late addition “turned a preachy Michelle Pfeiffer film about an inner-city teacher into a hit that sounded fresher than it really was.” Posey, who worked with the rapper for more than 20 years, said he was told that Coolio died at about 5 p.m. [He said in 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDdX7k3nASE) that after years of lamenting over his struggles in the music industry, he had realized that “people would kill to take my place.” It was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. At a 2016 performance in Brooklyn, N.Y., [Page Six reported](https://pagesix.com/2016/02/25/coolio-has-asthma-attack-on-stage-gets-inhaler-from-crowd/), he had an asthma attack and was saved by a fan who had an inhaler. [PopkillerTV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDdX7k3nASE) in 2018 that the song had taken him on “a great ride.” Its popularity has endured for decades, with the music video garnering [a rare billion-plus views on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c). [wrote in a review](https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/19/arts/pop-briefs-048089.html) in The New York Times, noting that “Gangsta’s Paradise” uses “the somber minor chords” of “Pastime Paradise,” by Stevie Wonder. [wrote for The Times](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/26/movies/critic-s-notebook-singing-dancing-and-sinning.html) in 1996. Other hits by Coolio, who won a Grammy for “Gangsta’s Paradise” in the mid-1990s, included “Fantastic Voyage” and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New).”

Coolio, whose legal name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at the Los Angeles home of a friend, longtime manager Jarez Posey told The Associated Press. The cause ...

He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The cause was not immediately clear.

Coolio, a rapper best known for hits like "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage," has died, according to Rolling Stone. He was 59.

And being intelligent," he said. He was always talking about something that was gonna make me a better person.' " "I wanna be remembered for just being a cool ass person. Born in Pennsylvania in 1963, Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., later moved to Compton, California, where he was raised. He also appeared in several films and TV shows, including "Futurama," "Charmed" and "The Nanny." He recorded records in the 1980s, and his career blew up in 1995 with his song "Gangsta's Paradise," which was featured in the Michelle Pfeiffer-led film "Dangerous Minds."

Coolio, the award-winning rapper, has died. He was 59. The “Gangsta's Paradise” rapper — whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr. — was found dead on ...

Rest In Peace!" it’s on and it’s on and it’s on.” P." Rest In Peace @Coolio," Ice Cube "Gangstas paradise. The track earned him a Grammy award for Best Rap Solo Performance. “I want to thank everybody for all the years of love and being there for me. Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Coolio moved to Compton, California, where he started his rapping career. It would become his biggest hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks. to the 2900 block of Chesapeake Avenue, officials said. The case will then be handed over to the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office which will ultimately issue an autopsy report. The “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper — whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr.

The rapper, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at a friend's Los Angeles home, his manager confirmed. The cause of death was not immediately clear.

His big break would come that year with “Fantastic Voyage,” followed by “Gangsta’s Paradise” — a No. “I remember him being nothing but gracious. I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did,” Coolio told the newspaper. [grew up in Compton, Calif.](https://coolioworld.com/me/), and served as a volunteer firefighter before pivoting to a full-time music career. “In firefighting training was discipline I needed. He was 59.

Coolio, whose legal name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at the Los Angeles home of a friend, longtime manager Jarez Posey told The Associated Press. The cause ...

His career took off with the 1994 release of his debut album on Tommy Boy Records, It Takes a Thief. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene. The cause was not immediately clear.

Artist won a Grammy for best solo rap performance in 1995.

3 on the Billboard Hot 100. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene. The cause was not immediately clear.

Stars pay tribute to Gangsta's Paradise rapper, who has died at 59 after being found unresponsive.

[He told the Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-24-ca-19374-story.html) in a 1994 interview he did so as "a way to clean up". I witness first hand this man's grind to the top of the industry," while [Vanilla Ice tweeted: ](https://twitter.com/vanillaice/status/1575290453905350656)"I'm freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away". Musician Al Yankovic posted a picture of himself with the late rapper. He loved telling everyone that." "We ran every day. "Good people. "A life cut entirely too short," she continued. [Flavor Flav said](https://twitter.com/FlavorFlav/status/1575298109638205440) he and Coolio had been due to "perform together this Tuesday", saying his friend was "the West Coast Flavor Flav... [MC Hammer described](https://twitter.com/MCHammer/status/1575300984883974144) Coolio as "one of the nicest dudes I've known". RIP Coolio," he wrote, sharing a black and white picture of the rapper, and later posting a second picture of the pair together, along with Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Coolio's manager at Trinity Artists International, Sheila Finegan, said they were "saddened... [grossed nearly £85m](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl709658113/weekend/) (£78m) worldwide and the track became the biggest-selling record of the year in the US, and Coolio was awarded the Grammy for best rap solo performance.

Grammy-winning, rapper, producer and actor Coolio has died. He was best-known for hits "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta's Paradise."

Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., had a music career that spanned more than three decades. “As far as what I know now is that he was at a ...

He was a contestant in "Fear Factor" in 2001. "This is sad news. Overall, he has sold more than 17 million records, according to his website. No foul play is suspected, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. for a death investigation, the department said. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the home around 4 p.m.

How did Coolio die? Jarez Posey, the rapper's longtime manager, confirmed to Variety that Coolio died Wednesday afternoon. A cause of death has not yet been ...

[NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rapper-coolio-dead-59-rcna49916). Thank you to everyone worldwide who has listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing. I think it made it timeless.” [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/28/entertainment/coolio-obit/index.html). I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. “I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. [interview](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_ZJYIIYdh/?hl=en), per [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/28/entertainment/coolio-obit/index.html). [Variety](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/coolio-dead-dies-gangstas-paradise-rapper-1235387456/). “I didn’t use any trendy words … This is sad news. [Variety](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/coolio-dead-dies-gangstas-paradise-rapper-1235387456/) that Coolio died Wednesday afternoon. [Gangsta’s Paradise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c),” has died, according to [multiple reports](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/coolio-dead-dies-gangstas-paradise-rapper-1235387456/).

From his thoughts on Australian urban planning projects to writing the Kenan & Kel theme song, many are looking back on Coolio's interesting life.

His celebrity was marked by iconic hair and a wealth of interesting stories. The Grammy-winning artist was an undeniable force in 1990s hip-hop. [acoustic rendition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvMKgMZsfDM) of “Gangsta’s Paradise” with a group of university students in 2013.

Coolio, the rapper whose hits including “Gangsta's Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday at age 59.

He was sentenced to six months probation and fined $30,000. Rest In Peace, @Coolio.” [“Weird Al” Yankovic tweeted](https://twitter.com/alyankovic/status/1575312521497452546) “RIP Coolio” along with a picture of the two men hugging. [said on Twitter](https://twitter.com/icecube/status/1575295135516020737). And with his distinctive persona he would become a cultural staple, acting occasionally, starring in a reality show about parenting called “Coolio’s Rules,” providing a voice for an episode of the animated show “Gravity Falls” and providing the theme music for the Nickelodeon sitcom “Kenan & Kel.” 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The cause was not immediately clear.

Coolio, who won a Grammy in" 1996 for his hit No. 1 song "Gangsta's Paradise, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 59.

[cast in a recurring role](https://deadline.com/2020/02/coolio-hbo-max-drama-pilot-vegas-high-1202867716/) on 2020 HBO Max pilot Vegas High. The pilot was [not picked up to series.](https://deadline.com/2021/02/vegas-high-drama-pilot-dead-not-going-forward-hbo-max-1234691837/) He appeared as a housemate on Big Brother in 2009, and a year later appeared on Ultimate Big Brother, ultimately leaving the house after numerous conflicts with others in the house. His other credits include Gravity Falls, The Nanny and the Adult Swim show Black Jesus in an episodes titled “Gangsta’s Paradise.” His 1996 single “It’s All the Way Live (Now)” — which sampled another Lakeside hit — dented the top 30, and the following year’s “C U When U Get There” with 40 Thevz peaked at No. [Coolio](https://deadline.com/tag/coolio/), the Compton-raised rapper with the trademark braids who won a Grammy in 1996 for his No. It also won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, scored a pair of MTV Video Music Awards and was parodied by “Weird” Al Yankovic as “Amish Paradise,” which peaked at No, 53 in 1996. Coolio released a few non-charting singles in the early 1990s before hitting it big in 1994 with “Fantastic Voyage,” a rap remake of the 1979 Lakeside song. In the Disney pic, Pfeiffer played an ex-Marine teaching at an inner-city school. 1 smash “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer-starring film [Dangerous Minds](https://deadline.com/tag/dangerous-minds/), died Wednesday in Los Angeles, his manager Jarez Posey told Deadline. “Gangsta’s Paradise” was featured in the 1995 movie Dangerous Minds, whose soundtrack spent a month at No. [Hollywood & Media Deaths 2022: A Photo Gallery](https://deadline.com/feature/hollywood-deaths-2022-celebrity-media-obituaries-photo-gallery-1235082565/)

His signature song owned the airwaves and proved that an emcee could be gangster and gregarious.

In his later years he had become a creature of reality TV, with appearances on Big Brother UK and Marriage Boot Camp – all while remaining a robust concert draw. When he wasn’t topping the charts, he was walking on to awards shows, celebrity basketball games, sitcoms, films and even kids’ shows – providing the theme song for the Nickelodeon variety show Kenan & Kel. It didn’t help that Dangerous Minds, with its heavy-handed white savior themes, would go on to be regarded as something of a joke, too. It topped the charts in 14 countries and locked out the top two spots on Billboard’s US Hot 100 list on the way to going triple platinum. And yet for all of Coolio’s obvious skill, which really shows up in his early work (he recorded his first single in 1987), he’s easily summed up in one song: Gangsta’s Paradise. On Wednesday, the rapper – real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr – died at a friend’s house in Los Angeles, his manager said.

The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks, he won a Grammy for best rap solo performance and Weird Al Yankovic even did a cover of it ...

In 1997, off his third album, “My Soul,” Coolio dropped “C U When U Get There” featuring 40 Thevz and it was met with high praise around the globe. Coolio checks in to give a sex education lesson in his 1995 hit “Too Hot,” and every line he raps in this thoughtful song is still valid in 2022. Rapping about K&K’s misadventures and schemes, “Aw, Here It Goes” also gave us a glimpse into how Coolio viewed the guys, likening them to “Siegfried and Roy or Abbott and Costello. Off his 1994 debut album “It Takes a Thief,” there was, and still is, nothing like cranking this tune to the highest decibel while cruising in your own ride, wanting to take that ride with Coolio. Coming up in Compton, Coolio was already a well-respected emcee when he joined the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991, contributing to their debut album “Ain’t a Damn Thang Changed.” But everything did change for him in 1995 when the film “Dangerous Minds” was released with his song “Gangsta’s Paradise” on the soundtrack. Coolio always excelled at delivering feel-good songs with a meaningful messageand this song from the “Gangsta’s Paradise” album is a prime example.

Coolio's death on Wednesday at age 59 was a shock to his fans across the world. The rapper born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was found dead on the bathroom floor of ...

It also ruled the Hot Rap Songs list for 11 consecutive weeks and would go on to win the Billboard Music Award for single of the year, as well as a Grammy for best rap solo performance. [Coolio](http://billboard.com/music/coolio)‘s [death](https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/coolio-dead-obituary-1235146793/) on Wednesday at age 59 was a shock to his fans across the world. Bonus: Coolio makes a cameo in the music video. The Las Vegas rockers included their punishing punk cover on the 2014 compilation album Punk Goes 90s Vol. It has also drawn in dozens of other acts to take their own unique swings on the single. The single spent three weeks atop the list in 1995 and finished as the year-end No.

Coolio performing for US military Task Force Eagle. This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official ...

(Sadly, the music video is forever marred by the puzzling presence of Michelle Pfeiffer.) The song ends with a plea, as Coolio’s collaborator L.V. Tambourine Man,” was rightly maligned even in 1995 for trafficking in racist stereotypes. Coolio is subverting Psalm 23, a psalm of David expressing trust in God as shepherd. Something else needs to break the cycle. Among his many achievements was providing a new tune to a familiar staple of Jewish life.

Everybody knows “Gangsta's Paradise.” Your parents, Stevie Wonder, Weird Al, Michelle Pfeiffer, misguided wedding DJs, the most-soused White person at karaoke, ...

“Gangsta’s Paradise” dropped in August 1995, quickly went multiplatinum in half a dozen countries and eventually became one of the most recognizable rap songs on the planet. And if rap was still on its way to becoming America’s dominant pop idiom in the summer of ’94, “Fantastic Voyage” definitely helped speed everything along. But “Fantastic Voyage,” a breakout single that smothered MTV the summer prior, is the Coolio cut that deserves to bask in its own magic-hour sunshine for perpetuity.

In 2019, the Grammy Award winning rapper Coolio, who has died at the age of 59, played an intimate gig to about 100 people in Castlederg, County Tyrone. Even ...

"The time that he took to spend with my son, to talk music and to talk to everybody, there was no ego or anything from him, he was just really down to earth for somebody that's a Grammy Award winner landing in Castlederg." "He was a really nice guy and a really nice human being," Mr Doherty reflected when asked for his own tribute to the music star. "A lot of people thought it was a tribute act and a hoax and a PR stunt."