Coolio, the Grammy-winning rapper finest identified for the 1995 single Gangsta’s Paradise, died Wednesday on the age of 59.
The rapper’s longtime supervisor, Jarel Posey, confirmed the information to a number of information shops, together with Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Occasions. Coolio was discovered unresponsive on the toilet flooring at a good friend’s home, Posey advised TMZ, which first reported the information.
No reason for dying has been introduced, however cardiac arrest is suspected, Posey advised TMZ.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug. 1, 1963 in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Coolio later moved to Compton, California, the place he joined the hip-hop group WC and the Maad Circle and contributed to their 1991 debut album Ain’t a Rattling Thang Modified.
Coolio rose to prominence with the 1995 track Gangsta’s Paradise, which appeared within the film, 1995 film Harmful Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. The track hit No. 1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and was nominated in 1996 for document of the 12 months and finest rap solo efficiency on the Grammy Awards, with Coolio successful the latter. The track was so widespread “Bizarre Al” Yankovic put collectively a parody cowl of the track, Amish Paradise, in 1996.
Coolio would go on to have a handful of main hits, together with C U When U Get There in 1997 which turned a high 10 hit in lots of nations all over the world.
Coolio was additionally a profitable actor, showing in dozens of films and TV reveals over his profession, together with the 1997 film Batman & Robin and TV collection corresponding to Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Harmful Minds TV spinoff. Extra lately he appeared in actuality reveals corresponding to Cookin’ With Coolio and Coolio’s Guidelines. He additionally offered top-of-the-line theme songs of all time, for the hit present Kenan & Kel.
Tributes for the rapper are beginning to pour in.
Shocked to listen to that Coolio died! I simply noticed him carry out on July 4 – I used to be in St. Louis & we stumbled right into a live performance close to the Arch & received so excited once we realized that it was him. Such a blast, everybody was actually into it, grooving alongside to Improbable Voyage… 💔
— Emily Nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) September 29, 2022
I noticed Coolio, dwell on stage at a sport awards ceremony in Los Angeles, announce that HALF-LIFE was Sport of the Yr, and no-one can ever take that away from me. Keep in mind that one @iocat?
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) September 29, 2022
