Coolio, Grammy-Winning 'Gangsta's Paradise' Rapper, Dies at 59
Source: Variety
Coolio, the Grammy-winning rapper, producer and actor best known for his 1995 hit Gangstas Paradise, has died. He was 59.
The rappers longtime manager Jarel Posey confirmed the news to Variety, saying that Coolio died around 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday afternoon. According to TMZ, Coolio was found at a friends house.
Coolio rose to prominence in the Los Angeles rap scene in the 90s, scoring his big break when he recorded the song Gangstas Paradise for the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. It quickly became one of the most popular rap songs of all time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and ending 1995 as the No. 1 single of that year in the United States. In 1996, Gangstas Paradise was nominated for record of the year and best rap solo performance at the Grammy Awards, with Coolio winning the latter. The song was soon spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic, who satirized it as Amish Paradise, though Coolio was adamant that he did not give Weird Al permission to do so. However, Coolio has said in interviews that the two later made amends.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug. 1, 1963 in Pennsylvania, Coolio later moved to Compton, Calif. where he joined the hip-hop group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991. A few years later, in 1994, Coolio signed with Tommy Boy Records and released his debut album It Takes a Thief. Catapulted by its lead single Fantastic Voyage, It Takes a Thief peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and was certified platinum.
Read more: https://variety.com/2022/music/news/coolio-dead-dies-gangstas-paradise-rapper-1235387456/
Twoflower
(1,020 posts)SlimJimmy
(3,180 posts)Gangster Paradise was one of my all time favorite rap songs.
Demovictory9
(32,454 posts)Rest in peace
ancianita
(36,053 posts)BaeBnakes99
(36 posts)Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..
BumRushDaShow
(128,925 posts)I remember him mostly from his collaborations with other artists as well as the nods to favorite funk songs like Lakeside's "Fantastic Voyage", which he did his own take of -
Damn. R.I.P.
Marcuse
(7,479 posts)Odd that the obit cites Gangsta Paradise and even Weird Al, but not Steveland Morris.
However, it was touch and go: Wonder initially refused permission for Coolio to use the sample of Pastime Paradise, disliking the new version's profanity: the rapper excised some N words and a sexual reference and Wonder signed it off. Coolio claimed the Motown icon took 95 per cent of the publishing: nice work if you can get it. [link:https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/pastime-paradise.html|
iluvtennis
(19,852 posts)Polybius
(15,398 posts)I loved him and that song. RIP.
democratic2021
(14 posts)RIP Coolio
IronLionZion
(45,434 posts)RIP