Coolio, Grammy-winning 'Gangsta's Paradise' rapper, dies at 59 via houstonchron
, the Grammy-winning rapper, producer and actor best known for his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” has died. He was 59., Coolio was found at a friend’s house.
Coolio rose to prominence in the Los Angeles rap scene in the ’90s, scoring his big break when he recorded the song “Gangsta’s 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.
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.
After the success of “Gangsta’s Paradise” in the mid-’90s, Coolio continued to grow in fame and eventually recorded “Aw, Here It Goes!” for the opening sequence of Nickelodeon’s “Kenan & Kel,” which he also appeared in. His third album, “My Soul,” released in 1997 and contained “C U When U Get There,” which hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went platinum but didn’t have the same effect as his first two records, and thus became his last record with Tommy Boy.
Coolio would go on to release five more studio albums: 2001’s “Coolio.com,” 2002’s “El Cool Magnifico,” 2006’s “The Return of the Gangsta,” 2008’s “Steal Hear” and 2009’s “From the Bottom 2 the Top.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rapper Coolio, known for Grammy-winning song 'Gangsta's Paradise,' dead at 59Coolio, who grew up in Compton and died Wednesday afternoon, won a Grammy for 'Gangsta's Paradise,' which was featured in the movie 'Dangerous Minds.'
Read more »
Coolio Dies: Grammy-Winning “Gangsta’s Paradise” Rapper Was 59Coolio, the Compton-raised rapper with the trademark braids who won a Grammy in 1996 for his hit No. 1 song “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer-starr…
Read more »
Rapper Coolio Dead at 59 - E! OnlineRapper Coolio, who won a Grammy Award for his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise”, died at age 59 in Los Angeles.
Read more »
'Gangsta's Paradise' rapper Coolio dies in Los Angeles at age 59Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., is best known for his 1995 Grammy Award-winning hit single 'Gangsta's Paradise.'
Read more »
Coolio Dead at 59, Suspected Cause of Death Revealed'Gangsta's Paradise' rapper Coolio died suddenly at age 59 on Wednesday, September 28 — details
Read more »