‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper Coolio dies at age 59

By Associated Press

LOS ANGELES: Coolio, the rapper who was amongst hip-hop’s largest names of the Nineties with hits together with “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday at age 59, his supervisor mentioned.

Coolio died on the Los Angeles dwelling of a pal, longtime supervisor Jarez Posey instructed The Associated Press. The trigger was not instantly clear.

Coolio gained a Grammy for finest solo rap efficiency for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer movie “Dangerous Minds” that sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 track “Pastime Paradise” and was performed consistently on MTV.

The Grammy, and the peak of his reputation, got here in 1996, amid a fierce feud between the hip-hop communities of the 2 coasts, which might take the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. quickly after.

Coolio managed to remain principally above the battle.

“I’d like to claim this Grammy on behalf of the whole hip-hop nation, West Coast, East Coast, and worldwide, united we stand, divided we fall,” he mentioned from the stage as he accepted the award.

Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., in Monessen, Pennsylvania south of Pittsburgh, Coolio moved to Compton, California. He spent a while as a teen in Northern California, the place his mom despatched him as a result of she felt the town was too harmful.

He mentioned in interviews that he began rapping at 15 and knew by 18 it was what he needed to do together with his life, however would go to neighborhood school and work as a volunteer firefighter and in airport safety earlier than devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene.

His profession took off with the 1994 launch of his debut album on Tommy Boy Records, “It Takes a Thief.” It’s opening observe, “Fantastic Voyage,” would attain No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A yr later, “Gangsta’s Paradise” would turn into a No. 1 single, with its darkish opening lyrics:

“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there’s not much left, ‘cause I’ve been blastin’ and laughin’ so long, that even my mama thinks that my mind is gone.”

Social media lit up with reactions to the sudden demise.

“This is sad news,” Ice Cube mentioned on Twitter. “I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace, @Coolio.”

“Weird Al” Yankovic tweeted “RIP Coolio” together with an image of the 2 males hugging.

Coolio had mentioned in an interview on the time it was launched that he wasn’t cool with Yankovic’s 1996 “Gangsta’s Paradise” parody, “Amish Paradise.” But the 2 later made peace.

The rapper would by no means once more have a track practically as large as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” however had subsequent hits with 1996′s “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” (1996), and 1997′s “C U When U Get There.”

His profession album gross sales totaled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, in response to Luminate. He could be nominated for six Grammys general.

And together with his distinctive persona he would turn into a cultural staple, appearing sometimes, starring in a actuality present about parenting known as “Coolio’s Rules,” offering a voice for an episode of the animated present “Gravity Falls” and offering the theme music for the Nickelodeon sitcom “Kenan & Kel.”

He had occasional authorized troubles, together with a 1998 conviction in Stuttgart, Germany, the place an boutique store proprietor mentioned he punched her when she tried to cease him from taking merchandise with out paying. He was sentenced to 6 months probation and fined $30,000.

He was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. They had 4 youngsters collectively.

LOS ANGELES: Coolio, the rapper who was amongst hip-hop’s largest names of the Nineties with hits together with “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday at age 59, his supervisor mentioned.

Coolio died on the Los Angeles dwelling of a pal, longtime supervisor Jarez Posey instructed The Associated Press. The trigger was not instantly clear.

Coolio gained a Grammy for finest solo rap efficiency for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer movie “Dangerous Minds” that sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 track “Pastime Paradise” and was performed consistently on MTV.

The Grammy, and the peak of his reputation, got here in 1996, amid a fierce feud between the hip-hop communities of the 2 coasts, which might take the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. quickly after.

Coolio managed to remain principally above the battle.

“I’d like to claim this Grammy on behalf of the whole hip-hop nation, West Coast, East Coast, and worldwide, united we stand, divided we fall,” he mentioned from the stage as he accepted the award.

Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., in Monessen, Pennsylvania south of Pittsburgh, Coolio moved to Compton, California. He spent a while as a teen in Northern California, the place his mom despatched him as a result of she felt the town was too harmful.

He mentioned in interviews that he began rapping at 15 and knew by 18 it was what he needed to do together with his life, however would go to neighborhood school and work as a volunteer firefighter and in airport safety earlier than devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene.

His profession took off with the 1994 launch of his debut album on Tommy Boy Records, “It Takes a Thief.” It’s opening observe, “Fantastic Voyage,” would attain No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A yr later, “Gangsta’s Paradise” would turn into a No. 1 single, with its darkish opening lyrics:

“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there’s not much left, ‘cause I’ve been blastin’ and laughin’ so long, that even my mama thinks that my mind is gone.”

Social media lit up with reactions to the sudden demise.

“This is sad news,” Ice Cube mentioned on Twitter. “I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace, @Coolio.”

“Weird Al” Yankovic tweeted “RIP Coolio” together with an image of the 2 males hugging.

Coolio had mentioned in an interview on the time it was launched that he wasn’t cool with Yankovic’s 1996 “Gangsta’s Paradise” parody, “Amish Paradise.” But the 2 later made peace.

The rapper would by no means once more have a track practically as large as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” however had subsequent hits with 1996′s “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” (1996), and 1997′s “C U When U Get There.”

His profession album gross sales totaled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, in response to Luminate. He could be nominated for six Grammys general.

And together with his distinctive persona he would turn into a cultural staple, appearing sometimes, starring in a actuality present about parenting known as “Coolio’s Rules,” offering a voice for an episode of the animated present “Gravity Falls” and offering the theme music for the Nickelodeon sitcom “Kenan & Kel.”

He had occasional authorized troubles, together with a 1998 conviction in Stuttgart, Germany, the place an boutique store proprietor mentioned he punched her when she tried to cease him from taking merchandise with out paying. He was sentenced to 6 months probation and fined $30,000.

He was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. They had 4 youngsters collectively.