The rapper Coolio has died at 59

29 Sep 2022

The artist, one of hip-hop's biggest names of the 1990s with hits including "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage," died Wednesday at age 59, his manager said.

LOS ANGELES — Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop's biggest names of the 1990s with hits including "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage," died Wednesday at age 59, his manager said.

Coolio died at Los Angeles' home of a longtime friend, Jarez Posey, a longtime manager, told The Associated Press. The cause of the death was not immediately known.

Coolio won a Grammy in the best solo rap performance category for "Gangsta's Paradise," a 1995 hit from the soundtrack to Michelle Pfeiffer's film "Dangerous Minds". It sampled Stevie Wonder's 1976 track "Pastime Paradise" which was repeatedly played on MTV.

The Grammy was his greatest achievement and the culmination of his popularity. It was 1996 when he won the Grammy amid a fierce feud between hip-hop communities on both coasts. This would lead to the deaths of Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and other celebrities. soon after.

Coolio managed to stay above the conflict.

As he accepted the award, he stated, "I'd love to claim this Grammy in behalf of the entire hip-hop nation, West Coast and East Coast, as well as worldwide, united we stand, divided fall."

Coolio was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. He later moved to Compton. As a teenager, he spent some time in Northern California. His mother sent him there because she thought the city was too dangerous.

Interviews with him revealed that he began rapping at age 15 and knew it was what he wanted to pursue. He would attend community college, work as a volunteer firefighter, and then dedicate himself to hip-hop.

His career took off after the 1994 release of "It Takes A Thief", his debut album on Tommy Boy Records. The album's first track, "Fantastic Voyage", would reach No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Gangsta's Paradise", which was released a year later, would go No. With its dark opening lyrics, "Gangsta's Paradise" would become a No. 1 single.

"As I walk through valley of shadow of death, my life becomes a blurred blur of laughter and blastin' music. My mama thinks my mind is gone."

Reactions on the untimely death flooded social media.

"This is sad news," Ice Cube tweeted. "I witnessed firsthand this man's struggle to the top in the industry. Rest In Peace, @Coolio."

"Weird Al Yankovic" tweeted "RIP Coolio", along with a photo of the two men hugging.

Coolio had stated in an interview that he was not happy with Yankovic's 1996 parody "Gangsta's Paradise", "Amish Paradise". They made peace later.

Although he would never have another song as popular as "Gangsta's Paradise," he did have hits with "1, 2, 3, 4, (Sumpin' NEW)" (1996) and "C U When You Get There" (1997).

According to Luminate, his career album sales reached 4.8 million. There were 978 million streams of his songs on-demand. He would be nominated to six Grammys.

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."

He was also convicted in Stuttgart, Germany, for a 1998 assault on a boutique shop owner. He was sentenced with six months probation and a $30,000.

Josefa Salinas was his wife from 1996 to 2000. They had four children together.