GANGSTA'S PARADISE RAPPER COOLIO DIED WEDNESDAY AT AGE 59

Rapper Coolio, best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise", has died at the age of 59, according to TMZ.

Citing the rapper's longtime manager, TMZ reports that Coolio died from cardiac arrest on Wednesday. At the time of his death, he was at a friend's house, his manager said. After the rapper went to the bathroom and never returned, his body was found laying on the floor. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Released in 1995, "Gangsta's Paradise" spent three weeks at #1 and earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Coolio's other notable songs included "Fantastic Voyage" and "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" — both of which cracked the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.


Coolio's real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr. and he was born on August 1st, 1963. After moving from Monessen, Pennsylvania to Compton, California, he released his first single, "Whatcha Gonna Do?", in 1987. In 1991, he joined WC and the Maad Circle, appearing on the "Ain't a Damn Thang Changed" album.

In 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records. Also in 1994, he released his solo debut, "It Takes a Thief", home to the platinum single "Fantastic Voyage." In 1995, he released "Gangsta's Paradise," the Stevie Wonder-sampling, L.V.-featuring song that became one of hip-hop's most raw, enduring singles.

After the success of "Gangsta's Paradise," Coolio wrote "Aw, Here It Goes!" as the theme song for Nickelodeon's Kenan & Kel, and joined the likes of Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan and Fat Joe for a compilation album called "America Is Dying Slowly", which was for for the AIDS-awareness group Red Hot Organization. His eighth and final studio album was 2009's "From the Bottom 2 the Top".

Coolio had recently performed at the 2022 edition of Riot Fest in Chicago, two weeks before his death.

Thoughts and prayers to Coolio's family and friends. He will stand as a true legend to many hip hop fans for ever.

Gangsta's Paradise:



Credit: TMZ