Artis Leon Ivey Jr. August 1, — September 28, , [ 4 ] known by his stage name Coolio , was an American rapper. He was best known for his single " Gangsta's Paradise " , which won a Grammy Award , and was credited for changing the course of hip hop by bringing it to a wider audience. He released nine albums, the first three of which achieved mainstream success: It Takes a Thief , Gangsta's Paradise , and My Soul Coolio first achieved recognition as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle.
Coolio sold 4. He also created the six episode reality television show Coolio's Rules , the web series Cookin' with Coolio , and published a cookbook. Coolio died on September 28, , at 59 years old, from an accidental overdose of fentanyl , heroin , and methamphetamine.
He was a regular visitor to his local library as a boy. He often played board games with his mother. Coolio recorded his first single in , titled "Whatcha Gonna Do? Coolio made connections in the L. He is a credited co-contributor on the group's debut album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed , including on the single "Dress Code". Other minor hits from the album include "County Line" and "I Remember". It Takes a Thief peaked at No. It became one of the most successful rap songs of all time, topping the Billboard Hot for three weeks.
It was the No. The song also created a controversy when Coolio claimed that comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic had not asked for permission to make his parody of "Gangsta's Paradise", titled " Amish Paradise ". Originally "Gangsta's Paradise" was not meant to be included in one of Coolio's studio albums, but due to its success, Coolio included it on the album, making it the title track.
It interpolates the chorus and music of the song " Pastime Paradise " by Stevie Wonder, which was recorded nearly 20 years earlier on Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life. Coolio's third solo album, My Soul , came out in Although it contains the major hit " C U When U Get There " and the album went gold, it failed to reach the success of his previous two albums. Coolio was subsequently dropped from the Tommy Boy Records label.
