Coolio, known for his ’90s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the movie Dangerous Minds, died on Sept. 28 in Los Angeles. He was 59.
How do you say goodbye to someone who had such an impact on your life? There are few musicians who have had such an enduring impact on American culture as rapper and performer Coolio, who has passed away at the age of 59. While you might not have known his name, there’s a good chance you know his song Gangsta’s Paradise, which was one of the biggest hits of 1995 and went on to sell more than 6 million copies in the United States alone.
Gangsta’s Paradise
Rapper Coolio has died at the age of 59, according to a tweet from Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Coolio was born Artis Ivey Jr., in Compton, CA on August 1, 1963. He had a long and successful career as a rapper and actor, with his most notable album being Gangsta’s Paradise which he released in 1995.
Coolio Defines Gangsta’s Rap, Yet He Wasn’t A Thug
Gangster rap is a genre of music that many people associate with violence, drugs and crime. But there’s one thing that can’t be denied about it—Coolio was a pioneer in the music genre. Fanstastic Voyage from his debut album was the first time a rapper used profanity in their lyrics, and gangsta rap became a genre that took the world by storm for decades to come.
15 Facts About Gangsta’s Paradise Music Video
Gangster’s Paradise is the title of Coolio’s third album and released on October 17, 1993. It was one of the first rap songs to cross over to pop charts outside of Hip-Hop stations; Gangster’s Paradise went straight to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list in December 1993, hitting number three in the United Kingdom.
Other Notable Songs by Coolio
In addition to Gangstas Paradise, there are a number of other songs by the rapper that deserve recognition including Fanstastic Voyage and Gangsta Paradise.
Additional Life Information About Coolio
Born as Artis Leon Ivey Jr., he used the stage name of Coolio and became a well-known rapper in the 1990s, releasing such albums as Gangsta’s Paradise (1994) and My Soul (1998). His 1994 song Gangster’s Paradise reached the number one spot on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 list for three weeks.
10 Interesting Facts About Gangsta Rap & Hip Hop Culture
Gangsta rap is a sub-genre of hip hop that emerged in the late 1980s from the West Coast and Southern United States, where it also became known as gangster rap. Some of its most prominent early stars included N.W.A, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg who popularized Doggystyle with his single Gin & Juice.
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