Music

Gangsta’s Paradise rapper Coolio dies

Rapper found fame with 1995 hit which featured on the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer movie ‘Dangerous Minds’

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 29 Sep 2022 9:35AM

Gangsta’s Paradise rapper Coolio dies
Coolio accepting the award for Best Rap Video September 4, 1996 at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. – AFP file pic, September 29, 2022

GRAMMY Award-winning rapper Coolio died on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The singer's manager Jarez says Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was visiting a friend when he passed away, per a TMZ report.

Jarez says the friend found Coolio lying on the floor of his bathroom. The friend then called the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), who upon arrival pronounced Coolio dead on the scene.

According to the paramedics, it was a suspected heart attack. An official cause of death has not been determined.

Coolio during the 64th Venice International Film Festival at Venice Lido, September 5, 2007. – AFP file pic
Coolio during the 64th Venice International Film Festival at Venice Lido, September 5, 2007. – AFP file pic

Coolio became visible Los Angles rap scene in the late 1980s. He gained worldwide fame in 1995 when he released 'Gangsta's Paradise'. It featured on the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film, 'Dangerous Minds'.

The song reached #1 and stayed there for three weeks. it alse earned him a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Coolio had several others hits including 1994's 'Fantastic Voyage' – which hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 – as well as '1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)' and 'It's All the Way Live (Now)'.

He was 59. – The Vibes, September 29, 2022

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