American Rapper Coolio, a sensation in the hip-hop industry in the decade of the 90s, died on September 28, 2022. He was 59 years old at the time of his death. The artist had his name stamped on some of the 90s decade’s biggest hits, including Gangsta’s Paradise and Fantastic Voyage.
The artist was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. He was renowned by his stage name, Coolio. According to his long-time manager, Jarez Posey, Coolio died in a friend’s home in Los Angeles.
Coolio received a Grammy award for best solo rap performance for Gangsta’s Paradise, the 1995 hit from the film Dangerous Minds’ soundtrack. Renowned actor Michelle Pfeiffer starred in the movie.
The song took inspiration from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song Pastime Paradise and was played constantly on MTV in the following years.
In an interview more than ten years later with Britain’s The Voice talent show, Coolio confessed that he had “no clue” that the song would remain relevant to people’s playlists for many years.
Coolio confessed, “I didn’t write Gangsta’s Paradise – it wrote me,”
Further, the American rapper stated, “It was its entity, out there in the spirit world, trying to find its way to the world, and it chose me as the vessel to come through.”
The Grammy, and the height of his popularity, came in 1996. During this time, a fierce feud was ongoing between the hip-hop communities of the two US coasts. The feud claimed the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious BIG soon after.
However, Coolio managed to stay mostly away from the conflict.
Following the death of the legendary rapper, various celebrities and fans of the artist were quick to fill social media platforms with messages of condolences,
Among the condolences were the messages of Ice Cube, Yankovic, and Vanilla Ice, among thousands of others.
“This is sad news,” Ice Cube said on Twitter. “I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace, Coolio.”
This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio https://t.co/vCeyn08Vsi
— Ice Cube (@icecube) September 29, 2022
“Weird Al” read Yankovic’s tweet, an air of sadness palpable in the words “RIP Coolio.”
Yankovic also posted a picture of the two men hugging along with the tweet.
I’m freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away.
— Vanilla Ice (@vanillaice) September 29, 2022
