US rapper Coolio — who achieved enormous success with his 1995 hit Gangsta's Paradise — has died aged 59.
Key points:
- The cause of Coolio's death was not immediately clear
- He was found dead in the bathroom of a friend's home in Los Angeles
- His biggest hits included Gangsta's Paradise and Fantastic Voyage
Coolio's long-time manager Jarez Posey said the rapper was found dead in the bathroom of a friend's home in Los Angeles on Wednesday local time.
The cause of death was not immediately clear.
Coolio — whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr — was among hip hop's biggest names of the 1990s.
He won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for Gangsta's Paradise, a 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film Dangerous Minds.
The track sampled Stevie Wonder's 1976 song Pastime Paradise.
It was believed to be the biggest-selling single of 1995 worldwide, and went to number one in at least 19 countries.
In Australia, it stayed at number one for 13 weeks and was 1995's biggest-selling single.
Coolio was nominated for five other Grammys during a career that began in the late 1980s.
Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh, Coolio moved to Compton, California, where he went to community college.
He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to the hip hop scene.
His career took off with the 1994 release of his debut album on Tommy Boy Records, It Takes a Thief.
It's opening track, Fantastic Voyage, would reach number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
A year later, Gangsta's Paradise would become a number one single, with its dark and memorable opening lyrics:
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realise there's not much left, 'cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long, that even my mama thinks that my mind is gone."
After freestyling these opening lines, Coolio said he sat down and wrote all three verses in a single sitting.
The song details a young man weighing up his lifestyle and wondering if there is any way out of it.
"I like to believe that it was divine intervention," Coolio told Rolling Stone of the song's quick birth.
"Gangsta's Paradise wanted to be born. It wanted to come to life, and it chose me as the vessel."
Popularity peaked at height of East Coast-West Coast rivalry
Coolio's Grammy for the smash hit came in 1996, amid a fierce feud between the hip hop communities on the two coasts, which would take the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious BIG soon after.
Yet Coolio managed to stay mostly above the conflict.
"I'd like to claim this Grammy on behalf of the whole hip hop nation, West Coast, East Coast and worldwide. United we stand, divided we fall," he said from the stage as he accepted the award.
He spent some time as a teen in Northern California, where his mother sent him because she felt the Compton was too dangerous.
In interviews, Coolio said that he started rapping at 15 and knew by 18 it was what he wanted to do with his life.
However, he went to community college and worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to the hip hop scene.
Social media lit up with reactions to the unexpected death.
"This is sad news," Ice Cube said on Twitter.
"I witness firsthand this man's grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace, @Coolio."
"Peaceful journey brother," Questlove tweeted.
Coolio would never again have a song nearly as big as Gangsta's Paradise, but had subsequent hits with 1996's 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New), and 1997's 'C U When U Get There.
His career album sales totalled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, according to Luminate.
He was nominated for six Grammys overall.
Coolio was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. They had four children together.
Live updates
Coolio will be forever defined by 'Gangsta's Paradise', but the rapper had so much more to offer
Our music and pop culture reporter Mawunyo Gbogbo has reflected on Coolio's career and the time she spent interviewing him in 2009.
Coolio was getting ready to perform in Australia when we spoke, and he would perform locally many times, wowing crowds as recently as a year ago.
As soon as he began talking about performing live, it was as if he was already on stage, the excitement in his voice palpable, energised at the idea of playing to an audience. He expected his audience to be just as enthusiastic.
"I think at the end of the day when it's all said and done, I'll be held in the top ten hip hop performers in history," he said.
You can continue reading Mawunyo's piece here.
And that's where we'll leave our live coverage on Coolio's death. Thank you for your company.
'Coolio was a giant among giants'
Before 2017 there were only 3 songs to have held onto the no. 1 spot on the Aria Charts for 13 weeks or longer: The Beatles - Hey Jude, ABBA - Fernando and Coolio's Gangster's Paradise. The music industry had to meddle with all of the formula's behind the charts just so modern artists could get those kinds of numbers. Coolio was a giant among giants.
- Vale Coolio
When Coolio appeared on Charmed
My ex was a massive fan of the TV show 'Charmed', but I hated it. I distinctly remember Coolio popping up on it one day, playing some kind of demon, and I told my ex that the show *finally* had some credibility.
- Tim from Canberra
Fans wish Coolio a 'Fantastic Voyage'
Coolio is constantly bumping in my car. RIP. Hope he has a Fantastic Voyage out of this realm.
- Jen J
Well said, Jen.
Fantastic Voyage peaked at number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks, two on Hot Rap Singles and three on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song sold one million copies domestically and received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
'Weird Al' pays tribute to Coolio
Al Yankovic, known as "Weird Al" has shared a photo of himself and Coolio together, but the pair weren't always on the best terms.
In 1996 Yankovic released a satire single of Gangsta's Paradise called Amish Paradise.
Yankovic sought Coolio's request for permission before making the song, but it was declined.
So the pair weren't the best of friends when he went on to make the song anyway, but Yankovic apologised and years later they put it behind them.
What are your memories of Coolio?
Hey Shiloh. I was in high school in the 90's. I had every Coolio track. Such a shock. RIP to another lost legend.
- Natty
Hey Natty,
Thanks for sharing this. Gangsta's Paradise was certainly a soundtrack of the 90s.
What are everyone's favourite memories of Coolio?
Hit the big blue comment button and share your thoughts.
A simple tribute from Questlove
How Gangsta's Paradise came to be a 'A solid gold classic'
Let's take a look back at an article from Matt Neal in 2020 that tracks the creation process behind Gangsta's Paradise
It's December 1995. Everywhere you turn in Australia, it seems like only one song is playing.
It begins with a haunting string sample some listeners recognise from a vintage Stevie Wonder track, layered over simple hip hop percussion and deep bass.
After 11 seconds, there's a clap of snare drum, and a man starts quoting lines from the Bible.
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death … "
If you instantly heard the next lyric, "I take a look at my life and realise there's nuthin' left", then this article is for you.
'First ever favourite song': remembering Gangsta's Paradise
Double J Music Editor has shared some of his memories of Coolio.
Gangsta's Paradise 'one of the most iconic hip hop songs ever'
Fans are reacting to the shock death of Coolio.
As one Twitter user writes, "Gangsta's Paradise is one of the most iconic hip hop songs ever and one of the most successful. Nobody's going to forget him."
And here's the iconic song.
Coolio's presence in pop culture
Nadirah, the founder The Gumbo, which celebrates Black women's contributions to hip hop, has pointed out Coolio's impact on pop culture during his career.
"The way TV and hip hop were so connected in the 90s is something I'll never forget," she wrote on Twitter.
"It gave us one of the best songs in the Kenan and Kel theme by Coolio. Rest in peace."
She's also reminded us of a bunch of Coolio cameos from heaps of 90s hits, like The Nanny, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Malcolm and Eddie, plus more.
Music industry reacts
Some other musical greats have started reacting to Coolio's shock death.
"This is sad news," Ice Cube wrote on Twitter.
"I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry.
"Rest In Peace."
Coolio dies aged 59
Coolio — the rapper who achieved enormous success in the 1990s — has died aged 59, his manager has told US media.
The cause is not immediately clear.
Friend and longtime manager Jarez Posey told multiple outlets Coolio was found dead in the bathroom of a friend's home in Los Angeles on Wednesday local time.
The rapper who, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was among hip-hop's biggest names of the 1990s, with hits including Gangsta's Paradise and Fantastic Voyage.
I'm Jessica Riga and together with my colleagues we'll be bringing you the latest updates and reactions as the music industry responds to the death of an icon. Thanks for your company.