Coolio, the immensely famous name as the rapper of hip hop genre during the 1990s with hits including Gangsta’s Paradise and Fantastic Voyage, has died at age 59.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr, the artist died at the home of his friend in Los Angeles, confirmed his long-time manager, Jarez Posey. The cause of death was not immediately clear.
Coolio was one of the known names of his era till recent times. He won a Grammy award for his one of the best solo rap performances in Gangsta’s Paradise. This is a 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the film, Dangerous Minds, Michelle Pfeiffer starred in it which check out Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song Pastime Paradise and was played constantly on MTV.
After 10 years with Britain’s The Voice talent show, Coolio said himself explained his experience with this song and said, he ‘had “no clue” the song would go on to endure listeners for so many years.
“I didn’t write Gangsta’s Paradise – it wrote me,” he said. “It was its own 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.”
After the announcement, the famous Actor Lou Diamond Phillips offered his condolences as he recounted some memories with the artist.
“I am absolutely stunned. Coolio was a friend and one of the warmest, funniest people I’ve ever met. We spent an amazing time together making Red Water in Cape Town and we loved going head-to-head in the kitchen. He was one of a kind. Epic, Legendary, and I’ll miss him,” Phillips said in a tweet.
While ‘Paradise’ is the most famous and became his signature hit, Coolio had a list of several other hits of this time including
1994’s “Fantastic Voyage” – (it was a hit #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100)
“1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New)” and
“It’s All the Way Live (Now).”
May his soul Rest In Peace!