Coolio, “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper, died at 59

Coolio, the rapper who was among the biggest names in hip-hop in the 1990s with hits like “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday at the age of 59, his manager said.

Coolio died at a friend’s home in Los Angeles, longtime manager Jarez Posey told The Associated Press. The cause was not immediately clear.

Coolio won a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film “Dangerous Minds,” which sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song “Pastime Paradise” and was played consistently on MTV .

The Grammy and the peak of his popularity came in 1996 amid a feud between the two coasts’ hip-hop communities that soon claimed the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious BIG.

Coolio managed to stay above the conflict for the most part.

“I want to claim this Grammy on behalf of the entire 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.

Coolio was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in Monessen, Pennsylvania just south of Pittsburgh and moved to Compton, California. As a teenager, he spent some time in Northern California, where his mother sent him because she thought the city was too dangerous.

He said in interviews that he started rapping at 15 and by 18 knew it was what he wanted to do with his life, but he would go to community college and work as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security. before he would fully devote himself to the hip-hop scene.

His career began in 1994 with the release of his debut album It Takes a Thief on Tommy Boy Records. Its opener “Fantastic Voyage” would reach #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A year later, “Gangsta’s Paradise” became a #1 single with its dark opening lyrics:

“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take one look at my life and realize there isn’t much left because I’ve been banging and laughing for so long even my mom thinks my mind is gone.”

Social media lit up with reactions to the unexpected death.

“This is sad news,” Ice Cube said on Twitter. “I’ve witnessed firsthand this man’s rise to the top of the industry. Rest in peace @Coolio.”

“Weird Al” Yankovic tweeted “RIP Coolio” along with a picture of the two men hugging.

Coolio said in an interview at the time of publication that he disagreed with Yankovic’s 1996 Gangsta’s Paradise spoof Amish Paradise. But the two later made peace.

The rapper would never again have a song even remotely as big as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” but had subsequent hits with 1996’s “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” (1996) and ” CU When U Get There” from 1997.”

According to Luminate, his career album sales totaled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs. He would be nominated for a total of six Grammys.

And with his distinctive personality, he’s become a cultural staple, making occasional appearances, starring in a reality show about parenting called “Coolio’s Rules,” providing voice for an episode of the animated series “Gravity Falls,” and providing the theme music for the Nickelodeon sitcom “Kenan & Kel.”

He has had occasional legal troubles, including a 1998 conviction in Stuttgart, Germany, where a boutique shopkeeper said he hit her when she tried to prevent him from taking merchandise without paying. He was sentenced to six months probation and a $30,000 fine.

He was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. They had four children together.