Coolio Dies: Rap Icon Rises to Prominence in the 1990s Wiped Out At 53
Coolio died around 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday afternoon, his manager says. The rapper rose to prominence in the Los Angeles rap scene in the ’90s. He recorded “Gangsta’s Paradise” for the 1995 film “Dangerous Minds,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer. The song was nominated for record of the year and best rap solo performance at the Grammy Awards. He won two Grammys in 1996, winning one of the most prestigious rap awards in the history of hip hop music. He was found dead at a friend’s house, according to TMZ.
All About Coolio
Coolio was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug. 1, 1963 in Pennsylvania. He joined the hip-hop group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991. His debut album “It Takes a Thief” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and was certified platinum. His third album, “My Soul,” released in 1997, contained “C U When U Get There’s 12 on Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified gold but became his last record with Tommy Boy.
Coolio’s Book Is The Word
Coolio appeared in dozens of films and TV shows throughout his career. He released a cookbook in 2009 and competed on the Food Network series “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” in 2012. According to his IMDb page, Coolio had three movies in the works: Rob Margolies’ “Bobcat Moretti,” a monster film called “It Wants Blood 2”.
