Coolio

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> known by his stage name Coolio, was an American rapper. He was best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), which won a Grammy Award, and was credited for changing the course of hip-hop by bringing it to a wider audience.<ref name=course/> Other singles included "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). He released nine albums, the first three of which achieved mainstream success: It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta's Paradise (1995), and My Soul (1997). Coolio first achieved recognition as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio sold 4.8 million albums in the U.S.<ref name=nytobit/>

He also created the six episode reality television show Coolio's Rules (2008), the web series Cookin' with Coolio, and published a cookbook.

Coolio died on September 28, 2022, at 59 years old, from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine.

Early life

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was born on August 1, 1963, in South Central Los Angeles, California.Template:Efn His mother was a factory worker who divorced his father, who was a carpenter, and they moved to Compton when Ivey was eight years old.<ref name=kemp>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ivey was severely asthmatic and, as a child, he was taken to the hospital several times due to asthma complications. He was a regular visitor to his local library as a boy. He often played board games with his mother.<ref name=nytobit/> He started rapping as a teenager, earning the nickname Coolio Iglesias due to his slick performances, a takeoff of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias; the nickname was later shortened to Coolio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was arrested for taking a weapon to school and served prison time for larceny.<ref name=course>Template:Cite news</ref> As Compton went into decline in the 1980s, he became addicted to crack cocaine, but quit drugs after spending time living with his father in San Jose, crediting Christianity for helping him get over his addiction.<ref name=nytobit/> There, he worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.<ref name=nytobit/><ref name=kemp/> Coolio attended Compton Community College then worked in a volunteer fire department and security at Los Angeles International Airport, before becoming a rapper.<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Music career

Coolio recorded his first single in 1987, titled "Whatcha Gonna Do?".<ref name="Berry" /> In 1988, he recorded "What Makes You Dance (Force Groove)" with Nu-Skool. Coolio made connections in the L.A. rap scene, and in 1991, joined the group WC and the Maad Circle, led by rapper WC. He is a credited co-contributor on the group's debut album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, including on the single "Dress Code".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tommy Boy Records and It Takes a Thief

In 1994, Coolio signed a recording contract with Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album It Takes a Thief. The lead single "Fantastic Voyage" received heavy rotation on MTV and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the biggest rap singles of the year. Other minor hits from the album include "County Line" and "I Remember". It Takes a Thief peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> becoming certified Platinum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album received praise for bringing a humorous and lighthearted perspective to the often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.<ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gangsta's Paradise

In 1995, for the film Dangerous Minds, Coolio released "Gangsta's Paradise", featuring R&B singer L.V.. It became one of the most successful rap songs of all time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. It was the No. 1 single of 1995 in the United States for all genres and was a global hit topping the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand charts. "Gangsta's Paradise" was the second-best-selling single of 1995 in the U.K. The song also created a controversy when Coolio claimed that comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic had not asked for permission to make his parody of "Gangsta's Paradise", titled "Amish Paradise".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 1996 Grammy Awards, the song won Coolio a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.<ref name="grammy">Template:Cite web</ref>

Originally "Gangsta's Paradise" was not meant to be included in one of Coolio's studio albums, but due to its success, Coolio included it on the album, making it the title track. It interpolates the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder, which was recorded nearly 20 years earlier on Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life. The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and was certified two-times Platinum by the RIAA, selling more than two million copies in the US alone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The album contains two other major hits in "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "Too Hot" with J. T. Taylor of Kool & the Gang doing the chorus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite no longer being an official member of the group, Coolio appears on the second WC and the Maad Circle album Curb Servin' on the song "In a Twist".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1996, Coolio had another top 40 hit with the song "It's All the Way Live (Now)" from the soundtrack to the movie Eddie. He is also featured on the song "Hit 'em High" from the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2014, the band Falling in Reverse did a cover of "Gangsta's Paradise" for Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2, with Coolio making a cameo in the music video.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Red Hot Organization and Tommy Boy Records dismissal

In 1996, Coolio appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD America Is Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, and Fat Joe, among many other prominent hip-hop artists. The CD meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African-American men.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, he recorded the music video "Aw, Here It Goes!" for the opening sequence of the Nickelodeon television series Kenan & Kel, which ran for four seasons.<ref name="kenankel">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Coolio at The Great GoogaMooga Festival (cropped).jpg

Coolio in 2012

Coolio's third solo album, My Soul, came out in 1997. Although it contains the major hit "C U When U Get There" and the album went gold, it failed to reach the success of his previous two albums. Coolio was subsequently dropped from the Tommy Boy Records label. Since then, 2001's Coolio.com, 2003's El Cool Magnifico, 2006's The Return of the Gangsta, and 2008's Steal Hear, 2009's From the Bottom 2 the Top, and 2017's Long Live the Thief have not charted on any Billboard chart. He did have a minor hit in the UK in 2006 with "Gangsta Walk" (featuring Snoop Dogg).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

While touring with hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse, Coolio received a tattoo as a homage to the group's fanbase, reading "Jugalo Cool" Template:Sic. He stated that the misspelling was intentional. Coolio performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Coolio is featured on an international collaboration track called "Fuck the DJ" by UK rapper Blacklisted MC, also featuring Bizarre of D12, Adil Omar (from Pakistan), and Uzimon (from Bermuda). The song premiered on music website Noisey from Vice in October 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Television appearances

In 1996, Coolio made a guest appearance as himself on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.<ref name="sabrina">Template:Cite news</ref>

Coolio appeared in a 1998 episode of The Nanny, "Homie-Work", in which he portrays the nerdy Erwin, a "gift wrapper", and is transformed by the nanny into a "Rapper" for Maxwell Sheffield's new rap musical.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>

Coolio appeared in the 15th episode of the fourth season of Charmed, which aired the 14th of march, 2002. He plays the role of a Lazarus Demon.

In 2004, Coolio appeared as a contestant on Comeback – Die große Chance ("Comeback: The Big Chance"), a German talent show featuring artists looking for a comeback.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the television series Futurama, Coolio voiced Kwanzaa-bot, a rapping robot who spreads awareness about Kwanzaa. His first appearance was in the 2001 episode "Tale of Two Santas", his second was in the 2007 TV Movie Bender's Big Score, performing the song "This Trinity's Going to War", and his third and final appearance was in the 2023 episode "I Know What You Did Next Xmas". The latter episode was dedicated to him, as he had recorded his lines for the episode just weeks prior to his death.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2009, Coolio appeared as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 6, which he placed 3rd. He later went to appear on the UK's Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, where he decided it was best to leave the house after numerous confrontations with Nadia Almada and others there.

In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality television series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, where he represented the Music Saves Lives Organization.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June of the same year, Coolio voiced a wax figure of himself on Gravity Falls. par Coolio was featured on the March 5, 2013, episode of the ABC reality program Wife Swap, but his then-girlfriend left him after the program was taped.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On June 30, 2013, he appeared alongside comedian Jenny Eclair and Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden on the UK game show Tipping Point: Lucky Stars, where he came in second.

Coolio guest starred on a 2014 episode of the Adult Swim show Black Jesus titled "Gangsta's Paradise".<ref name="blackjesus">Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2016, Coolio performed on ABC's Greatest Hits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other appearances

In 2019, Coolio appeared on the Irish rap group Versatile's track "Escape Wagon". He later featured on their 2021 album, Fuck Versatile, on the track "Coolio Interlude".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Ivey had ten children,<ref name=clark>Template:Cite news</ref> one of whom was born to his wife, Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996 and divorced in 2000.<ref name="cooliosrules">Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2022, he told Australia's Today Extra that he had five grandchildren.<ref name=clark/>

In July 2008, Ivey and jazz saxophonist Jarez were enlisted as spokespersons by the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change to educate students at historically black colleges and universities about climate change.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Ivey was a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as his children are asthmatic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He hosted the online cooking show Cookin' with Coolio, an offshoot of his reality show, Coolio's Rules that ran for six episodes in 2008.<ref name=outta/>

Ivey was the running mate for pornographic film actress Cherie DeVille's Democratic presidential run in the 2020 United States presidential election; they ended their campaign in January 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Legal issues

In 1998, a court in Böblingen, near Stuttgart, sentenced Ivey to six months probation and fined him $17,000 after convicting him of being an accessory to robbery and causing bodily injury after Ivey and his band members allegedly attempted shoplifting clothing worth $940 and then punched the store owner when he was caught. Ivey alleged that he was promised the clothing for free in exchange for signing autographs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, Ivey and members of his crew were arrested for having a loaded firearm inside a bag at Los Angeles International Airport. The bag was flagged by the Transportation Security Administration as the group attempted to pass through a security checkpoint. One of his bodyguards claimed ownership of the bag, but Ivey later admitted that he was the owner and was subsequently sentenced to three years of probation and 45 days of community service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2017, Ivey missed a performance after he was denied entry into Singapore upon landing at Changi International Airport. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority declined to comment on the reason for the denial, citing reasons of confidentiality. Coolio had been traveling from Beijing to Singapore to perform at a Formula One concert event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Evolution of Hip-Hop

In 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ivey was working on a new chapter of his life, creating a big budget Las Vegas show entitled 'The Evolution of Hip-Hop'. Ivey brought in his former reputation manager and entrepreneur William Moseley of Kingmaker to partner with in this venture. During the pandemic Ivey brought in a team of the top show writers, choreographers, and others to bring his dream to life while Moseley composed, raised awareness, and secured top talent for residency in Vegas. Moseley and Ivey completed the project in 2022. Ivey died soon after the project was completed. The script, choreography, compositions, outline, and behind the scenes video are to be sent to the Moon in 2026 by Quantum Aerospace and SpaceX, aboard the new SpaceX Starship, as a tribute to Ivey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

On September 28, 2022, Ivey was discovered unresponsive on the bathroom floor at a friend's house in Los Angeles, and was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. He was 59 years old.<ref name=nbcobit/><ref name=nytobit>Template:Cite news</ref> The Los Angeles County Coroner's office announced that Ivey died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, with cardiomyopathy, chronic asthma, and cigarette smoking having played a role in his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was cremated in a private ceremony, with a portion of his ashes encased in jewelry for his family and the rest put into an urn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

• It Takes a Thief (1994)<ref name="Brackett Hoard 2004">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Gangsta's Paradise (1995)<ref name="Brackett Hoard 2004" />
• My Soul (1997)<ref name="Brackett Hoard 2004" />
• Coolio.com (2001)<ref name=usatodayobit>Template:Cite news</ref>
• El Cool Magnifico (2002)<ref name="Routledge 2009">Template:Cite book</ref>
• The Return of the Gangsta (2006)<ref name="Routledge 2009" />
• Steal Hear (2008)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• From the Bottom 2 the Top (2009)<ref name=usatodayobit/>
• Long Live Coolio (TBA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

File:Coolio at Ron Jeremy's birthday party.JPG

Coolio in 2007

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Phat Beach	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	The Big Help	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Dear God	Gerard	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1997	Batman & Robin	Jonathan Crane<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Credited as "Banker"
	On the Line	Lt. Gil Suggs	Television film<ref name=tvguide>Template:Cite web</ref>
	An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn	Dion Brothers	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1999	Judgment Day	Luther / 'Lucifer'	Video<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Tyrone	Tyrone / Jerome / Cherone	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Midnight Mass	Blue Lou	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2000	The Convent	Officer Starkey	<ref name=tvguide/>
	Leprechaun in the Hood	Himself	Video<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Submerged	Jeff Cort	<ref name=tvguide/>
	Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th	Principal (AFKAP)	Video<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	China Strike Force	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Dope Case Pending		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2001	Perfume	T
	In Pursuit	Carl Wright	Video<ref name=tcm/>
	Get Over It	Himself	<ref name="tcm">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Gangland	Officer Harris
2002	Storm Watch	Outlaw
	Media Whore	Himself
	Outlawz: Worldside	Himself
2003	The Beat	Emcee	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Daredevil	Dante Jackson	Director's cut version<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Ravedactyl: Project Evolution	Maduzor	Short
	Stealing Candy	Brad Vorman	<ref name=tvguide/>
	Red Water	Ice	Television film<ref name=tcm/>
	Exposed	Big Heat	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Tapped Out	Cool	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Sex & the Studio 2		Video
	Four Fingers of the Trill	Himself
	Stupidity	Himself
	Move	Arthur / Ernest / Dre	Short
2004	A Wonderful Night in Split	Franky	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Dracula 3000	187	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Gang Warz	Dunzio Day	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2005	Pterodactyl	Capt. Bergen	<ref name=tcm/>
2006	Grad Night	Michael Adkins	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Love Hollywood Style	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2007	Futurama: Bender's Big Score	Kwanzaa-bot	Voice, direct-to-video<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Sound, Verses Fury	Himself
	Three Days to Vegas	The Flow	<ref name=tcm/>
	Don't Tell My Booker!!!	Himself
2008	Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves	Roger	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Sides	The Star
2009	The Lost Archives of Quincy Taylor	Archpimp Mac McFreddy	Short
2012	Two Hundred Thousand Dirty	Manny	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Inertia	Promotional Trailer
2015	Lord of the Freaks	Himself
2017	Nina	Himself
2018	Vantasic Voyage	Himself
	United Skates	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021	Fintech Rap Battle: Monzo VS Starling	Himself	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	The Parent 'Hood	The Gangster	Episode: "Trust a Move"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Martin	Himself	Episode: "All the Players Came"<ref name=iconic/>
1995–1996	All That	Himself	2 episodes<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1996	Space: Above and Beyond	The Bacchus Host	Episode: "R & R"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Dangerous Minds	Sex Educator	Episode: "Pilot"<ref name=iconic/>
	Sabrina The Teenage Witch	Himself	Episode: "A Girl and Her Cat"<ref name=sabrina/><ref name=iconic/>
1996–2000	Kenan & Kel	Performer: Theme Song	TV series<ref name=kenankel/>
1997	Duckman	Himself	Voice, episode: "Coolio Runnings"
1998	Match Game	Himself	5 episodes
	The Nanny	Irwin	2 episodes<ref name=iconic/>
	V.I.P.	Himself	Episode: "Vallery of the Dolls"
1999	Early Edition	Julius 'C-Roc' Ruby	Episode: "Number One with a Bullet"<ref name=iconic/>
	Malcolm & Eddie	Troy Jensen	Episode: "Daddio"<ref name=iconic>Template:Cite news</ref>
2000	Arli$$	Ernest	Episode: "It's Who You Know"<ref name=iconic/>
2001	Der Clown	Himself	Episode: "Stirb langsam"
	Fear Factor	Himself/Contestant	Episode: "First Celebrity Fear Factor"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2001–2023	Futurama	Kwanzaa-bot	Voice, 4 episodes<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2002	Charmed	Lazarus Demon	Episode: "Marry-Go-Round"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Static Shock	Marvin Roper / Replikon	Voice, episode: "Duped"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Holla	Himself	TV series
	Robbery Homicide Division	Greg / G-Down	Episode: "Alton Davis Redux"
2003	Make My Day		Episode: "Linda Narty"<ref name=intouch/>
2005	Joey	Himself	Episode: "Joey and the Poker"
2006	Клуб	Himself	Season 1, episode 14
2008	Cookin' with Coolio	Himself	TV series<ref name=outta>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Coolio's Rules	Himself	Main cast<ref name=cooliosrules/>
2009	Star-ving	Himself	Recurring cast<ref name=varietyobit/>
	The Sunday Night Project	Himself	Episode: "Lily Allen"
2012	Gravity Falls	Wax Coolio	Voice, episode: "Headhunters"<ref name=intouch/>
2014	American Hustle Life	Himself	Reality Show<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Black Jesus	Himself	Episode: "Gangsta's Paradise"<ref name=blackjesus/>
2017	Teachers	Mr. Wence	Episode: "First Day Back"<ref name="intouch">Template:Cite web</ref>
2021	Let's Be Real	Himself	Episode: "Episode #1.4"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and nominations

Coolio's 1995 song "Gangsta's Paradise", a remake of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" received several awards, including Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards<ref name=grammy/> and Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film at the MTV Video Music Awards. Coolio himself received several awards, including Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist at the American Music Awards in 1996. At the Grammy Awards in 1997, Coolio received three nominations: Best Rap Album for Gangsta's Paradise, Best Rap Solo Performance for "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Stomp". Overall, Coolio received five awards from fourteen nominations.

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Coolio received one award from two nominations.<ref name="rotn">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | Template:Ama || Coolio || Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist || Template:Won |- | Template:Ama || Coolio || Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist || Template:Nom Template:End

Billboard Awards

<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
1995	"Gangsta's Paradise"	Single of the Year	Template:Won

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Coolio received one award from six nominations.<ref name="rotn" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | Template:Grammy || "Fantastic Voyage" || Best Rap Solo Performance || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="2"| Template:Grammy ||rowspan="2"| "Gangsta's Paradise" || Record of the Year || Template:Nom |- | Best Rap Solo Performance || Template:Won |- |rowspan="3"| Template:Grammy || Gangsta's Paradise || Best Rap Album || Template:Nom |- | "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" || Best Rap Solo Performance || Template:Nom |- | "Stomp" || Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group || Template:Nom Template:End

• "Stomp" with Luke Cresswell, Fiona Wilkes, Carl Smith, Fraser Morrison, Everett Bradley, Mr. X, Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal, Luniz

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV. Coolio received three awards from six nominations.<ref name="rotn" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | Template:Mtvvma || "Fantastic Voyage" || Best Rap Video || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="5"| Template:Mtvvma ||rowspan="3"| "Gangsta's Paradise" || Best Rap Video || Template:Won |- | Best Video from a Film || Template:Won |- | Viewer's Choice || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="2"| "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" || Best Dance Video || Template:Won |- | Best Male Video || Template:Nom Template:End

External links

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