Editing Coolio (section)

==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 (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>{{Cite web |title=Revisit & Listen to WC And The Maad Circle's 'Ain't A Damn Thang Changed' (1991) &#124; Tribute |date=September 15, 2021 |url=https://albumism.com/features/wc-and-the-maad-circle-debut-album-aint-a-damn-thang-changed-turns-30-anniversary-retrospective |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001204723/https://albumism.com/features/wc-and-the-maad-circle-debut-album-aint-a-damn-thang-changed-turns-30-anniversary-retrospective |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |publisher=Albumism.com}}</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 (album)|It Takes a Thief]]''. The lead single "[[Fantastic Voyage (Coolio song)|Fantastic Voyage]]" received heavy rotation on [[MTV]] and peaked at No. 3 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''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|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=It Takes a Thief Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/coolio/chart-history/tlp/ |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117212859/https://www.billboard.com/artist/coolio/chart-history/tlp/ |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> becoming certified Platinum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold & Platinum – It Takes a Thief |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=COOLIO&ti=IT+TAKES+A+THIEF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728200526/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=COOLIO&ti=IT+TAKES+A+THIEF |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2018 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</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">{{Cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=Coolio Biography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/coolio-mn0000780346/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615122428/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/coolio-mn0000780346/biography |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2016 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

===''Gangsta's Paradise''===
In 1995, for the film ''[[Dangerous Minds]]'', Coolio released "[[Gangsta's Paradise]]", featuring [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[L.V. (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>{{Cite news |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |last=Johnson |first=Billy |date=August 1, 2013 |title=Coolio Did Not Want Weird Al to Spoof 'Gangsta's Paradise' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/coolio-did-not-want-weird-al-spoof-gangsta-205954306.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715163933/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/coolio-did-not-want-weird-al-spoof-gangsta-205954306.html |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[1996 Grammy Awards]], the song won Coolio a [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]].<ref name="grammy">{{Cite web |title=Coolio wins rap Grammy – UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/02/28/Coolio-wins-rap-Grammy/8925825483600/ | work=[[United Press International]] | date=February 28, 1996}}</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 [[interpolation (popular music)|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 (album)|Gangsta's Paradise]]'' was released in 1995 and was certified two-times Platinum by the RIAA, selling more than two&nbsp;million copies in the US alone.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amos Barshad |date=August 10, 2011 |title=Nostalgia Fact-Check: How Does Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise Hold Up? | work=[[Vulture.com]] |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/08/nostalgia_fact_check_how_does_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614164852/https://www.vulture.com/2011/08/nostalgia_fact_check_how_does_1.html |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The album contains two other major hits in "[[1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)]]" and "Too Hot" with J.&nbsp;T.&nbsp;Taylor of [[Kool & the Gang]] doing the chorus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=SPIN |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Coolio, 'Gangsta's Paradise' Rappers, Dies at 59 |url=https://www.spin.com/2022/09/coolio-gangstas-paradise-rappers-dies-at-59/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001204728/https://www.spin.com/2022/09/coolio-gangstas-paradise-rappers-dies-at-59/ |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022}}</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>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 2018 |title=WC and the Maad Circle Drop 'Curb Servin': Today in Hip-Hop – XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/wc-and-the-maad-circle-drop-curb-servin-album-today-in-hip-hop/ | work=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615204817/https://www.xxlmag.com/wc-and-the-maad-circle-drop-curb-servin-album-today-in-hip-hop/ |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, Coolio had another top 40 hit with the song "It's All the Way Live (Now)" from the [[Eddie (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to the movie ''[[Eddie (film)|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>{{Cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/290531454/ |title=Space Jam CD getting a major push | work=The Post-Crescent | via=[[Newspapers.com]] | date=November 28, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001205527/https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/290531454/?terms=coolio%20%22Hit%20%27em%20High%22&match=1 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</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>{{Cite news |title=Falling in Reverse Land Coolio for 'Gangsta's Paradise' Clip |url=https://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverse-coolio-cameo-gangstas-paradise-video/ | work=[[Loudwire]] | first=Chad | last=Childers |date=May 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209130316/https://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverse-coolio-cameo-gangstas-paradise-video/ |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2022 }}</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>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 1970 |title=20 Years Ago, Coolio, De La Soul, and the Rest of Rap Chipped in to Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/20-years-ago-coolio-de-la-soul-and-the-rest-of-rap-chipped-in-to-raise-hivaids-awareness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611191003/https://www.vice.com/en/article/8gxb3b/20-years-ago-coolio-de-la-soul-and-the-rest-of-rap-chipped-in-to-raise-hivaids-awareness |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |publisher=Vice.com}}</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">{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Derek |date=July 15, 2016 |title=Kenan and Kel: The story behind America's favorite orange soda-loving best friends |url=https://ew.com/tv/2016/07/15/kenan-kel-20-year-anniversary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001205828/https://ew.com/tv/2016/07/15/kenan-kel-20-year-anniversary/ |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=ew.com}}</ref>

[[File:Coolio at The Great GoogaMooga Festival (cropped).jpg|left|upright|thumb|Coolio in 2012]]
Coolio's third solo album, ''[[My Soul (Coolio 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 charts|''Billboard'' chart]]. He did have a minor hit in the UK in 2006 with "[[Gangsta Walk]]" (featuring [[Snoop Dogg]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Celebrities React to Death of Rapper Coolio |url=https://people.com/music/michelle-pfeiffer-kenan-thompson-snoop-dogg-more-react-to-death-of-coolio/ | first1=Charmaine | last1=Patterson | first2=Jack | last2=Irvin | work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001204726/https://people.com/music/michelle-pfeiffer-kenan-thompson-snoop-dogg-more-react-to-death-of-coolio/ |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

While touring with hip-hop duo [[Insane Clown Posse]], Coolio received a tattoo as a homage to the group's fanbase, reading "[[Juggalo|Jugalo]] Cool" {{sic}}. He stated that the misspelling was intentional. Coolio performed at the [[Gathering of the Juggalos]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.grunge.com/1032796/the-real-reason-that-coolios-juggalo-tattoo-is-misspelled/ | title=THE REAL REASON COOLIO'S JUGGALO TATTOO IS MISSPELLED
| first=WILLIAM |last=KENNEDY | work=[[Static Media]] | date=September 30, 2022}}</ref>

Coolio is featured on an international collaboration track called "Fuck the DJ" by UK rapper Blacklisted MC, also featuring [[Bizarre (rapper)|Bizarre]] of [[D12]], [[Adil Omar]] (from Pakistan), and [[Uzimon]] (from Bermuda). The song premiered on music website Noisey from [[Vice (magazine)|''Vice'']] in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millard |first=Drew |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Listen to Blacklisted MC's "Fuck the DJ," Featuring Adil Omar, Coolio, Bizarre, and Uzimon |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/blacklisted-mc-fuck-the-dj-adil-omar-coolio-bizarre-uzimon/ | work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628020447/https://mb.moatads.com/s/v2?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2F6wwyq6%2Fblacklisted-mc-fuck-the-dj-adil-omar-coolio-bizarre-uzimon&pcode=viceheader426995670975&ord=1656381879942&jv=1877922524&callback=BrandSafetyNadoscallback_87532842 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Television appearances===
In 1996, Coolio made a [[guest appearance]] as himself on ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]''.<ref name="sabrina">{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2021 |title=Melissa Joan Hart Answers All Our Burning Sabrina the Teenage Witch Questions 25 Years Later |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1305223/melissa-joan-hart-answers-all-our-burning-sabrina-the-teenage-witch-questions-25-years-later |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422164055/https://www.eonline.com/news/1305223/melissa-joan-hart-answers-all-our-burning-sabrina-the-teenage-witch-questions-25-years-later |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |work=[[E!]]}}</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>{{Cite episode |title=Homie-Work |series=The Nanny |series-link=The Nanny |network=[[CBS]] |date=March 18, 1998 |season=5 |number=17}}</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>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2004 |title="Comeback – Die große Chance": Doris Day Meets Grandmaster Flash |url=https://www.presseportal.de/pm/25171/536707 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323204606/https://www.presseportal.de/pm/25171/536707 |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |website=PressePortal }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Coolio To Face Off Against International Pop Stars |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/coolio-to-face-off-against-international-pop-stars/ | work=[[AllHipHop]] |date=January 29, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001204728/https://allhiphop.com/news/coolio-to-face-off-against-international-pop-stars/ |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</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>{{cite news | title=Coolio Recorded 'Futurama' Revival Cameo as Kwanzaa-bot Weeks Before Death | url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/coolio-futurama-kwanzaabot-1235389694/ | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 30, 2022 }}</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>{{Cite news |title=Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off: New Show Premieres This Winter |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2011/07/rachael-vs-guy-celebrity-cook-off | work=[[Food Network]] |date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119171140/http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2011/07/29/rachael-vs-guy-celebrity-cook-off/ |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June of the same year, Coolio voiced a wax figure of himself on ''[[Gravity Falls]]''. 
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Coolio was featured on the March 5, 2013, episode of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] reality program ''[[Wife Swap (American TV series)|Wife Swap]]'', but his then-girlfriend left him after the program was taped.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bunting |first=Sarah D. | work=[[Yahoo!]] |date=March 5, 2013 |title='Celebrity Wife Swap' Makes Coolio's Girlfriend Realize She Could Do Better |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/11-craziest-moments-from-mark-mcgrath-and-coolio-s--celebrity-wife-swap--episode-031758665.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017123651/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/11-craziest-moments-from-mark-mcgrath-and-coolio-s--celebrity-wife-swap--episode-031758665.html |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On June 30, 2013, he appeared alongside comedian [[Jenny Eclair]] and ''[[Emmerdale]]'' actor [[Matthew Wolfenden]] on the UK game show ''[[Tipping Point (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 (TV series)|Black Jesus]]'' titled "Gangsta's Paradise".<ref name="blackjesus">{{Cite web |last=Bienenstock |first=David |date=August 7, 2014 |title=Black Jesus Has Risen: The Gospel According to Aaron McGruder |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/black-jesus-has-risen-the-gospel-according-to-aaron-mcgruder-807/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411021742/https://www.vice.com/en/article/ppmmk9/black-jesus-has-risen-the-gospel-according-to-aaron-mcgruder-807 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |publisher=Vice.com}}</ref> 

In July 2016, Coolio performed on ABC's ''[[Greatest Hits (TV series)|Greatest Hits]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Greatest Hits TV Show - ABC.com |url=http://abc.go.com/shows/greatest-hits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531090241/http://abc.go.com/shows/greatest-hits |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2016 |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]}}</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>{{Cite web |last=Ransden |first=Brenna |date=November 12, 2019 |title=Versatile Release a New Music Video Featuring Coolio |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/versatile-release-new-music-video-featuring-coolio-22794043 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009154951/https://www.hotpress.com/music/versatile-release-new-music-video-featuring-coolio-22794043 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2022 |publisher=[[Hot Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coolio Interlude |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/2ISId3rnJZmbrERoZiGZWb |website=[[Spotify]] |date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326202908/https://open.spotify.com/track/2ISId3rnJZmbrERoZiGZWb |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>