Editing Coolio (section)

===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>