The hip-hop industry mourns another fallen talent. Rapper Coolio passes away at the age of 59. The rapper passed away on Wednesday while visiting a friend, and his longtime manager, Jarez Posey, found him. The immediate cause wasn’t immediately apparent. Coolio’s most well-known hits include “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage.”
Coolio, whose legal name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was one of the most prominent hip-hop artists in the ’90s. He was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania. Coolio moved to Compton, CA, where he attended community college. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and airport security before transitioning to hip-hop. In 1994, Coolio’s career took off with his debut album on Tommy Boy Records, “It Takes a Thief.” The opening track, “Fantastic Voyage,” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year “Gangsta’s Paradise” would become a No. 1 single.
He won a Grammy for “Best Solo Rap Performance” for his hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise.” The single was sampled from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song “Pastime Paradise” and was a part of the “Dangerous Mind” soundtrack. Coolio was nominated for five other Grammys during his career that started in the late ’80s.
Many took to Twitter to send their condolences. “This is sad news,” Ice Cube tweeted. “I witness this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace, @Coolio.”
