Coolio, the genius behind "Gangsta's Paradise," has passed away

Legendary rapper Artis Leon Ivey Jr., better known as Coolio, died Wednesday at the age of 59, according to his manager Jarez Posey. Ivey died of cardiopulmonary arrest while at a friend's house in Los Angeles. Police sources informed TMZ that no drugs were found at the scene and that an autopsy and toxicology report will be used to rule out the use of toxic substances. Coolio topped the charts with hits such as "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage" in the 1990s.

Gangsta's Paradise

Coolio rose to superstar status with the hit "Gangsta's Paradise," which was part of the soundtrack for the movie Dangerous Minds. He won Grammy for the song. The single went platinum and reached number one in the United States and United Kingdom, becoming the first rap song to do so.

"Gangsta's Paradise" has stood the test of time. As of July 2022, the song has reached over one billion views on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in Dangerous Minds, mourned Ivey's death on her Instagram account, expressing that she was "heartbroken to learn of the passing of the talented artist Coolio. A life cut short too short."

Pfeiffer, who also appeared in the music video for "Gangsta's Paradise," recalled Coolio's amicable personality: "I remember him being nothing but nice. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear the song. Sending love and light to his family. Rest in power, Artis Leon Ivey Jr."

Other artists who mourned the rapper's death include Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and actress Melissa Joan Hart, star of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

The life of Artis Leon Ivey Jr.

Ivey grew up in Compton, Calif. In 1994, during an interview for the Los Angeles Times, he said that he had addiction problems and that a job as a firefighter saved his life.

"I wasn't looking for a career, I was looking for a way to get clean, a way to get away from drugs," Coolio told the newspaper. "I was going to kill myself and I knew I had to stop. Firefighting training was the discipline I needed. We ran every day. I didn't drink or smoke or do the things I used to do."

His rap career began in the 1980s, and he gained notoriety in the underground scene. "Fantastic Voyage" was his first real hit. He also starred in a reality show: Coolio's Rules, which aired in 2008 on the M3 channel. Throughout his successful career, Coolio sold more than 17 million records.