In Los Angeles Rapper Coolio, whose 1990s successes included “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died on Wednesday at the age of 59, according to his manager.
Longtime manager Jarez Posey confirmed to The Associated Press that Coolio passed away at a friend’s house in Los Angeles. The reason wasn’t immediately obvious.
Coolio relocated to Compton, California after being born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, which is located south of Pittsburgh. When he was a teenager, his mother sent him to Northern California for a while because she thought the city was too unsafe.
In interviews, he stated that he began rapping at the age of 15, and by the time he was 18, he knew it was what he wanted to do with his life.
However, he decided to attend community college, work as a volunteer firefighter, and work in airport security first, all before dedicating himself fully to the hip-hop scene.
“Gangsta’s Paradise,” a 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer movie “Dangerous Minds,” which sampled Stevie Wonder’s, earned Coolio a Grammy for best solo rap performance.
The song was played nonstop on MTV.The Grammy and the apex of his fame occurred in 1996, during a bitter conflict between the hip-hop scenes.
Social media erupted with outrage over the untimely demise.
‘This is awful news,’ tweeted Ice Cube.
“I have personally observed this man’s ascent to the top of his profession. @Coolio, may you rest in peace.”With a photo of the two guys cuddling, “Weird Al” Yankovic tweeted, “RIP Coolio.”
The rapper never again had a hit song as popular as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” but he did have success with “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” in 1996 and “C U When U Get There” in 1997.
He sold 4.8 million albums throughout his career, with 978.
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