Coolio dies aged 59: Gangsta’s Paradise rapper ‘suffered cardiac arrest’

Rapper Coolio passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59. 

The musician – famous for his hit song Gangsta’s Paradise on the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film, Dangerous Minds – was visiting a friend on Wednesday afternoon when he was found dead according to TMZ.  

Coolio, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor, with the paramedics – who were called to the scene around around 4PM – suspecting he suffered a cardiac arrest, according to the star’s longtime manager, Jarez.

The publication reported that the EMTs pronounced Coolio dead on the scene. An official cause of death has not been determined. 

Additionally, law enforcement sources shared that ‘no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene of Coolio’s death’ and that ‘an autopsy and toxicology test will be used to determine an official cause of death.’

The police have reportedly opened a death investigation but there does not appear to be signs of foul play and the coroner is expected to make a final determination after the autopsy. 

The West Coast legend is survived by his ex-wife, Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. The former couple split four years later after having four children.

He is reported to have between six and 10 children in total with multiple women. His known children include Grtis Ivey, Brandi Ivey, Milan Ivey, Darius Ivey, Zhaneand Ivey, Jackie Ivey, Kate Ivey, Shayne Ivey, Artisha Ivey, and Artis Ivey III. 

Coolio was recently seen performing on stage during Riot Fest 2022 at Douglass Park on September 18, in Chicago, Illinois, and just four days ago he took to Instagram to share his latest performance in Texas.

He was also seen looking healthy earlier in April at the airport in Sydney where he generously stopped to take photos with fans, ahead of his concert at Luna Park. 

Pfeiffer, 64, lead tributes to the rapper, sharing the music video for Coolio’s smash hit Gangsta’s Paradise, from their iconic 1995 film: ‘Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio. A life cut entirely too short.’

‘As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.’

‘I remember him being nothing but gracious. 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.’

In May, Pfeiffer reminisced as she shared an image taken in 1995 when the two worked on the music video for Gangsta’s Paradise. 

Pfeiffer was the star of the film, playing former Marine LouAnne Johnson who goes to work at a high school as a teacher in a rough neighborhood in California. 

Coolio provided the smash hit song, and was awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film and a Billboard Music Award for the song/album.

Rapper Ice Cube took to Twitter after hearing the sad news and paid tribute to Coolio, writing, ‘This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace.’ 

Sean Evans shared a photo of a Coolio CD, writing, ‘First CD I ever bought in may life and the most legendary Wing 10 Last Dab these eyes have ever seen RIP Coolio.’ 

Snoop Dogg referenced the world-famous track in his own tribute, writing: ‘Gangstas paradise. R I P.’

He also shared a picture of the two on Instagram, posing on the set of the music video for their collaborative track Gangsta Walk, released in 2006.

Questlove shared a black and white picture of the rapper on Instagram, writing: ‘Peaceful journey brother.’

New York rapper Flava Flav lamented the loss of Coolio, writing: ‘Coolio was the West Coast Flavor Flav,,, He loved telling everyone that.

‘We was supposed to perform together this Tuesday. RIP my friend. Rest in Gangsta’s Paradise my friend.’

Gangsta’s Paradise was parodied by US musical comedian Weird Al Yankovic, as Amish Paradise, who also paid his respects to the rapper in a short tribute on social media.

At the time it was claimed that Coolio had not given him permission for the parody, however, Coolio stated in interviews that the pair had since made amends.

Sharing a picture of the pair embracing, Weird Al Yankovic wrote: ‘RIP Coolio.’

Among those to respond immediately to the reports was fellow US rapper Vanilla Ice, who said he was ‘freaking out’ after hearing the news.

‘I’m freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away,’ the rapper, real name Robert Matthew Van Winkle, wrote on Twitter.

In his own online tribute, US rapper LL Cool J wrote: ‘Rest in power my brother. @Coolio Love and Respect.’

After being born in the steel-making city of Monessen, south-western Pennsylvania, he moved to Compton, Los Angeles where he began developing his skills by entering rap contests.

He recorded the singles Watcha Gonna Do and You’re Gonna Miss Me in the late 1980s, before joining group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991.

He had his breakout moment as a solo artist three years later with the single Fantastic Voyage, from his individual debut album It Takes a Thief, which was released by Tommy Boy Records.

The outlandish singer released Gangster’s Paradise in 1995 and the song topped the charts in the US, UK, France, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

The single itself sold over six million copies worldwide and came from his four time Platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated 17-track album of the same name.

The singer used religious undertones in the lyrics and said he felt a calling to make the tune, announcing: ‘Gangsta’s Paradise wanted to be born; it wanted to come to life, and it chose me as the vessel.’

He revealed some of the lines were from Stevie Wonder, who would not allow any cuss words: ‘I had a few vulgarities… and he wasn’t with that. So I changed it. Once he heard it, he thought it was incredible.’

The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua, and featured Pfeiffer reprising her role.

An album with the same title was released later in 1995 and was soon certified twice platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with the release also containing hit singles 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) and Too Hot. 

Unfortunately, Coolio was unable to duplicate his level of musical success again and gained only a small amount of recognition with subsequent song ‘I’ll C U When U Get There.’ 

Coolio also collaborated on the soundtrack to the Michael Jordan-starring family film Space Jam, teaming up with Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Cyprus Hill’s B-Real and Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan for the song Hit ’em High.

He achieved a special place in many television viewers’ hearts with the memorable theme song – titled Aw Here It Goes – to the children’s show Kenan and Kel, along with turns on The Nanny and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Coolio recorded eight studio albums finishing with 2009’s From the Bottom 2 the Top, and kept working in TV including appearances as himself in Adult Swim’s Black Jesus in 2014 and last year in the presidential puppet-themed show Let’s Be Real.

He had been due to perform in Europe in the coming weeks, with performances in Germany booked for October.  

He was not without legal incidents, being convicted of being an accessory to robbery and causing bodily injury in Germany in 1998.

He was also convicted for having a loaded firearm inside a bookbag at Los Angeles International Airport in 2016 then denied entry to Singapore at Changi International Airport the next year for a non-disclosed reason.

He was sentenced to 45 days community service and banned from owning or possessing guns during a three-year probation period.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Coolio said: ‘A mistake was made. It was a misunderstanding. I don’t condone the use of firearms, illegal or legal. Thanks to the court and the attorneys for handling this for me. I was very worried. I don’t do crime. I’m not into anything illegal.’

A talented actor, Coolio played in dozens of films and TV shows throughout his career, and had three movies in the works according to his IMDb page: Bobcat Moretti, It Wants Blood 2, and a TV movie Vegas High.

His passion for food saw him become a chef who appeared in web-based cooking instructional shows Coolio’s Rules and Cookin’ with Coolio, as well as a celebrity contestant on the first season of Rachael vs Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

Coolio has toured smaller venues throughout the United States over the past few years, playing a number of hits from his back catalogue. 

As well as for his successful music career, he became well known in the UK for his appearances on Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.

The rapper came third in the sixth series of UK Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, losing out to broadcaster Terry Christian, who was the runner-up, and presenter and model Ulrika Jonsson, who won.

But along with Jonsson he went on to join the cast of Ultimate Big Brother the following year in 2010, the last series of the show to air on Channel 4.

Jonsson told PA that his death was a ‘shock’ but the pair had shared ‘so many laughs’ together.  

‘I spent a fair bit of time with Coolio’, she said. ‘He was a misogynist, broke wind a lot; he fancied himself as a cook but my God, we had so many laughs.’

Actress Tina Malone also appeared on the show and paid tribute by tweeting: ‘RIP COOLIO! YOU DROVE ME NUTS,YOU MADE ME LAUGH! GLAD WE GOT TO MAKE UP! Godbless xx’

Coolio sensationally walked out of the Ultimate Big Brother house after having a huge bust-up with fellow contestant Nadia Almada.

The pair spent the night bickering, with the simmering tension coming to a head when the rapper was caught red-handed in the act of hiding the transgender star’s clothes.

They were each ordered to the Diary Room where, after calming down, Coolio decided it was time to leave, a spokeswoman for the show explained.

His exit was announced on the Channel 4 website with statement: ‘Following an eventful morning in the House, at 13:20 today Coolio was called to the Diary Room to talk to Big Brother.

‘Shortly after, in agreement with Big Brother, it was mutually decided that Coolio should leave the House. Big Brother broke the news to the surprised housemates at 14:37. One thing is for sure, Coolio is a character whose absence will be felt.’