In Memoriam: Rapper, Producer and Actor Coolio

90‘s rapper and actor Coolio has died from cardiac arrest yesterday Wednesday September 28th.

Coolio was born in Compton, California, on August 1, 1963. Before becoming a rapper, he worked in jobs as volunteer firefighting and security at the Los Angeles International Airport after graduating from Compton Community College.

In 1987, he released his first song, “Whatcha Gonna Do?” In 1988, he collaborated with Nu-Skool on the song “What Makes You Dance (Force Groove).” Coolio gained ties in the Los Angeles rap scene and joined the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991, which was led by rapper WC. He appeared on the group’s debut album “Ain’t a Damn Thing Changed” as a co-contributor, including on the tune “Dress Code.”

“It Takes a Thief,” Coolio’s debut solo album, was released in 1994 on Tommy Boy Records. “Fantastic Voyage,” the lead single, was heavily played on MTV and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Fantastic Voyage” would go on to become one of the year’s biggest rap singles, while the album also had lesser hits like “County Line” and “I Remember.”

“It Takes a Thief” reached #8 on the Billboard 200, earning Platinum certification. The album was praised for giving a comical and cheerful perspective to gangsta rap’s generally violent and obscene topics.

Coolio released “Gangsta’s Paradise” in 1995 for the film “Dangerous Minds,” which featured R&B artist L.V. It would go on to become one of the most popular rap singles of all time, spending three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It was the most popular single in the United States in 1995, topping the charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, “Gangsta’s Paradise” was the second best-selling song of 1995.

The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, with lead-single “Gangsta’s Paradise”, taking home the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1996. Certified 3x platinum by the RIAA in the US, the album’s three singles all went on to hit the Billboard Hot 100, with “Gangsta’s Paradise” hitting the #1 spot as well as many other pop charts around the world.

The song also sparked debate when Coolio claimed that comedy artist “Weird Al” Yankovic had not sought permission to make his “Amish Paradise” parody of “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Which the two artists later settled.

He was also known for rapping the theme song for the late 1990s Nickelodeon series Kenan & Kel. Coolio had since gone on to release albums independently, as well becoming a chef, creating a web series titled “Cookin’ with Coolio” and releasing a cookbook in 2009, “Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price.”

Coolio released eight albums, including his last, “From the Bottom 2 the Top” in 2009.

Coolio also appeared in a number of films and television shows, most notably as a contestant on the reality show Celebrity Wife Swap in 2012.

UB Sends Our Condolences to Coolio’s Family, Friends and Fans!

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Take A Trip Down memory Lane with Coolio!