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Artist
Coolio
12+ albums
rapHip-Hop90ship hopWest Coast Rap
about
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022), known professionally as Coolio, was an American rapper and entertainer. He gained international recognition for his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise", which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and became one of the most successful rap songs of the 1990s. Other notable singles include "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). Coolio released nine studio albums, with his first three—"It Takes a Thief" (1994), "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), and "My Soul" (1997)—achieving mainstream success. He first gained recognition as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle and sold approximately 4.8 million albums in the United States. Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Coolio moved with his family to Compton, California, at the age of eight. He experienced severe asthma as a child and developed an early interest in reading. He began rapping as a teenager, adopting the nickname Coolio Iglesias, later shortened to Coolio. During his youth, he encountered legal and personal challenges, including arrests and substance abuse, which he later overcame through religious faith. Before pursuing music professionally, he worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, a volunteer fire department, and airport security. Coolio’s recording career began in 1987 with the single "Whatcha Gonna Do?" and he later collaborated with Nu-Skool. In 1991, h
