Coolio, a veteran West Coast rapper who found fame in the 1990s, has reportedly died of unknown causes. As the story is still developing, many on social media are offering up tributes for the West Coast artist as the news continues to develop.
Coolio, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was a member of the West Coast collective, WC and the Maad Circle, consisting of lead rapper WC, Big Gee, and DJ Crazy Toones, Coolio’s brother, who passed away from a heart attack in 2017 at the age of 45.
According to TMZ, Coolio passed away Wednesday (September 28) while visiting a friend of his per the account of his manager. After entering a restroom at the home, Ivey was later found laying on the floor unresponsive.
Coolio was born August 1, 1963, in Monessen, Pa., according to a Wikipedia entry, and took up residence in Compton, Calif. After a stint at Compton Community College, he eventually began his rap career in the late 1980s and then joined WC and the Maad Circle before breaking out on his own as a solo act
Coolio was a beloved figure known for his signature braids and outsized personality. His biggest hit was “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which was featured in the film Dangerous Minds and also netted him a Grammy Award. Another big hit for Coolio was the G-Funk classic “Fantastic Voyage,” released in 1994 via Tommy Boy Records.
Throughout the mid-1990s and much of the early 2000s, Coolio found a niche as an actor appearing in several movie and television roles, and he also provided the theme song to the Nickelodeon series, Kenan & Kel. As an actor, Coolio notched over 100 credits along with other achievements. He also recently performed at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Ill. alongside Ice Cube and others.
Rest Powerfully in peace in that Gangsta’s Paradise, Coolio.
Keep scrolling to check out tributes to the artist via Twitter.
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1.
This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio https://t.co/vCeyn08Vsi
— Ice Cube (@icecube) September 29, 2022
2.
the way tv and hip-hop were so connected in the 90s is something i’ll never forget. and it gave us one of the best songs in the kenan and kel theme by coolio. rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/D4t9H28b1e
— nadirah (@hinadirah) September 29, 2022
3.
Rest In Peace Coolio. His music brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. That man had huge huge hits. A fantastic voyage, indeed.
— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) September 29, 2022
4.
Coolio has passed away at 59. Rest in Peace pic.twitter.com/U9Me1KG3zK
— Hot Freestyle (@HotFreestyle) September 29, 2022
5.
Coolio had the whole world in the palm of his hands when he made Gangsta's Paradise, he lived to see that
— Ahmed/The Ears/Symba Fan (@big_business_) September 29, 2022
RIP King
6.
RIP Coolio, whose one massive hit overshadowed a formidable run of classic West Coast bangers. An original member of the Maad Circle & Compton representative – with an undeniable star quality, humor, charisma, and a gift for making street tales mainstream without sanitizing them pic.twitter.com/DEyMqEOJfs
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) September 29, 2022
7.
Peaceful Journey Brother. #Coolio https://t.co/59sMVmQsU7
— Dr. Love (@questlove) September 29, 2022
8.
RIP Coolio
— Parks (@parksmusic) September 29, 2022
9.
Rip Coolio fantastic voyage
— He Eats Racoons,And Yall Prolly Do 2 (@3LMthree) September 29, 2022
10.
First CD I ever bought in my life and the most legendary Wing 10 Last Dab these eyes have ever seen RIP Coolio pic.twitter.com/Feu3wwe98S
— Sean Evans (@seanseaevans) September 29, 2022
11.
R.I.P Coolio pic.twitter.com/qxkHYBh7Li
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) September 29, 2022
12.
Rest in power Coolio pic.twitter.com/nQdeuPTHGQ
— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) September 29, 2022
13.
Rest In Peace Coolio your name will always be cemented in hiphop , and thank you for being there for the Tannies since the beginning pic.twitter.com/o9RMoDncMM
— (Semi-ia) BIitzz’s FLO & Megan (@yoongisgunner) September 29, 2022
14.
Coolio, the Grammy-winning rapper known for Gangsta's Paradise, Fantastic Voyage, Aw, Here It Goes (the theme song to Kenan & Kel), and other '90s hits, has died at the age of 59. pic.twitter.com/snz2b4Z6OJ
— IGN (@IGN) September 29, 2022
15.
COOLIO BUBBA YOU NOW THE GANGSTER IN THE PARADISE FOREVER RIP
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) September 29, 2022
16.
RIP Coolio pic.twitter.com/ybPtkIHH6z
— Spotify (@Spotify) September 29, 2022
17.
Rest in peace, Coolio. pic.twitter.com/SmIv0wy9ao
— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) September 29, 2022
18.
BRUH.
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) September 29, 2022
Not Coolio.
Come the fuck on, man.
19.
RIP Coolio. Thank you for being responsible for maybe the funniest sentence ever written in Canberra Times pic.twitter.com/4Kqy3xS3hu
— Dave (@Mesut_Ausil) September 29, 2022
20.
Coolio is dead. I can't believe I wrote that. Only 59. If you're Gen X, you know and respect. Gangstas Paradise inshallah.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) September 29, 2022
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