# Coolio

> American rapper (1963–2022)

**Wikidata**: [Q310357](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310357)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolio)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/coolio

## Summary
Coolio was an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor active from 1987 to 2022. Best known for his 1995 album *Gangsta's Paradise*, he was a prominent figure in West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap. He achieved critical acclaim, winning the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his work.

## Biography
- Born: 1963
- Nationality: United States
- Education: [Data not available]
- Known for: Rapping, songwriting, record production, and acting
- Employer(s): Tommy Boy Records, Allied Artists Music Group
- Field(s): Music industry (West Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, G-funk, pop rap), Film and Television

## Contributions
Coolio released the album *Gangsta's Paradise* in 1995, which became a significant work within the hip-hop genre. Throughout his career spanning from 1987 to 2022, he contributed to the evolution of West Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, and G-funk. He also engaged in pop rap, a genre that combines hip-hop music with elements of pop music. As a record producer, he oversaw the recording of music, and as a songwriter, he composed the lyrics and music for his tracks.

## FAQs
**What were Coolio's primary occupations?**
Coolio worked as a rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. As a rapper, he performed rhythmic speech over music, and as a songwriter, he wrote the words and music to songs.

**What record labels was Coolio associated with?**
He was affiliated with Tommy Boy Records, an American independent record label, and Allied Artists Music Group, a multinational music-based record label.

**What are some of the names Coolio was known by?**
His aliases included Artis Ivey, Artis Leon Ivey, Jr., Artis Ivey, Jr., and Artis Leon Ivey.

**What specific award did Coolio win?**
He won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, an award recognizing the best rap or hip-hop performance in the United States.

## Why They Matter
Coolio holds significance in the music industry for his role in popularizing West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap during the 1990s. His ability to blend the gritty elements of G-funk with the broader appeal of pop rap allowed his work to reach a wide audience. The success of his 1995 album *Gangsta's Paradise* and his subsequent recognition with a Grammy Award underscore the artistic and commercial impact of his career.

## Notable For
- Winning the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
- Releasing the 1995 album *Gangsta's Paradise*.
- Maintaining a professional career in music and acting from 1987 to 2022.
- Operating within the genres of West Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, G-funk, and pop rap.

## Body

### Identity and Career Span
Coolio, whose legal names included Artis Ivey, Artis Leon Ivey, Jr., Artis Ivey, Jr., and Artis Leon Ivey, was a United States national born in 1963. He was a human member of the species *Homo sapiens*. His professional work period began in 1987 and continued until his death in 2022.

### Professional Roles
Coolio held multiple distinct roles within the entertainment industry:
*   **Rapper:** He was an artist who spoke rhymes in a rhythm over music, utilizing an artistic form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and [commonly] street vernacular."
*   **Songwriter:** He was a person who wrote the words or music to songs.
*   **Record Producer:** He acted as an individual who oversaw and managed the recording of an artist's music.
*   **Actor:** He worked in dramatic or comic productions across film, television, theatre, or radio.

### Musical Genres and Style
His work was deeply rooted in specific regional and stylistic genres:
*   **West Coast hip-hop:** He participated in this regional genre which encompasses any artists or music that originated in the West Coast of the United States, a style that began in 1975.
*   **Gangsta rap:** He contributed to this genre of rap music, which originated in 1985.
*   **G-funk:** He performed within this subgenre of hip-hop music that emerged from West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap, developing in 1989.
*   **Pop rap:** He created music in this genre, which combines hip-hop music with elements of pop music, a style that began in 1980.

### Discography and Key Works
One of Coolio's most recognized contributions is the album *Gangsta's Paradise*, released in 1995. This work is central to his reputation in the music industry.

### Affiliations and Labels
Coolio was associated with specific organizations during his career:
*   **Tommy Boy Records:** He worked with this American independent record label, which was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in New York City.
*   **Allied Artists Music Group:** He was affiliated with this multinational music-based record label, which was established in 1959 and headquartered in Glendale.

### Recognition
For his contributions to rap and hip-hop performance, Coolio received the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. This award is specific to the United States and recognizes excellence in rap performance.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.today.com/popculture/music/rapper-coolio-dead-59-rcna49915)
2. [Source](https://gazettereview.com/2016/12/what-happened-to-coolio-news-and-updates/)
3. [Coolio dead aged 59: Gangsta’s Paradise rapper’s cause of death unknown after ‘collapsing at friend’s house’. The Sun. 2022](https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/6326067/coolio-dead-gangstas-paradise-rapper-cause-of-death-unknown/)
4. ['Gangsta's Paradise' rapper Coolio dies at age 59. Associated Press. 2022](https://apnews.com/article/coolio-dead-59-music-los-angeles-f55102050b45a771c5859cb1bd5a78b1)
5. Integrated Authority File
6. datos.bne.es
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. MusicBrainz
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. [Le rappeur Coolio est mort d’une overdose de fentanyl. Le Parisien. 2023](https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/coolio-le-rappeur-est-mort-dune-overdose-de-fentanyl-07-04-2023-VC4V3SDUSBA2RALDAMUY7NDSRA.php)
12. [Fentanyl caused ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper Coolio's death. Associated Press. 2023](https://apnews.com/article/coolio-cause-of-death-fentanyl-6725484f4583f7cf0b211537a89f2511)
13. [Rapper Coolio died from fentanyl overdose, manager says. Reuters. 2023](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rapper-coolio-died-fentanyl-overdose-manager-says-2023-04-06/)
14. [Coolio Dead at 59. TMZ. 2022](https://www.tmz.com/2022/09/28/coolio-dead-dies-los-angeles/)
15. [Meghalt Coolio. Heti Világgazdaság. 2022](https://hvg.hu/kultura/20220929_coolio_meghalt)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. [Coolio died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, coroner's report shows. NPR. 2023](https://www.npr.org/2023/04/07/1168605721/coolio-death-fentanyl-overdose-coroners-report)
18. Montreux Jazz Festival Database
19. CONOR.SI
20. BBC Things
21. [Source](https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/6326117/who-coolio-dead-rapper-children/)
22. [XXL](https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/08/happy-birthday-coolio/)
23. [Source](https://www.tmz.com/2022/09/28/coolio-dead-dies-los-angeles/)
24. [Source](https://www.geni.com/people/Coolio/6000000187635480823)
25. Quora
26. The Movie Database
27. Genius
28. [Coolio (Music) - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/Coolio)
29. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/coolio-107ZztKawd/appearances)
30. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/coolio-107aRxuc2J/appearances)
31. [Source](https://mec.lacounty.gov/case-detail/?caseNumber=2022-10326)