Coolio, the rapper from ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ dies at 59

In 1995, Coolio became famous with ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, which was part of the soundtrack for the movie “Dangerous Minds” with Michelle Pfeiffer

US rapper Coolio, author of the 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” and Grammy award winner, died on Wednesday at the age of 59, Variety magazine reported.

Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in Pennsylvania on August 1, 1963, Coolio moved to California on the west coast of the United States and joined the hip-hop band WC and The Maad Circle in 1991.

He then launched his solo career in 1994 with the album “It Takes a Thief.” The most famous song on the album, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, was on the soundtrack of the 1995 film “Dangerous Minds” featuring US actress Michelle Pfeiffer. The theme sampled Stevie Wonder’s ‘Pastime Paradise’.

This composition led the rapper to win a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Coolio has also performed in films and television series such as “Martin” (1995), “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997), “The Nanny” (1998), “Tyrone” (1999), “Midnight Mass” (1999), “Charmed” (2002), “Star-ving” (2009), “Futurama” (2001, 2010) and “Gravity Falls” (2012).