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It is alleged that the mammoth success of 'Gangster's Paradise' helped bring attention to hip hop as a wider genre and aided its appearance into the modern, mainstream charts.
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He’s not one for bowing to current trends, or interpolating the music of others into his sets, as is often the case with hip hop acts since he is trading off of nostalgia though, it’s a shame he doesn’t drop the Kenan & Kel theme tune in there, too. He continues to play across the UK on a regular basis expect to hear him drop career-spanning sets, including cuts from Gangsta’s Paradise as well as From the Bottom 2 the Top and It Takes a Thief, including ‘C U When You Get There’, ‘Fantastic Voyage’ and ‘1 2 3 4 (Sumpin New)’. Last year, after a live performance in the town, the rapper headed back to some student dorms at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, to serenade some new friends with an acoustic rendition of his classic ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, as well as cook up a meal who knew he was such a renaissance man? To his credit, though, it’s nice to see him handling himself so gracefully sure, he’s not hitting the commercial heights of his nineties peak any more, but he is still travelling the world playing music, and that’s apparently good enough for him. You’ve probably seen that video of Coolio by now you know the one I’m talking about. As well as his musical efforts, Coolio also became involved in charitable causes later in his career, acting as a spokesperson on issues of climate change and environmental justice, as well as supporting the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Coolio also appeared in a number of film roles, helping to branch out from the world of rap, establishing his presence as an actor.Ĭoolio continued to release albums, to which he found moderate success, maintaining his prominence in hip hop. Yet Coolio continued to progress his music career, setting up his own label, Crowbar. At home in California, US, Coolio was also arrested for dangerous driving and for carrying a concealed weapon. However, a changing musical landscape meant it failed to live up to its predecessor’s success, overshadowed by the Biggie/2-Pac deaths that occurred the same year.Ĭoolio then found trouble with the law, having being charged by German authorities for his involvement in a shop altercation in 1997. The album went on to sell triple-Platinum, bolstered by further hits, “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “Too Hot.” World tours followed before his third record, “My Soul” saw release (1997). The track later appeared on Coolio’s album of the same name that same year, winning ‘Best Solo Rap Performance’ at the Grammy Awards. “Gangsta’s Paradise” set new records for most weeks at number one, becoming one of the biggest singles of the year. to record “Gangsta’s Paradise,” a track based on Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise.” A profound statement about life in the Ghetto, the darkly haunting track appeared on the soundtrack for “Dangerous Minds.” After being released as a single in 1995, the song rocketed to the top of the charts, becoming his first number one single, also breaking into the UK market and topping the singles charts there. Coolio had arrived, finding mainstream success and critical acclaim for his refreshing sound that moved away from the harshness of West Coast gangsta-rap.Ĭoolio next teamed up with gospel vocalist, L.V. The release featured sociopolitical commentary that dealt with urban life, finding a number three hit with “Fantastic Voyage.” His album climbed the charts into the Top Ten, becoming certified Platinum. A string of early singles and collaborations led to a deal with Tommy Boy Records, who recorded his debut album, “It Takes a Thief” in 1994. Upon recovering from addiction, Coolio was determined to get his career back on track. radio station, KDAY, through which he displayed promise as an artist.
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Despite these issues dampening his creativity, Coolio still became a regular on L.A.
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Despite showing promise at school, Coolio drifted into the world of gangs, winding up in jail by 17 and addicted to crack cocaine. Hailing from Compton, California US, Coolio (born Artis Leon Ivey Jr.) grew up in a poverty-stricken environment, eventually falling foul to the life of violence and crime that surrounded him.
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