TMZ is reporting that Coolio, the rapper behind “Gangsta’s Paradise†and “Fantastic Voyage,†has died. The news was broken by Coolio’s longtime manager, Jarez, who says a cause of death has yet to be determined but EMTs on the scene suspected cardiac arrest. Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio was an icon of ’90s rap, with his songs not only standing alone but being featured heavily in pop culture. “Rollin’ With My Homies†plays a pivotal role in Clueless, the Grammy-winning “Gangsta’s Paradise†is remembered in part for its use on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack, and he rapped the theme song for Kenan & Kel as well as appearing in the credits. “Gangsta’s Paradise,†while earning Coolio No. 1 records and awards, was also a source of contention for the rapper. He was outspoken about disliking Weird Al’s parody, “Amish Paradise.â€
Given all this screen time for his music, it makes sense that Coolio branched out into acting. He appeared on The Nanny, cameoed in Batman & Robin and Gravity Falls, and had a recurring role on Futurama as Kwanzaa-Bot. Coolio was still performing this year and helped close out Riot Fest 2022.