Coolio, a pioneering rapper who helped shape hip-hop, passed away on September 28, 2022, at a friend’s home in Los Angeles at the age of 59. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office has ruled his death as accidental and caused by the effects of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Other contributing factors to his death included asthma, cardiomyopathy, and recent phencyclidine use.
Born Artis Ivey Jr., Coolio grew up in Compton, California, and began rapping at the age of 15. In the 1990s, he rose to fame as one of hip-hop’s biggest names with hits such as “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which won him a Grammy. The title track from his 1994 debut album “It Takes a Thief” was also a commercial success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring his career, Coolio sold more than 17 million records and also appeared in popular TV shows like “Celebrity Cook Off” and “Celebrity Chopped.” His Grammy-winning song “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the film “Dangerous Minds,” became a timeless classic that transcended generations due to its lack of trendy words.
Coolio’s death is a significant loss to the music industry and fans worldwide. He will always be remembered for his contribution to hip-hop and his influence on the genre.
