Coolio passes away: Ride & Chat

Some rappers come and go and some leave a lasting legacy. When it comes to L.A. based rapper Coolio, the legacy still remains as we reflect on his musical career. Coolio was quite different from L.A. rappers at that time. He wasn't hell bent on profanity and violence in his lyrics. He didn't wear gang-oriented attire, and had a vibe that was relatable. He even had a cool name with the word cool in his stage moniker. Having passed away recently, tributes are now flowing in about the late rapper.

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THE COOL ONE

9-29-22

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was born August 1, 1963 and recently passed away on September 28, 2022. He is better known professionally as Coolio. Yes, the man behind the well-known rap anthem "Gangsters Paradise" made a massive impact on the rap game and helped elevate the West Coast rap game in the 90's. Not only was Coolio a notable American rapper, but he was also record producer, and quite a talented actor.

THE COOLIO TRIBUTE ON RIDE AND CHAT

Our own @TonyLesesne was a big fan of Coolio and did sonething he rarely does in his new weekly show called "Ride and Chat" on the AutoFOCUS WORLD network. He delivered a tribute that was all about a Coolio (Below).

COOLIO BREAKS THROUGH

Coolio achieved mainstream success in the mid-to-late 1990s with his albums It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta's Paradise (1995), and My Soul (1997). He was best known for his 1995 Grammy Award-winning hit single "Gangsta's Paradise", as well as other singles "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), (Sumpin' New)" (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). Just to be clear, the man won a Grammy, sealing his place in musical history.

What most fans missed is that he provided the opening track "Aw, Here It Goes!" for the 1996 Nickelodeon television series Kenan & Kel. From 1996 on, Coolio released albums independently. He also created a web series titled Cookin' with Coolio and released a cookbook.

COOLIO TRIVIA

• Coolio and jazz saxophonist Jarez were enlisted in July 2008 as spokespersons by the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change to educate students at historically black colleges and universities about global warming.

• Coolio was a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. He said that he and his children are asthma sufferers. As a child, he was taken to the hospital several times due to asthma complications.

• After attending Compton Community College, he worked in jobs such as volunteer firefighting and security at Los Angeles International Airport, before becoming a rapper.

• In 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album It Takes a Thief.

• The lead single "Fantastic Voyage" received heavy rotation on MTV and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• "Fantastic Voyage" would become one of the biggest rap singles of the year.

• The album received praise for bringing a humorous and lighthearted perspective to the often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.

• Ivey originally rose to fame as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle alongside WC and his brother, Crazy Toones.