As artists pay tribute to Coolio, the rapper’s impact on music is recognized
Musicians and entertainers are paying tribute to rapper Coolio, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 59.
Musicians and entertainers are paying tribute to rapper Coolio, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 59.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio was best known for his megahit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which was used in the 1995 film “Dangerous Minds,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer. The song won him a Grammy for best reap solo performance in 1996. He also had hits with “Fantastic Voyage,” “1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “It’s All the Way Live (Now).”
Among those who remembered Coolio on social media were “Weird Al” Yankovic, who was involved in a feud with the rapper when he released the song “Amish Paradise.” They later mended fences. Ice Cube, Questlove, Debbie Harry, Martin Lawrence and M.C. Hammer also paid tribute.
As the hip-hop community reflects on his music and impact, Chuck Creekmur, the CEO of AllHipHop.com, said Coolio was more than just a rapper: He was one of the griots of hip-hop who shared the harsh realities of his community.
“If you listen to the lyrics, it’s not glorifying the [gangster] life, but it’s actually someone that’s really working their way out of it — or at least trying to explain their point of view,” he said. “And so it resonated with so many people.”
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