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Black Privilege
Damn RIP
RIP Coolio
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Coolio performs at the Night of the Proms Festival, in Antwerp, Belgium, on Oct. 27, 2000.Gie Knaeps / Getty Images file
By Diana Dasrath and Phil Helsel
LOS ANGELES — Rapper Coolio, known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta’s Paradise," has died at the age of 59, his manager confirmed Wednesday evening.
The news was first reported by TMZ.
The entertainer, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., had a music career that spanned more than three decades.
"As far as what I know now is that he was at a friend’s house and was in his bathroom and had a heart attack," his manager Jarez Posey said.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Coolio won a Grammy for Gangsta’s Paradise, which was released in 1995 and spent three weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
He shot to fame with “Gangsta’s Paradise” and won a Grammy for best solo rap performance the following year.
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The song was in the soundtrack for the 1995 Michelle Pfeiffer film “Dangerous Minds.”
Overall, Coolio has sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.
He was also in a number of television shows and films, including "Futurama" where he voiced "Kwanzaa-bot." He also made appearances in "Robbery Homicide Division" and "Malcolm & Eddie," among other shows. He was a contestant in "Fear Factor" in 2001.
He also wrote a 2009 book, “Cookin’ with Coolio,” which was also the title of a cooking show starring the rapper.
Coolio was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Compton, California.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Diana Dasrath
Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.
Phil Helsel
Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.
An abducted teen and her fugitive father die in California shootout with officers
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Rapper Coolio dead at 59
Coolio was at a friend's house and apparently suffered a heart attack, his manager said.
Coolio performs at the Night of the Proms Festival, in Antwerp, Belgium, on Oct. 27, 2000.Gie Knaeps / Getty Images file
- SAVE
By Diana Dasrath and Phil Helsel
LOS ANGELES — Rapper Coolio, known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta’s Paradise," has died at the age of 59, his manager confirmed Wednesday evening.
The news was first reported by TMZ.
The entertainer, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., had a music career that spanned more than three decades.
"As far as what I know now is that he was at a friend’s house and was in his bathroom and had a heart attack," his manager Jarez Posey said.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Coolio won a Grammy for Gangsta’s Paradise, which was released in 1995 and spent three weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
He shot to fame with “Gangsta’s Paradise” and won a Grammy for best solo rap performance the following year.
Get the Morning Rundown
Get a head start on the morning's top stories.
SIGN UP
THIS SITE IS PROTECTED BY RECAPTCHA PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF SERVICE
The song was in the soundtrack for the 1995 Michelle Pfeiffer film “Dangerous Minds.”
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Coolio was also known for hits like “Fantastic Voyage” and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “C U When U Get There” among others.Overall, Coolio has sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.
He was also in a number of television shows and films, including "Futurama" where he voiced "Kwanzaa-bot." He also made appearances in "Robbery Homicide Division" and "Malcolm & Eddie," among other shows. He was a contestant in "Fear Factor" in 2001.
He also wrote a 2009 book, “Cookin’ with Coolio,” which was also the title of a cooking show starring the rapper.
Coolio was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Compton, California.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Diana Dasrath
Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.
Phil Helsel
Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.
An abducted teen and her fugitive father die in California shootout with officers
Apparently, it was a heart attack. Damn  R.I.P. |
duck
Bills Mafia
I remember when he 1st came out. I got his cd off one of them columbia house get 7...8...9 cds for a penny ( which nobody ever paid for, it was just free cds) my young ass used to listen to this silly ass song all the time
"Homeboy it's time for Keenan and KELL!!"
RIP
RIP
Infamous Immaculate
Rookie
Was introduced to him as a kid through my pops VHS tape Phat Beach with him and steele from juice. RIP
Ahhhhhhh, ahhh, ahh-ahh, ahhhhhhh, Ahhhhhhh, ahh-ahh, ahhhhh, ahhhhh, ahh-ahh, ahhhhhhh
AHHHHHHHHHH
R.I.P.
AHHHHHHHHHH
R.I.P.
null
...
RIP.
RIP.
I’ll see you when you get there
KyokushinKarateMan
Train hard, fight easy
Gangstas Paradise was an anthem to my teenage life when it came out. This sucks. RIP
I’m getting old old.
Damn.
Rest In Peace
Damn.
Rest In Peace
Armchair Militant
Stay woke
Damn RIP
Who’s the oldest living hip hop figure?
Who’s the oldest living hip hop figure?
IIVI
Superstar
Breh getting a lot of love on social media.
Probably one of the first popular hip-hop artists and genre's first household names that everyone connected with. Honestly would've been great to see him performing at the Super Bowl.
Again, RIP.
Probably one of the first popular hip-hop artists and genre's first household names that everyone connected with. Honestly would've been great to see him performing at the Super Bowl.
Again, RIP.
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