The all-time Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known professionally as Coolio, was an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Coolio achieved mainstream success in the mid-to-late 1990s with his albums It Takes a Thief, Gangsta’s Paradise, and My Soul.
Coolio recorded his first single in 1987, titled Whatcha Gonna Do? He also recorded “What Makes You Dance (Force Groove)” with Nu-Skool in 1988. Coolio made connections in the L.A. rap scene, and in 1991, ended up joining the group WC and the Maad Circle, led by rapper WC. He is a credited co-contributor on the group’s debut album Ain’t a Damn Thang Changed, including on the single Dress Code.
When did Coolio release Gangsta’s Paradise?
In 1995, Coolio released Gangsta’s Paradise, featuring R&B singer L.V., for the film Dangerous Minds. It became one of the most successful rap songs of all time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. It was the No. 1 single of 1995 in the United States for all genres and was a global hit topping the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand charts. Gangsta’s Paradise was the second-best-selling single of 1995 in the U.K.
The song also created a controversy when Coolio claimed that comedy musician Weird Al Yankovic had not asked for permission to make his parody of “Gangsta’s Paradise”, titled Amish Paradise. At the 1996 Grammy Awards, the song won Coolio a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
Which awards did Gangsta’s Paradise win?
Originally Gangsta’s Paradise was not meant to be included on one of Coolio’s studio albums, but its success led to Coolio not only putting it on his next album but also making it the title track.
The title track interpolates the chorus and music of the song Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder, which was recorded nearly 20 years earlier on Wonder’s album Songs in the Key of Life. The album Gangsta’s Paradise was released in 1995 and was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA and sold more than two million copies globally.
The album contains two other major hits in 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) and Too Hot with J. T. Taylor of Kool & the Gang doing the chorus. Despite no longer being an official member of the group, Coolio appears on the second WC and the Maad Circle album Curb Servin’ on the song In a Twist.
In 1996, Coolio had another top 40 hits with the song It’s All the Way Live (Now) from the soundtrack to the movie Eddie. He is also featured on the song “Hit ’em High” from the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes.
In 2014, the band Falling in Reverse did a cover of Gangsta’s Paradise for Punk Goes ’90s, with Coolio making a cameo in the music video.
