Coolio

A rising gangsta rap star with a gift for melody and a rebellious spirit battles the pressures of fame and the music industry to become a Grammy-winning voice of a generation.

Born

1963

Died

2022

Also:
Music Department
Actor

Credits on file

Decades active

In short · Composed for four decades — 47 credits.

Remembered for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

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Biography

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known professionally as Coolio, was an influential American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He gained widespread recognition for his 1995 hit "Gangsta's Paradise," which won a Grammy Award and played a pivotal role in expanding hip-hop's mainstream appeal. Other notable tracks include "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), "1, 2, 3, 4" (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). Coolio's successful albums include *It Takes a Thief* (1994), *Gangsta's Paradise* (1995), and *My Soul* (1997), with the first three achieving significant commercial success. He initially rose to prominence as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio's work in music earned him over 4.8 million album sales in the United States.

Filmography · 35 of 35

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