Rapper Coolio performing in 2002. Public domain photo.Rapper Coolio performing in 2002. Public domain photo.
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Coolio, award-winning rapper, dead at 59

An American rapper known for his ability to combine old-school vibes with contemporary hip-hop has passed away.

Coolio, whose 1995 hit "Gangsta's Paradise" topped the music charts and brought plenty of accolades, died in Los Angeles Wednesday night, according to celebrity website TMZ. He was 59.

According to Coolio's manager, the artist was found unresponsive in the washroom of a friend's home. The cause of death was an apparent heart attack. TMZ reported that there was no evidence of substance abuse, but there will be an autopsy and a toxicology test performed.

Born in Pennsylvania as Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio moved to southern California where he attended Compton Community College and worked in airport security and as a volunteer firefighter.

Coolio began recording in 1987, but did not make a splash on the charts until 1994 with his first studio album, It Takes a Thief, yielding his first top-ten hit, "Fantastic Voyage".

It was his second album, Gangsta's Paradise, that made him a household name. The acclaimed title track caught fire after being featured in the 1995 film "Dangerous Minds", hit number-one on the U-S and British single charts, and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Two of Coolio's follow-up singles, "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and "C U When U Get There", also cracked the U.S. top-ten.

Coolio appeared on television frequently, including a season of "Celebrity Big Brother" and an episode of ABC's "Wife Swap". He also dealt with legal issues, including a 2016 conviction for carrying a loaded weapon inside a bookbag at Los Angeles International Airport. He was sentenced to three years of probation and 45 days of community service.

Coolio is survived by six children from various relationships. He was married once, to Josefa Salinas, from 1996 to 2000.

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