Coolio

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. better known by his stage name Coolio (born August 1, 1963 in Compton, California), is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.

Music Career
He recorded two singles in 1987, titled Watcha Gonna Do and You're Gonna Miss Me. Coolio made connections in the Los Angeles rap scene, and in 1991, ended up joining the group WC and the Maad Circle, led by rapper WC. He had a few verse on the group's debut album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, including on the single Dress Code. The album was regionally successful.

Tommy Boy Records and It Takes a Thief
In 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his solo debut album It Takes a Thief. The lead single Fantastic Voyage received heavy rotation on MTV, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard hot 100. Fantastic Voyage would become one of the biggest rap singles of the year, and the album contained a few minor hits in Country Line and I Remember. It Takes a Thief peaked at #8 on the Billboard200, becoming certified Platinum. The album received praise for being a humorous and lighthearted perspective to often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.

Gangsta's Paradise
In 1995, Coolio made a song for the movie Dangerous Minds, which was entitled Gangsta's Paradise, which featured R&B singer L.V., would become one of the most successful rap songs of all time, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. It was the #1 single of 1995 for all genres, and was a global hit, as it reached #1in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. The song also created a controversy when Coolio claimed that parody artist Weird Al Yankovic had not asked permission to make his parody of Gangsta's Paradise titled Amish Paradise. At the 1996 Grammy Awards, the song won Coolio a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.

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 sampled the chorus and music of the song Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder, which was recorded nearly 20 years earlier on Stevie Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life. The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and was certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA. The album comtained 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 made an appearance on the second WC and the Maad Circle album Curb Servin', on the song In a Twist. In 1996, Coolio had another top 40 hit song It's All the Way Live (Now) from the soundtrack to the movie Eddie. He was also featured on the song Hit 'em High from the soundtrack to the movie Space Jam with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.

Red Hot Organization and Tommy Boy Records dismissal
In 1996, Coolio on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD America is Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan and Fat Joe, among many other Hip Hop artist. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African-American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine. That same year, he recorded the theme song and appeared in the opening sequence on the Nickelodeon TV series Kenan & Kel, which ran for four seasons.

After the success of Gangsta's Paradise, Coolio's next album was expected to be another hit. His third solo album titled My Soul, came out in 1996. Although it contained the major hit C U When U Get There and the album went Platinum, it failed to reach the success of his previous two albums. Coolio was dropped from Tommy Boy Records and his album since then, 2001's Coolio.com, 2003's El Cool Magnifico, 2006's The Return of the Gangsta and 2008's Steal Hear, have not charted on any Billboard chart. He did have a minor hit in the UK in 2006 with Gangsta Walk (featuring Snoop Dogg), which peaked at #67 on the UK pop chart.

While touring with hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, Coolio received a tattoo as a homage to the group's fanbase, reading "Jugalo Cool"[sic]. He stated that the misspell was intentional. Coolio has performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.

Television
In 2009, Coolio appeared as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother. He later went to appear on Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, where he was later removed from the house for unacceptable behavior towards Nadia Almada and others in the house. In January 2012, he was one of the eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, where he represented the Music Saves Lives organization. He came in second place with a Zagat sciore of 23 out of 30, losing to Lou Diamond Phillips. As runnerup, he was awarded $10,000 for his charity.

Coolio was featured on the March 5, 2013, episode of the ABC reality program Wife Swap, and his girlfriend at the time left him after the program was taped.

In game shows, Coolio has appeared on Match Game, Pyramid and Catch 21 in the U.S. and in the U.K. on June 30, 2013, he appeared alongside comedienne Jenny Éclair and Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden on Tipping Point: Lucky Stars, where he came in second.

he appeared on an episode of the Disney Channel animated series Gravity Falls where he voiced a waxed figured of himself.

Charitable Work
Coolio and Jazz saxophonist Jarez were enlisted in July 2008 as spokespersons by the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change to educate students at historically black colleges and universities about global warming. Coolio is a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. He says that he and his children are asthma sufferers. As a child, he was taken to the hospital several times due o asthma complications.

Personal Life
As mentioned before, Coolio appeared in the 2009 season of the British television show Celebrity Big Brother. Coolio talked about his six children from four different relationships.

In 2013, a federal court entered a default judgement against Coolio after he was sued by a woman for his actions in jumping on the woman's back and bullriding her. Later in 2013, Coolio was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after he was accused of punching a girlfriend of three years in the face during an argument on April 1 after he brought another woman home.

U.S. Shows appeared
Fear Factor

Beat the Geeks

Spy TV

Celebrity Boot Camp

The Weakest Link

Pyramid

Match Game

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Celebrity Poker Showdown

Celebrity Blackjack

Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off

Catch 21

U.K. Shows appeared
Celebrity Big Brother (2009)

Ultimate Big Brother (2010)

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Tipping Point: Lucky Stars

Links
Intrigue Management (Coolio's UK Agent)

His Official Facebook page

His Official Twitter page

His Official Instagram Page

Official Youtube channel for Cookin with Coolio