Coolio Totally Explained

Everything about Coolio totally explained

Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. (born August 1, 1963) better known by his stage name Coolio, is a Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor perhaps best known for the hit song "Gangsta's Paradise", a reworking of the Stevie Wonder song Pastime Paradise. Coolio has also made numerous television and film appearances.

Biography

Early life

The son of Jackie (née Jones), a factory worker, and Artis Leon Ivey, Sr., a carpenter. His brother is actor and rapper Trent Douglas. He worked as a California Conservation Corps-member at the Pomona site.

Recording career

Coolio started his career as a member of the rap group, WC and the Maad Circle, which included WC, Sir Jinx and DJ Crazy Toones. He later left the group and released his most successful album Gangsta's Paradise, which went 4X Platinum and featured the mega hit, Gangsta's Paradise and the popular party track, Sumpin New. However, Coolio's next three albums, 1997's "My Soul", 2002's "El Cool Magnifico" and 2006's "Return of the Gangsta", failed to live up to the success of his first two albums.
Coolio's recordings also appeared on the soundtracks to Clueless (1995) and Dangerous Minds (1995). In 2005, he co-hosted the MOBO awards in the UK. The MOBO (an acronym for Music Of Black Origin) Awards, established in 1996 by Kanya King, are held annually in the UK to recognize artists of any race or nationality performing music of black origin.

Television

Coolio performed the theme song for the 1996 TV show Kenan and Kel, entitled "Awww Here It Goes." Coolio also was in a movie in 2000 called Gangland. He also starred in an episode of The Nanny. In 2001, he was a special guest on Beat the Geeks. In 2002 Coolio guest starred in the hit series Charmed, as a Lazarus demon, in the episode Marry Go Round. He played himself in the episode Coolio Runnings of the animated comedy Duckman. He also voiced Kwanzaa-bot, a character featured in the "A Tale of Two Santas" episode of Futurama. In fact, according to the DVD commentary, the producers of Futurama were so impressed by his range of voices, that they said he could do voice-over work professionally. Coolio reprised the character for the direct-to-DVD feature Bender's Big Score.
   In 2002, Coolio was a contestant on Celebrity Fear Factor. During the third round, he referred to himself as "El Cool Magnifico" (which would become the title of his fourth studio album). That same year, he appeared on Celebrity Bootcamp and won. Coolio starred in the 2003 made-for-TV movie Dracula 3000, in which he played a space-faring stoner named 187, and the feature film Exposed, in which he played a rapper named "Bigg Heat". Coolio played the role of US Navy sailor Franky in 2004 Croatian film Ta divna splitska noć (Wonderful night in Split). In 2004 he participated in the German Comeback Show where he finished as third behind Chris Norman and Benjamin Boyce. He made another television movie appearance in 2005 as a military officer in the horror film Pterodactyl. That year, he also appeared in Joey on the episode "Joey and the Poker."
   In 2006, Coolio appeared in the "Tanner's Ghost" episode of the Celebrity Paranormal Project.
   In 2008, Coolio is hosting an online cooking show (or video podcast), Cookin' with Coolio, for the network MyDamnChannel. He says he's trying to make "black food" healthier and more affordable for poor people (Newsweek). He says he "likes Bobby Flay and Rachel Ray".He also apeared in "Marry go Round" in Charmed as a Laceras demon.

Pop culture references

His song Gangsta's Paradise was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as Amish Paradise in 1996. Coolio didn't take kindly to the parody initially due to claims that he didn't sign off on it (Yankovic's agent claimed Coolio's agent did). He did receive royalties, however. Coolio has since forgiven Al, even signing autographs with him at an electronics show.
In the Twisted Metal 2 game for the PlayStation gaming console, he was in a billboard in the game.
In the television show 30 Rock, Tracy Jordan states that the Black Crusaders wanted him to disappear "just like Coolio" to which Liz Lemon responds "Coolio's still around".
Commenting on the criminal record of Ol' Dirty Bastard, Chris Rock asserts in his 1999 spoken word song, "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)", that "ODB couldn't've possibly committed all those crimes. Coolio did some of that shit."
Ska punk band Patent Pending mentions Coolio in their song "The Website Is Under Construction," singing "Where the hell is Coolio tonight?"
Band Andrew Vincent and the Pirates mention Coolio in their song 'Girlfriend's Dog', singing "She calls him Frank, but I've been calling him Coolio"
In the song "Go To Church" from Ice Cube's "Laugh Now, Cry Later" album, rapper Snoop Dogg mentions Coolio.
In an episode of Futurama, what appears to be Coolio's face is shown on a coin.
In the children's computer game DinoPark Tycoon Coolio appears in the crowd of guests at the player's Dino Park.
In the UK TV series Benidorm, the character Chantelle names her baby Coolio.

Personal life

Coolio has six children, but is separated from his wife.

Awards

1994 : MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best Rap Video. "Fantastic Voyage"

1995 : Grammy Award Nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Fantastic Voyage"

1995 : Billboard Music Award Win for Top Hot 100 Single Sales Single of the Year. "Gangsta's Paradise"

1995 : Billboard Music Award Win for Top Hot 100 Single of the Year. "Gangsta's Paradise"

1996 : American Music Award Win for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist.

1996 : Grammy Award Win for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Gangsta's Paradise"

1996 : Grammy Award Nomination for Record of the Year. "Gangsta's Paradise"

1996 : MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Rap Video. "Gangsta's Paradise"

1996 : MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Video from a Film . "Gangsta's Paradise"

1996 : MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Dance Video. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)")

1996 : MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best Male Video. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)")

1997 : Grammy Award Nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. "Stomp"

1998 : Grammy Award Nomination for Best Rap Performance. "C U When U Get There"

Discography

Albums

*It Takes a Thief* Released: July 19, 1994 Chart Positions: #8 US #5 Top Hip Hop/R&B Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "It Takes a Thief", "County Line", "Fantastic Voyage", "I Remember", "Mama I'm in Love Wit a Gangsta"
*Gangsta's Paradise* Released: November 21, 1995 Chart Positions: #9 US, #14 R&B/Hip-Hop Last RIAA certification: 4x Platinum Singles: "Gangsta's Paradise", "Too Hot", "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"
*My Soul* Released: August 26, 1997 Chart Positions: #39 US #49 Top Hip Hop/R&B Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "C U When U Get There", "Ooh La La"
*Coolio.com* Released: April 18, 2001 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles:
Released: September 14, 2001 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles:
*El Cool Magnifico* Released: October 15, 2002 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles: "I Like Girls", "Ghetto Square Dance", "Sunshine"
*Coolio and Friends* Released: October 25, 2004 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles: "The Hustler"
*The Return of the Gangsta* Released: October 16, 2006 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles: "Gangsta Walk"
*Steal Hear* Released: July 29, 2008 Chart Positions: Last RIAA certification: Singles: "Boyfriend"

WC and the Maad Circle

*Ain't a Damn Thang Changed* Released: 1991 Chart Positions: #52 Top Hip Hop/R&B Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Dress Code"
*Curb Servin'* Released: 1995 Chart Positions: #85 US, #15 R&B/Hip-Hop Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "West Up!", "The One"

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions				Album
Year	Title	U.S. Hot 100	U.S. R&B	U.S. Rap	UK Singles Chart	Album
1993	"It Takes A Thief"	-	-	-	-	It Takes a Thief
1993	"County Line"	-	97	27	-
1994	"I Remember"	-	83	48	73
	"Fantastic Voyage"	3	12	2	41
	"Mama I'm in Love Wit' a Gangsta"	-	-	49	-
1995	"Gangsta's Paradise" (featuring L.V.)	1	2	1	1	Gangsta's Paradise
1995	"Too Hot"	24	31	6	9
1996	"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"	5	24	6	13
	"Payback" (Montell Jordan featuring Coolio)	-	-	-	-	This Is How We Do It (Montell Jordan album)
	"It's All the Way Live (Now)"	29	47	9	34	Eddie soundtrack
	"Keep It On the Red Light" (Ophelie Winter featuring Coolio)	-	-	-	-	No Soucy! (Ophelie Winter album)
1997	"Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" (with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes)	-	-	-	8	Space Jam soundtrack
	"The Winner"	-	-	-	53	Space Jam soundtrack
	"C U When U Get There" (featuring 40 Thevz)	12	34	7	3	My Soul
	"Ooh La La"	-	-	-	14	My Soul
1998	"[I'min love with] Mary Jane"	-	-	-	-	Half-Baked Soundtrack
1998	"Raise the Roof" (Chazz featuring Coolio)	-	-	-	-	—
2002	"Somebody's Gotta Die" (featuring Krayzie Bone)	-	-	-	-	El Cool Magnifico
2003	"I Like Girls" (featuring Ms Toi)	-	-	-	-
	"Ghetto Square Dance"	-	-	-	-
	"What Is An MC"	-	-	-	-
	"Sunshine"	-	-	-	-
2004	"The Hustler" (featuring Kenny Rogers)	-	-	-	-	Coolio and Friends
2006	"Gangsta Walk" (featuring Snoop Dogg)	-	-	-	67	The Return of the Gangsta

Further Information

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