Coolio dead at 59

Coolio, an American rapper best known for his popular song Gangsta's Paradise, has passed away at the age of 59.

Jarel Posey, the rapper's longtime manager, confirmed the report, stating that Coolio passed away on September 28 around 5 p.m. PT.

Coolio, whose full name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was reportedly discovered dead at a friend's home, according to TMZ.

Jarez, Coolio's longtime manager, claimed that Coolio went to his friend's house to use the restroom, but when he didn't return after some time, the friend kept calling for him. Eventually, the friend went inside and discovered Coolio lying on the floor.

Paramedics were called to the property in Los Angeles at around 4 PM for a medical emergency, and when they arrived, they declared Coolio dead, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to the outlet.

Jarez added that the medics think he had a heart attack. There has been no official determination on the cause of death.

"We are devastated by Coolio's passing this afternoon, who was a good friend and client of ours. He had a huge impact on the world and will be greatly missed, according to Sheila Finegan, his manager at Trinity Artists International. "I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has heard his music and has contacted me over his passing. Please keep Coolio's family in your prayers and thoughts.

In the 1990s, Coolio became well-known in the Los Angeles rap scene after penning the song "Gangsta's Paradise" for the Michelle Pfeiffer-starring movie "Dangerous Minds" in 1995. This was his big break. It soon rose to prominence as one of the most well-known rap songs of all time, spending three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and finishing 1995 as the top single in the United States. Coolio won the Grammy Award for best rap solo performance in 1996, and "Gangsta's Paradise" was nominated for record of the year.

In 1991, Coolio, then known as Artis Leon Ivey Jr., moved to Compton, California, where he joined the hip-hop group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio was born on August 1, 1963, in Pennsylvania. A few years later, in 1994, Coolio landed a record deal with Tommy Boy Records and issued his self-titled debut album. It Takes a Thief, which was propelled by its lead single "Fantastic Voyage," peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and was awarded platinum status.

After "Gangsta's Paradise" became popular in the middle of the 1990s, Coolio's fame grew even more. Eventually, he recorded "Aw, Here It Goes!" for the theme song of Nickelodeon's "Kenan & Kel," which he also appeared in. "C U When U Get There" from his third album, "My Soul," which was released in 1997, peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although the album was gold-certified, it didn't have the same impact as his first two albums and ended up being his final album with Tommy Boy.

The following five studio albums by Coolio would follow: "Coolio.com" in 2001, "El Cool Magnifico" in 2002, "The Return of the Gangsta" in 2006, "Steal Hear" in 2008, and "From the Bottom 2 the Top" in 2009. As his popularity as a musician waned, Coolio transitioned from music to television, finishing third in a German talent competition for musicians trying to make a comeback in 2004 and making an appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2009. Coolio also had a strong passion for food. In 2009, he published a cookbook titled "Cooking With Coolio," and in 2012, he participated in "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off" on the Food Network, finishing in second place.