Artis Leon Ivey, Jr.
(born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio
, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and actor. He rose to fame in 1994 with his debut single "Fantastic Voyage", and later in 1995 with the hit single "Gangsta's Paradise", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Dangerous Minds
.
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COOLIO TICKETS
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Early life
Coolio was born in
Compton, California the son of Jackie Slater, a factory worker, and Artis Leon Ivey Sr., a
carpenter.
[1] His parents divorced and Coolio was getting in trouble outside home as he spent time with Mona Park Compton
Crips gang members, although he was never formally inducted nor accepted into the gang and therefore not considered as a member of a gang.
[2]
At the age of 22, Coolio spent several months in jail for
larceny.
Coolio was a regular guest on the Los Angeles radio station
KDAY. The beginning of Coolio's musical career was derailed as he began selling crack-cocaine. After rehab, Coolio worked various odd jobs, including as a California Conservation Corps-member at the Pomona site
[3] and as a
firefighter in the forests of
northern California in the 1980s.
Recording career
Coolio started his career as a member of the rap group,
WC and the Maad Circle, which along with Coolio included
WC,
Sir Jinx and
DJ Crazy Toones. He left the group, and in 1994 released his debut album
It Takes a Thief
. The album was a success, reaching the top 10 of the pop charts (#8 on the
Billboard Hot 200)
[4]. The album featured the singles "Fantastic Voyage" and "I Remember," which featured J-Ro and Tash of
Tha Alkaholiks. "Fantastic Voyage" was a hit single, peaking at #2 on the
Hot Rap Singles,
[5] and being ranked one of the top 5 songs of the year by
Rolling Stone
magazine,
Spin
magazine, and
Village Voice
.
[6]
In 1995 Coolio released his second album,
Gangsta's Paradise
, which is his most successful album to date. It went quadruple-platinum fueled by the title track, a song that also appeared on the soundtrack to the movie
Dangerous Minds
, and hit #1 on the
Billboard Hot 100 [7]. The titled single also became the biggest selling single on the US Billboard Top 100 of 1995 (Ref : http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1995.htm), It also contained another major hit, "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" that peaked at #5 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
[8]
In 1997 Coolio released his third album,
My Soul
. It peaked at #39 on the
Billboard Hot 200, a large commercial dropoff from his first two albums. It contained one charting single, "
C U When U Get There", based on
Johann Pachelbel's classic piece "
Canon in D", which peaked at #12 on the
Billboard Hot 100. His next two albums,
El Cool Magnifico
(2002), and
The Return of the Gangsta
(2006), had little success and failed to chart.
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.
Television
Coolio performed the theme song for the 1996 TV show
Kenan & Kel
, entitled "Awww Here It Goes". Coolio also appeared in a one-time role as the host of a pleasure palace in
Space: Above and Beyond. He also starred in an episode of
The Bill, as well as in an episodes of
Sabrina the Teenage Witch and
The Nanny where he played the nephew of
Ray Charles's character.
In 2001, he was a special guest on
Beat the Geeks; he lost. 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
.
[9] 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 the 2004
Croatian film
A 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 i
Joey
on the episode "Joey and the Poker." Twice in 2006,
In 2008, Coolio hosted an online cooking show (or video podcast),
Cookin' with Coolio
[10], for the website and network
My Damn Channel.
Cookin' with Coolio was such a hit, Coolio is releasing a cookbook called
Cookin' with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price on November 17, 2009
[11]. The book's publisher is
Simon and Schuster.
Coolio stars with his family in the
Oxygen cable television network's
reality show Coolio's Rules
,
[12] scheduled to premiere October 28, 2008. The show follows Coolio as he tries to balance raising a family, starting a new
catering business, and dating.
On January 2, 2009, he entered the
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK) house
[13], alongside fellow Americans
La Toya Jackson and
Verne Troyer. He was a controversial figure, and polarised opinion amongst fans of the show. He was accused by some of making offensive jokes and comments, both of a racist and sexist nature.
Ofcom received some official complaints regarding the matter but did not launch an official inquiry. In particular
Michelle Heaton cried numerous times and claimed that Coolio's constant hints that there was a relationship between her and
Ben Adams was the cause. However some viewers considered his comments to be harmless and found his playful actions not only entertaining but a highlight of the show. One of his most notable moments was an emotional response to the inauguration of
Barack Obama. On Friday 23 January 9:30 UK time he finished third in the Celebrity Big Brother final.
In January 2009, Coolio worked with
David Faustino (Bud Bundy from
Married with Children
) for an episode of Faustino's show
Star-ving - Faustino's ex-wife is living with Coolio.
[14]
On February 24, 2009, Coolio appeared on Channel Five in the UK to discuss
Barack Obama's election, stating that he would "take a bullet" for the President.
[15] He also spoke of his love for the
Los Angeles Lakers.
[16]
He appeared alongside
Ben Affleck,
Jennifer Garner and
Jon Favreau in the director's cut version of
Daredevil
, where he played a kindhearted man who was accused of murder. This part
was cut out of the theatrical release but restored in the director's cut.
Pop culture references
- His song "Gangsta's Paradise" uses sampling from Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise and was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Amish Paradise" in 1996.
- In the Twisted Metal 2
video game for the PlayStation gaming console, he appeared in a billboard.
- 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 have possibly committed all those crimes. Coolio did some of that shit."
- Ska punk band Patent Pending mentions Coolio several times in their song "The Website Is Under Construction," singing "Where the hell is Coolio tonight?"
- The band Andrew Vincent and the Pirates mentions Coolio in its 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, he also appears briefly in the video.
- Snoop Dogg also mentions Coolio in his song Doggy Dogg World
in the lines It's like everywhere I look, and everywhere I go, I'm hearin motherfuckers tryin to steal my flow, But it ain't no thang cause see my nigga Coolio, Put me up on the game when I step through the do'.
- 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 after it looked exactly like Coolio.
- In Irish television soap opera Fair City
, the character Sarah Malloy often refers to her childhood crush on Coolio and what would have happened if she had pursued her dream of moving to California in order to meet him.
- RTÉ 2fm's The Colm & Jim-Jim Breakfast Show
regularly claim with their tongue curled around inside their cheek that Coolio is dead. (He isn't)
- In the 1995 film Clueless
, Coolio's song "Rollin' With the Homies" is mentioned in several scenes.
- Post-Hardcore group In Fear and Faith covered "Gangsta's Paradise" in 2009.
Personal life
On June 10, 2008 Coolio was taken into custody after being pulled over by police in Hollywood. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant related to a 2001 suspended license incident and released on a $10,000 bail.
[17]
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.
[18]
On March 10, 2009, Coolio was arrested at
Los Angeles International Airport after an undisclosed quantity of
crack cocaine and a
crack pipe were discovered in his luggage. He was charged with a
felony for possession of the drug, a
misdemeanour for possession of drug paraphernalia, and
battery, for attempting to physically prevent the search of his luggage.
[19] He was due to perform in
Brisbane,
Melbourne and
Sydney in
Australia the following week but the tour was subsequently cancelled. He was released on $10,000 bail
[20] and pleaded not guilty at an April 3, 2009
arraignment.
[21] On June 26 under a plea bargain arrangement he agreed to enter a drug rehabilitation program for 18 months. In return for his guilty plea charges of battery and possession of a smoking device were dropped.
[22]
Discography
- It Takes a Thief
(1994)
- Gangsta's Paradise
(1995)
- My Soul
(1997)
- Coolio.com
(2001) (Japan-limited release)
- El Cool Magnifico
(2002)
- The Return of the Gangsta
(2006)
- Steal Hear
(2008)
- From The Bottom 2 The Top
(2009) [23]
Selected Filmography
Coolio has made numerous appearances in television and movies, mostly small roles or cameos.
- Batman & Robin
(1997)
- The Nanny
- The TV Series Episode: Homie Work (1998)
- On the Line
(1998)
- Tyrone AKA The Bad Trip
(1999)
- Submerged
(2000)
- Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth
(2000)
- China Strike Force
- Dope Case Pending
(2000)
- Get Over It
(2001)
- Stealing Candy
(2002)
- Move
(2002)
- Daredevil - Director's Cut
(2003)
- Leprechaun: In the Hood
(2003)
- Tapped Out
(2003)
- Pterodactyl
(2003)
- Gang Warz
(2006)
- Grad Night
(2006)
- Chinaman's Chance
(2008)
- Futurama
as Kwanzaabot
(2008)
Awards and nominations
Coolio's 1995 song "Gangsta's Paradise" received several awards, including
Best Rap Solo Performance at the
Grammy Awards; and
Best Rap Video and
Best Video from a Film at the
MTV Video Music Awards. Coolio himself has received several awards, including Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist at the
American Music Awards in 1996. At the Grammy Awards in 1997, Coolio received three nominations:
Best Rap Album for
Gangsta's Paradise
, Best Rap Solo Performance for "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and
Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Stomp". Overall, Coolio has received five awards from thirteen nominations.
American Music Awards
The
American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by
Dick Clark in 1973. Coolio has received one award from two nominations.
[24] [25] [26]
Year
| Nominated work
| Award
| Result
|
1996
| Coolio
| Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist
| Won
|
1997
| Coolio
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
| Nominated
|
Grammy Awards
The
Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Coolio has received one award from six nominations.
[27] [28] [29]
Year
| Nominated work
| Award
| Result
|
1995
| "Fantastic Voyage"
| Best Rap Solo Performance
| Nominated
|
1996
| "Gangsta's Paradise"
| Best Rap Solo Performance
| Won
|
Record of the Year
| Nominated
|
1997
| Gangsta's Paradise
| Best Rap Album
| Nominated
|
"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"
| Best Rap Solo Performance
| Nominated
|
"Stomp"
| Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
| Nominated
|
MTV Video Music Awards
The
MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by
MTV. Coolio has received three awards from five nominations.
[30] [31]
Year
| Nominated work
| Award
| Result
|
1994
| "Fantastic Voyage"
| Best Rap Video
| Nominated
|
1996
| "Gangsta's Paradise"
| Best Rap Video
| Won
|
Best Video from a Film
| Won
|
"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"
| Best Dance Video
| Won
|
Best Male Video
| Nominated
|
References
- Coolio - Biography
- Coolio - Biography (HTML). Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-07-14
- California Conservation Corps Corpsmembers
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dxfwxqe5ldde~T5
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hifixqwhld6e~T31
- http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/
- ''Billboard'': Artist Chart History - Coolio
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dxfwxqe5ldde~T51
- NBC Fear Factor
- My Damn Channel: Cookin' With Coolio "Coolio Caprese Salad"
- [1]
- Oxygen Networks: Coolio Rules
- Big Brother
- Star-ving
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzDZOYewnqY
- [1]
- Coolio Not Licensed to Chill
- EJCC Enlist Coolio and Jarez to Launch Green Campaign
- Update: Coolio Slapped With Battery & Crack Possession Charges
- Title Unavailable
- Coolio Pleads Innocent Yahoo News, April 3, 2009
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/arts/music/29arts-COOLIOPLEADS_BRF.html
- http://www.coolio.com/
- Coolio
- Garth Brooks, Eagles Win Big at American Music Awards Event
- American Music Awards
- Will this be Sheryl's Crow's Night?
- The 38th Annual Grammy Awards
- Grammy Awards
- 1994 Video Music Awards
- 1996 Video Music Awards