In the wake of the death of Coolio, the rapper behind the iconic ‘90s hit Gangsta’s Paradise, new details of his final moments have emerged.
After the Grammy-award-winning artist was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend’s LA home on September 28, paramedics frantically worked to save him for 45 minutes before stopping.
Coolio, who was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was found on the bathroom floor after he had gone in and not returned for “a while”, according to TMZ.
He was later pronounced dead at the scene, with paramedics reportedly believing he suffered a cardiac arrest.
This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio https://t.co/vCeyn08Vsi
— Ice Cube (@icecube) September 29, 2022
Jarez Posey, Coolio’s friend and manager, confirmed the 59-year-old had died on Thursday.
Posey told TMZ that the rapper had travelled to LA to sort out an issue with his passport ahead of his performance in Germany the following weekend.
As tributes flowed for Coolio, one fan shared a story highlighting a kind and thoughtful side to him.
“So much respect for the man!” the fan wrote.
“My schoolfriend was murdered in ‘97 and Coolio sent flowers to his funeral in London because he had heard he was a fan.”
Along with a rap career that kicked off in the 1980s, Coolio also built a career in film and TV, including roles in Batman & Robin (1997), The Nanny, Charmed, and as a voice actor in Futurama and Gravity Falls.
He also went on to release the reality TV show Cooking with Coolio, followed by the show Coolio’s Rules.
But it was Gangsta’s Paradise, which featured on the soundtrack of the film Dangerous Minds, that earned him his Grammy award in 1996 and elevated him to stardom.
In a recent interview, Coolio said it was a song “that transcends generations”.
“I didn’t use any trendy words … I think it made it timeless.”
Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in Dangerous Minds, quickly shared a tribute to the artist after his passing.
“Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist Coolio,” she captioned a clip from the film where Gangsta’s Paradise plays.
“A life cut entirely too short.
“As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.
“I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear the song. Sending love and light to his family. Rest in Power, Artis Leon Ivey Jr. ❤️”.
The Compton-born artist leaves behind ten children, including six he shared with ex-wife Josefa Salinas.
Image: @coolio (Instagram)
This article first appeared on OverSixty.