Rapper Coolio died of a fentanyl overdose in September 2022 at the age of 59, a family spokesman confirmed to TMZ on Thursday.
The Gangsta’s Paradise hitmaker, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., also had trace amounts of heroin and methamphetamines in his system when he was found dead on the bathroom floor of a friend’s LA home on September 28.
Coolio’s spokesman and manager, Jarel (Jarez) Posey, also revealed that investigators had determined that Coolio’s severe asthma and lifelong smoking habit had played a role in his death, interfering with his body’s ability to fight the overdose fight back
Coolio’s children Brandi, Jackie, Melan, Christopher, Artis III, Darius and Artisha “will remember their father as the great man he was” and want the public to know how much they loved him, Posey said.
The musician’s relatives are now planning to honor their father through documentaries and films – and to further expand his musical legacy.
Tragic loss: Rapper Coolio died of a fentanyl overdose in September 2022 at the age of 59, a family spokesman confirmed to TMZ on Thursday (pictured in 2015)
Gone too soon: The musician – famous for his hit song Gangsta’s Paradise – was visiting a friend on Wednesday September 28 when he was found dead (pictured 10 days before his death)
The cause of death will be confirmed after an autopsy and toxicological tests.
Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to help cancer patients manage pain.
Due to its extreme potency, it has become popular among recreational drug users.
Overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rose from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016, surpassing the number of mainstream opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time.
And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017 – a record caused by fentanyl.
It’s often added to heroin because it produces the same high as the drug, with biologically identical effects. However, according to officials in the US, it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
In the US, fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II drug, suggesting that it has some medical use but has a strong potential for abuse and can lead to psychological and physical dependence.
Paramedics pronounced Coolio dead at the scene – with law enforcement sources saying at the time “no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene” and they do not suspect foul play.
The paramedics suspected a cardiac arrest at the time,
What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous?
Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to help cancer patients manage pain.
Due to its extreme potency, it has become popular among recreational drug users.
Overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rose from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016, surpassing the number of mainstream opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time.
And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017 – a record caused by fentanyl.
It’s often added to heroin because it produces the same high as the drug, with biologically identical effects. However, according to officials in the US, it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
In the US, fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II drug, suggesting that it has some medical use but has a strong potential for abuse and can lead to psychological and physical dependence.
Coolio’s spokesman and manager, Jarel (Jarez) Posey, also revealed that investigators had determined that Coolio’s severe asthma and lifelong smoking habit had played a role in his death, interfering with his body’s ability to fight the overdose fight back (picture 1996).
Heartbroken: Michelle Pfeiffer paid tribute to the rapper after his death
The Latest: Helicopter reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News Chris Cristi tweeted a photo of cops outside the house where the rapper was found dead
Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer, 64, shared the music video for Gangsta’s Paradise after working with the musician on the video, and the song was the cornerstone of the soundtrack for her 1995 Dangerous Minds.
The track topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and earned Coolio a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
Pfeiffer shared the music video for Coolio’s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” from their cult 1995 film: “Heartbroken to hear of the death of gifted artist @coolio. A life cut far too short.’
“As some of you may know, I was fortunate enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think is why our film was such a hit.”
Pfeiffer shared the music video for Coolio’s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” from their cult 1995 film: “Heartbroken to hear of the death of gifted artist @coolio. A life cut far too short.’
“As some of you may know, I was fortunate enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think is why our film was such a hit.”
Coolio delivered the smash hit song and won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Movie, and a Billboard Music Award for the song/the album excellent.
Taking to Twitter after hearing the sad news, rapper Ice Cube paid tribute to Coolio, writing, “This is sad news. I have witnessed firsthand this man’s journey to the top of the industry. Rest in peace.’
Sean Evans shared a photo of a Coolio CD and wrote, “First CD I ever bought in May life and the most legendary Wing 10 Last Dab these eyes have ever seen RIP Coolio.”
Snoop Dogg referenced the world-famous track in his own tribute, writing: “Gangstas Paradise. REST IN PEACE.’
He also shared a picture of the pair on Instagram, posing on the set of the music video for their track Gangsta Walk, released in 2006.
The West Coast legend is survived by his ex-wife Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. The former couple split four years later after having four children.
He is said to have between six and ten children with several women. His known children include Grtis Ivey, Brandi Ivey, Milan Ivey, Darius Ivey, Zhaneand Ivey, Jackie Ivey, Kate Ivey, Shayne Ivey, Artisha Ivey, and Artis Ivey III.
Coolio was seen performing on stage during Riot Fest 2022 at Douglass Park on September 18 in Chicago, Illinois.
He was also spotted at Sydney Airport in early April, where he graciously stopped to take photos with fans before his concert at Luna Park.
After being born in the steel town of Monessen in southwestern Pennsylvania, he relocated to Compton, Los Angeles, where he began to develop his skills by entering rap competitions.
He recorded the singles Watcha Gonna Do and You’re Gonna Miss Me in the late 1980s before joining the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991.
Three years later he had his breakthrough as a solo artist with the single “Fantastic Voyage” from his debut individual album “It Takes a Thief” released by Tommy Boy Records.
The outlandish singer released Gangsta’s Paradise in 1995 and the song topped the charts in the US, UK, France, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The single itself has sold over six million copies worldwide and is taken from his four-time platinum, Grammy-nominated, 17-track album of the same name.
Using religious undertones in the lyrics, the singer said he felt called to do the tune, announcing, “Gangsta’s Paradise wanted to be born; it wanted to come alive, and it chose me as its vessel.’
He revealed some of the lines were from Stevie Wonder, who didn’t allow foul language: “I had some vulgarities … and he wasn’t with it. So I changed it. When he heard it, he thought it was incredible.”
The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua and featured Pfeiffer reprising her role.
An album of the same title was later released in 1995 and was soon certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with the release also containing hit singles 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) and Too Hot .
Unfortunately, Coolio was never able to repeat his musical success and received little recognition with the following song “I’ll CU When U Get There”.
Coolio also collaborated on the soundtrack for the Michael Jordan family film Space Jam and collaborated with Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Cyprus Hills B-Real and Method Man from the Wu-Tang Clan on the song Hit ’em High.
He achieved a special place in the hearts of many television viewers with the memorable theme song – titled Aw Here It Goes – to the children’s series Kenan and Kel, along with appearances on The Nanny and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Coolio recorded eight studio albums ending in 2009 with From the Bottom 2 the Top and has continued to work in television, including appearances as himself in Adult Swim’s Black Jesus in 2014 and last year on the President’s puppet show, Let’s Be Real.
He was due to perform in Europe in the coming weeks, with performances in Germany booked for October.
He was not without legal incidents and was convicted in Germany in 1998 of being an accessory to robbery and bodily harm.
He was also convicted of storing a loaded firearm in a book bag at Los Angeles International Airport in 2016 and was denied entry into Singapore at Changi International Airport the next year for an undisclosed reason.
He was sentenced to 45 days of community service and was barred from owning or possessing any weapons during a three-year probation period.
Outside the courtroom, Coolio said: “A mistake was made. It was a misunderstanding. I do not condone the use of firearms, illegal or legal. Thanks to the court and the lawyers who did this for me. I was very worried. I don’t commit any crime. I’m not into anything illegal.’
A talented actor, Coolio has starred in dozens of films and TV shows throughout his career and has three films in the works, according to his IMDb page: Bobcat Moretti, It Wants Blood 2, and a TV movie Vegas High.
His passion for food led him to become a chef, appearing on the web-based cooking instructional shows Coolio’s Rules and Cookin’ with Coolio, and a celebrity contestant on the first season of Rachael vs Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.
Coolio has toured smaller venues across the United States in recent years, performing a number of hits from his back catalogue.
In addition to his successful music career, he is known in the UK for his appearances on the Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.
The rapper finished third in the sixth series of UK Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, losing to broadcaster Terry Christian, who finished second, and presenter and model Ulrika Jonsson, who won.
But along with Jonsson, he joined the cast of Ultimate Big Brother the following year in 2010, the show’s final series to air on Channel 4.
Coolio left the Ultimate Big Brother house in sensational fashion after having a huge falling out with fellow contestant Nadia Almada.
Investigation: Law enforcement sources said that in September “no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene of Coolio’s death” (2016 picture).
The pair spent the night bickering, with the simmering tension reaching its peak when the rapper was caught in the act hiding the transgender star’s clothes.
They were each ordered into the journal room, where Coolio, after calming down, decided it was time to leave, a spokeswoman for the show explained.
His exit was announced on Channel 4’s website with the following statement: “After a busy morning indoors, Coolio was called into the diary room at 1.20pm today to speak with Big Brother.
“Shortly thereafter, in agreement with Big Brother, it was mutually decided that Coolio should leave the house. Big Brother broke the news to the surprised housemates at 2:37 p.m. One thing is for sure, Coolio is a character whose absence will be felt.”