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Coolio

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Coolio
Coolio in November 2002, peforming for U.S. Army soldiers in Bosnia.
Coolio in November 2002, peforming for U.S. Army soldiers in Bosnia.
Background information
Birth nameArtis Leon Ivey Jr.
Born (1963-08-01) August 1, 1963 (age 61)
Monessen, Pennsylvania, USA[1]
GenresHip hop, Gangsta rap, G-funk
Occupation(s)Rapper, actor, record producer
Years active1987 – present
LabelsTommy Boy/Warner Bros.

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American Grammy Award-winning musician, rapper, actor, and record producer. He is best known for the song "Gangsta's Paradise", and the theme song for Kenan & Kel, a Nickelodeon show from 1996 to 2000, and was in fact one of the finest pieces of television ever made on this Earth. Go drink some orange soda.

Career

Music

Beginnings

He recorded two singles in 1987, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me". Neither single was successful, but Coolio had made connections in the Los Angeles rap scene, and, in 1991, ended up joining the group WC and the Maad Circle, led by rapper WC. He had a few verses on the group's debut album, Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, including on the single "Dress Code". The album was regionally successful, but did not make much impact on a national scale.

Tommy Boy Records and "Fantastic Voyage"

Three years later in 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, It Takes a Thief. The lead single "Fantastic Voyage" was put into heavy rotation on MTV, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Fantastic Voyage" would become one of the biggest rap singles of the year. The album also contained a few minor hits in "County Line" and "I Remember". It Takes a Thief eventually peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200, becoming certified Platinum.[2] The album received praise for bringing a humorous and lighthearted perspective to often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.[3]

"Gangsta's Paradise"

After the success of his debut, Coolio became a popular rap star. In 1995, he made a song for the movie Dangerous Minds, and this song became "Gangsta's Paradise". "Gangsta's Paradise", which featured R&B singer L.V., would become one of the most successful rap songs of all time, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. It was the #1 single of 1995 for all genres, and was a truly global hit, as it reached #1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. The song also created a controversy when Coolio claimed that parody artist Weird Al Yankovic had not asked for permission to make his parody of "Gangsta's Paradise", titled "Amish Paradise". At the 1996 Grammy Awards, the song won Coolio a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Originally "Gangsta's Paradise" wasn't meant to be included on one of Coolio's studio albums, but its extreme success led to Coolio not only putting it on his next album, but also making it the title track. The title track sampled the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder, which was recorded nearly 20 years earlier on Stevie Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life. The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and with the megahit was certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA. The album also contained two other major hits in "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "Too Hot" with J.T. Taylor of Kool & the Gang doing the chorus. Despite no longer being an official member of the group, Coolio also made an appearance on the second WC and the Maad Circle album, Curb Servin', on the song "In a Twist". In 1996, Coolio had another top 40 hit with the song "It's All the Way Live (Now)" from the soundtrack to the movie Eddie. He was also featured on the song "Hit 'em High" from the soundtrack to the movie Space Jam with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes.

Red Hot Organization, album flop, and Tommy Boy Records dismissal

In 1996, Coolio appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, and Fat Joe, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine. That same year, he recorded the theme song and appeared in the opening sequence of the Nickelodeon TV series Kenan & Kel which ran for four seasons.

After the massive success of the Gangsta's Paradise album, Coolio had a tough job to make a proper followup. His third solo album, titled My Soul came out in 1996. Although it did contain the major hit "C U When U Get There" and the album went platinum, the album was considered a disappointment and failed to reach the success of his previous two albums. Subsequently, Coolio was dropped from Tommy Boy Records and his albums since then, 2001's Coolio.com, 2003's El Cool Magnifico, 2006's The Return of the Gangsta, and 2008's Steal Hear have not been successful, as none has charted on any Billboard chart. He did have a minor hit in the UK in 2006 however, in "Gangsta Walk" (featuring Snoop Dogg) which peaked at #67 on the UK pop chart.

While touring with hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, Coolio received a tattoo as a homage to the group's fanbase, reading "Jugalo Cool" [sic]. He stated that the misspelling was intentional.[4] Coolio has performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos, and identifies himself as a Juggalo.[4][failed verification]

Television

In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, where he represented the Music Saves Lives organization.[5] He came in second place with a Zagat score of 23 out of 30, losing to Lou Diamond Phillips. As runnerup, he was awarded $10,000 for his charity.

Coolio was featured on the March 5, 2013, episode of the ABC reality program Wife Swap.[6]

Charitable work

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.[7] Coolio is a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. He says that he and his children are asthma sufferers. As a child, he was taken to the hospital several times due to asthma complications.[8]

Personal life

In the 2009 season of the British television show Celebrity Big Brother [9] Coolio talked about his six children from four different relationships, including twin daughters, Shayne and Kate, born on January 21, 1987,[9] and a son Artis Ivey III, born on September 28, 1989.[10][11]

Discography

Main article: Coolio discography

Filmography

Coolio has made numerous appearances in television and movies, mostly small roles or cameos.

Awards and nominations

Coolio awards and nominations
Totals[a]
Nominations13
Note
  1. ^ Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.

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.[12][13][14]

Year Nominee / 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.[12][15][16][17]

Year Nominee / 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 six nominations.[12][18][19]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 "Fantastic Voyage" Best Rap Video Nominated
1996 "Gangsta's Paradise" Best Rap Video Won
Best Video from a Film Won
Viewer's Choice Nominated
"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" Best Dance Video Won
Best Male Video Nominated

References

  1. ^ Hoffmann, Frank W. (2006). Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop. Facts on File. p. 50. ISBN 0-8160-5315-4.
  2. ^ www.riaa.org
  3. ^ Huey, Steve (1963-08-01). "( Coolio > Biography )". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  4. ^ a b TMZ Staff (2010-06-07). "Coolio's Tattoo Screw Up – Nothin' But a 'G' Thang". TMZ.com. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  5. ^ a b Dish, The FN (2011-07-29). "Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off: New Show Premieres This Winter". Blog.foodnetwork.com. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  6. ^ McDonough, Kevin (March 5, 2013). "Celebrity shows have hit the 'D-List'". York Dispatch.
  7. ^ "EJCC Enlist Coolio and Jarez to Launch Green Campaign". Theblackspotlight.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  8. ^ "OrganizedWisdom Health | Discover what health experts are sharing now". Organizedwisdom.com. Retrieved 2010-07-10. Has a cooking show online called "Cooking with Coolio"
  9. ^ a b Big Brother[dead link‍]
  10. ^ Coolio Arrested, Sent to Same Jail as Son
  11. ^ Family Tree Legends
  12. ^ a b c "Coolio". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  13. ^ "Garth Brooks, Eagles Win Big at American Music Awards Event". Los Angeles Times. 1996-01-30.
  14. ^ "American Music Awards". The Washington Post. 1997-01-26.
  15. ^ "Will this be Sheryl's Crow's Night?". Hartford Courant. 1995-03-01.
  16. ^ Hilburn, Robert (1996-02-29). "The 38th Annual Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times.
  17. ^ "Grammy Awards". The Washington Post. 1997-02-23.
  18. ^ "1994 Video Music Awards". MTV. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  19. ^ "1996 Video Music Awards". MTV. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
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