Coolio

Coolio is an American musician, rapper, actor, and record producer.

He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me" as a solo artist before joining the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991.

In 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, It Takes a Thief. The album contained the single "Fantastic Voyage" which became Coolio's breakout song. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the biggest rap singles of the year. The album also contained a few minor hits in "County Line" and "I Remember". Overall the album was very successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200 and being certified Platinum. The album received praise for bringing a humorous and lighthearted perspective to often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.

In 1995, he made "Gangsta's Paradise" for the movie Dangerous Minds. The song, which featured R&B singer L.V., would became 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 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.

The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and with the mega-hit 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". 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

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. 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.

His third solo album, titled My Soul came out in 1996. Although it did contain the major hit "C U When U Get There", 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.

Music Videos

 * 1, 2, 3, 4 - Gotta Get Up
 * 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)
 * C U When U Get There (featuring 40 Thevz)
 * County Line
 * Fantastic Voyage
 * Gangsta Walkin' (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg)
 * Gangsta's Paradise (featuring LV)
 * I Remember
 * It's All The Way Live (Now)
 * Mama I'm In Love With a Gangsta
 * Ooh La La
 * The Winner
 * Too Hot
 * Yo Ho Ho

Guest Music Videos

 * Hit 'em High (with B Real)
 * Keep It On The Red Light (with Ophelie)
 * Peepshow (with XSS)
 * Raise The Roof (with Chazz)
 * Rapture / Maria / No Exit (with Blondie)
 * The Gambler (with Kenny Rogers)