Coolio “touched the world” together with his expertise and shall be “missed profoundly” following his demise aged 59, his administration have stated.
The US rapper, liable for Nineties hit track Gangsta’s Paradise, died on Wednesday afternoon.
Coolio’s supervisor at Trinity Artists Worldwide, Sheila Finegan, confirmed the demise to the PA information company.
“We're saddened by the lack of our expensive pal and shopper, Coolio, who handed away this afternoon,” the company stated in an announcement shared with PA.
“He touched the world with the present of his expertise and shall be missed profoundly.
“Thanks to everybody worldwide who has listened to his music and to everybody who has been reaching out relating to his passing.
“Please have Coolio’s family members in your ideas and prayers.”
The rapper was discovered unresponsive on the lavatory flooring of a pal’s home in Los Angeles, in response to US media outlet TMZ.
In addition to for his profitable music profession, Coolio turned well-known within the UK for his appearances on Channel 4 actuality present Massive Brother.
The rapper got here third within the sixth collection of UK Movie star Massive Brother in 2009, dropping out to broadcaster Terry Christian, who was the runner-up, and presenter and mannequin Ulrika Jonsson, who gained.
However together with Jonsson he went on to affix the solid of Final Massive Brother the next 12 months in 2010, the final collection of the present to air on Channel 4.
Jonsson instructed PA that his demise was a “shock” however the pair had shared “so many laughs” collectively.
“I spent a good bit of time with Coolio – he was a misogynist, broke wind lots; he fancied himself as a prepare dinner however my God, we had so many laughs,” she stated.
The rapper was born in Pennsylvania, however later moved to Compton, California, the place he launched his first single in 1987.
He recorded Gangsta’s Paradise for the 1995 movie Harmful Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and it went on to turn into one of the profitable rap songs of all time.
The observe topped the US Billboard Scorching 100 for 3 weeks and gained Coolio the Grammy award for finest rap solo efficiency in 1996.
Pfeiffer stated she was “heartbroken” to listen to the information of his demise, including that she remembered him as “nothing however gracious” after they labored collectively.
“Heartbroken to listen to of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a clip of the movie that includes the observe.
“A life minimize solely too quick.
“I bear in mind him being nothing however gracious. 30 years later I nonetheless get chills once I hear the track.
“Sending love and light-weight to his household. Relaxation in Energy, Artis Leon Ivey Jr.”
Gangsta’s Paradise was additionally parodied by US musical comic Bizarre Al Yankovic, as Amish Paradise, although on the time it was claimed that Coolio had not given him permission to take action.
Nevertheless, Coolio acknowledged in interviews that the pair had since made amends.
Yankovic paid his respects to Coolio with a brief tribute on social media.
Sharing an image of the pair embracing, he wrote: “RIP Coolio”.
After information of his demise broke, officers at Wrigley Area in Chicago performed the hit track in addition to Coolio’s Unbelievable Voyage all through the stadium, because the hometown Cubs hosted the Philadelphia Phillies
Coolio was nominated for 5 different Grammys throughout a profession that started within the late-Nineteen Eighties.
Heavyweights from the rap world, together with Snoop Dogg, Ice Dice and MC Hammer, paid their respects to him after the information was shared on social media.
Former NWA star Ice Dice stated he had witnessed Coolio’s “grind to the highest of the trade” in his personal tribute.
“That is unhappy information,” the rapper and actor wrote on Twitter.
“I witnessed first hand this man’s grind to the highest of the trade. Relaxation In Peace @Coolio.”
MC Hammer described Coolio as “one of many nicest dudes I’ve identified” as he shared an image of the pair along with Tupac and Snoop.