Fox News reports that Coolio, the Grammy Award-winning rapper, has died at the age of 59.
Coolio is reported to have died on Wednesday afternoon while visiting a friend’s house in Los Angeles, California.
What we know:
Some of the information that we have about Coolio’s death comes from Coolio’s manager, Jarez Posey, and some of it comes from Los Angeles law enforcement.
According to Posey, at one point during the visit to his friend’s house, Coolio went to use the bathroom, and he never came back out. The friend started calling Coolio’s name, but Coolio failed to respond. And so, after several such calls, his friend went into the bathroom, where he found Coolio lying on the floor.
Emergency personnel was called to the scene. After some 45 minutes of trying to resuscitate Coolio, the rapper was pronounced dead.
No official cause of death has been provided, but Posey has stated that Coolio died of a heart attack.
A death investigation has been opened. Reports indicate that there were no signs of foul play and that law enforcement did not find any drugs at the scene.
Remembering Coolio
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio first appeared as a rapper in Los Angeles in the late 1980s. But, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that he really became a big name nationally.
During the 1990s, Coolio would put out several big hits, such as Fantastic Voyage, It’s All the Way Live, and 1,2,3,4. But, his biggest hit was Gangsta’s Paradise, which was released for the film Dangerous Minds’ soundtrack.
Gangsta’s Paradise would stay at number one for three weeks. And, Coolio, in 1996, would win a Grammy Award for the hit.
Sheila Finegan, Coolio’s talent manager, has put out a statement on the rapper’s death, saying, “we are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away this afternoon.”
Finegan continued, “he touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly. Thank you to everyone worldwide who has listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing. Please have Coolio’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”