Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known professionally as Coolio, was an American rapper. First rising to fame as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle, Coolio achieved mainstream success as a solo artist in the mid-to-late 1990s with his albums It Takes a Thief, Gangsta's Paradise, and My Soul.
Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was born on August 1, 1963 in Compton, California. He is an American rapper and actor who rose to prominence in the mid-1990s. Coolio began his career as a member of the rap group WC and the Maad Circle, but eventually found success as a solo artist with his debut album It Takes a Thief in 1994. The album spawned the hit single "Fantastic Voyage," which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Coolio a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
Coolio continued to release albums throughout the late 1990s and into the 2000s, such as Gangsta's Paradise (1995) and My Soul (2002). He has collaborated with numerous artists over his career including LL Cool J, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, TLC, and Busta Rhymes. Coolio also appeared in films such as Spy Hard (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), Rat Race (2001), and Half Baked (1998). In addition to his music career, Coolio also hosted a cooking show on YouTube called Cookin' with Coolio from 2010-2012.
Coolio has been nominated for several awards over his career including two MTV Video Music Awards for "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995) and "C U When U Get There" (1997). He was inducted into the American Hip Hop Hall of Fame in 2008.
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1963</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Coolio is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On August 1, 1963, Coolio was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in Monessen, Pennsylvania.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1989</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Debut Album</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Releases his debut album It Takes a Thief on Tommy Boy Records.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1994</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Gangsta's Paradise is Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Releases the single "Gangsta's Paradise" which goes on to become a massive hit and win a Grammy Award.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1999</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">My Soul is Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Releases his fourth studio album My Soul, which features the hit single "C U When U Get There".</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2008</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Steal Hear is Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Releases his sixth studio album Steal Hear, featuring the singles "Let it Go" and "I Like Girls".</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2011</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Appears on Celebrity Big Brother</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Appears as a contestant on UK's Celebrity Big Brother.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2015</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Final Album</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Releases his final album entitled The Return of the Gangsta with singles such as "Ain't No Love".</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> His Music</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Coolio is a legendary rapper, with hit songs like “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage”. His music is still relevant today, and his influence on the rap genre can still be felt in many of today's artists.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> His Message and Lyrics</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Coolio has always been an advocate for positivity and good vibes. His lyrics often reflect this message, as he wants to spread good energy and bring people together. He also has some great bars that make you think about life and the world around us.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> He's an Inspiration</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Coolio is an inspiration to many for his achievements in music despite coming from difficult circumstances. He didn’t let his environment dictate his destiny; instead he worked hard to pursue his dreams and become one of the most influential rappers in history. </p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> Grammy Award Winner</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Coolio won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his hit song “Gangsta’s Paradise.”</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Released an EDM Album</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Coolio released an entire EDM album in 2016, called ‘The Return of the Gangsta.’</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Actor & Chef</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Coolio has appeared in multiple movies and television shows, and even hosted his own cooking show on the Food Network called ‘Cookin’ With Coolio.’</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Created His Own Cryptocurrency</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">In 2017, Coolio launched his own cryptocurrency called ‘CoolioCoin.’</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">5.</span> Was a Backup Dancer for Ice Cube</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Before becoming famous, Coolio was a backup dancer for Ice Cube at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.</p></div>