01of 12Coolio’s Early YearsCoolio.Paul Natkin/WireImageBorn Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug. 1, 1963, Coolio grew up in Compton, California, where he attended Compton Community College and worked as a firefighter before becoming a rapper. In a 1996 PEOPLE interview, he recalled how he got his moniker: a friend saw him strumming a guitar on his front steps and asked, “Who do you think you are? Coolio Iglesias?”
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Coolio’s Early Years
Coolio.Paul Natkin/WireImage
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on Aug. 1, 1963, Coolio grew up in Compton, California, where he attended Compton Community College and worked as a firefighter before becoming a rapper. In a 1996 PEOPLE interview, he recalled how he got his moniker: a friend saw him strumming a guitar on his front steps and asked, “Who do you think you are? Coolio Iglesias?”
02of 12Coolio Wins a Grammy AwardCoolio.SGranitz/WireImageCoolio’s sole Grammy win came in 1996 for best rap solo performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise.” In 2005, the rapper reflected on the hit in a PEOPLE chat, saying, “I was expecting it to be something that my homies really liked, but it turns out it was something that my grandmother really liked too — and white kids in suburbia.” Much of his legacy came from the single and the album of the same name, in addition to his 1994 track “Fantastic Voyage” and late-’90s collaborations with friends like Wu-Tang Clan and Fat Joe.
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Coolio Wins a Grammy Award
Coolio.SGranitz/WireImage
Coolio’s sole Grammy win came in 1996 for best rap solo performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise.” In 2005, the rapper reflected on the hit in a PEOPLE chat, saying, “I was expecting it to be something that my homies really liked, but it turns out it was something that my grandmother really liked too — and white kids in suburbia.” Much of his legacy came from the single and the album of the same name, in addition to his 1994 track “Fantastic Voyage” and late-’90s collaborations with friends like Wu-Tang Clan and Fat Joe.
03of 12Coolio’s 1990s SuccessRaymond Boyd/GettyDespite his tough exterior — and equally tough upbringing — the rapper knew his success came with responsibility. “It’s other people’s children looking up to me,” he told PEOPLE in 1996, “so I have to be careful. I didn’t ask [to be a role model]. I don’t know if I want it. But I got it, so I’ve gotta deal with it the best I can. Rap is the most informative music on the planet.”
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Coolio’s 1990s Success
Raymond Boyd/Getty
Despite his tough exterior — and equally tough upbringing — the rapper knew his success came with responsibility. “It’s other people’s children looking up to me,” he told PEOPLE in 1996, “so I have to be careful. I didn’t ask [to be a role model]. I don’t know if I want it. But I got it, so I’ve gotta deal with it the best I can. Rap is the most informative music on the planet.”
04of 12Coolio and Wife Josefa SalinasGregg DeGuire/WireImageFrom 1996 to 2000, Coolio was married to longtime love Josefa Salinas; together they had four kids, Artisha, Brandi, Jackie and Artis.
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Coolio and Wife Josefa Salinas
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
From 1996 to 2000, Coolio was married to longtime love Josefa Salinas; together they had four kids, Artisha, Brandi, Jackie and Artis.
05of 12Coolio’s Family LifeChris Polk/FilmMagicThe rapper often brought his children to events; here, he’s pictured with two of his sons at the 2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretspremiere in Los Angeles.In a 2008 interview, he spoke of his love for his family, saying, “[I’d be willing to] do the rest of my life in prison if you mess with my kids.”
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Coolio’s Family Life
Chris Polk/FilmMagic
The rapper often brought his children to events; here, he’s pictured with two of his sons at the 2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretspremiere in Los Angeles.In a 2008 interview, he spoke of his love for his family, saying, “[I’d be willing to] do the rest of my life in prison if you mess with my kids.”
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Coolio in Pop Culture
CBS/Getty
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Coolio on Celebrity Big Brother
08of 12Coolio on Celebrity Wife SwapRonda Churchill/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyStateside, he appeared on an episode ofCelebrity Wife Swap,trading places with Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath in season 1 (pictured). For a while he had his own Oxygen family reality show,Coolio’s Rules,too.
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Coolio on Celebrity Wife Swap
Ronda Churchill/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Stateside, he appeared on an episode ofCelebrity Wife Swap,trading places with Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath in season 1 (pictured). For a while he had his own Oxygen family reality show,Coolio’s Rules,too.
09of 12Cookin' with CoolioIn the late ’00s, Coolio made another career pivot, releasing theCookin' with Cooliocook book and starting a web series of the same name. “I do fusion,“he told theBoston Globein 2009. “Ghetto fusion. You can cook some Kobe beef and I can cook some beef straight out of Compton, and you’d be hard pressed to make your [stuff] taste better than mine.”
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Cookin' with Coolio
In the late ’00s, Coolio made another career pivot, releasing theCookin' with Cooliocook book and starting a web series of the same name. “I do fusion,“he told theBoston Globein 2009. “Ghetto fusion. You can cook some Kobe beef and I can cook some beef straight out of Compton, and you’d be hard pressed to make your [stuff] taste better than mine.”
10of 12Coolio’s Charitable EndeavorsRandy Holmes/ABC via GettyThough known for his music, the rapper had a charitable side, too, starting a foundatin in the ’90s promoting education and working to bring awareness to climate change. “I know I’m successful,” he told PEOPLE in 1996. “But I want to go further. I want to expand my ability to help and employ others.”
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Coolio’s Charitable Endeavors
Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty
Though known for his music, the rapper had a charitable side, too, starting a foundatin in the ’90s promoting education and working to bring awareness to climate change. “I know I’m successful,” he told PEOPLE in 1996. “But I want to go further. I want to expand my ability to help and employ others.”
11of 12Coolio as a GrandfatherEthan Miller/GettyA family man to the end, the rapper brought granddaughter Arya Ivey onto the court for the halftime show of the Connecticut Sun vs. Las Vegas Aces WNBA game in Las Vegas in May 2022.
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Coolio as a Grandfather
Ethan Miller/Getty
A family man to the end, the rapper brought granddaughter Arya Ivey onto the court for the halftime show of the Connecticut Sun vs. Las Vegas Aces WNBA game in Las Vegas in May 2022.
12of 12Coolio’s Final WeeksCoolio.Daniel Boczarski/GettyMost recently, Coolio hit the stage at the 2022 Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 18, 2022. Ten days later on Sept. 28,he died at a friend’s homein Los Angeles. He was 59 years old.
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Coolio’s Final Weeks
Coolio.Daniel Boczarski/Getty
Most recently, Coolio hit the stage at the 2022 Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 18, 2022. Ten days later on Sept. 28,he died at a friend’s homein Los Angeles. He was 59 years old.
source: people.com
