Born in Pennsylvania, Coolio moved to Compton, California, at a young age and faced significant challenges, including severe asthma and addiction issues.
His debut solo album, "It Takes a Thief," released in 1994, featured the hit single "Fantastic Voyage," which became a major success.
In addition to his music career, Coolio hosted a cooking show called "Cookin' with Coolio," showcasing his culinary talents.
Biography
Early Life
Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known to the world as Coolio, was born on August 1, 1963, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Compton, California, when he was eight years old, where he faced numerous challenges, including severe asthma and a troubled youth that led to legal issues. Despite these obstacles, Coolio found solace in music and began rapping as a teenager, adopting the stage name Coolio Iglesias, which was later shortened to Coolio. After battling addiction to crack cocaine, he turned his life around, crediting his faith in Christianity for his recovery.
Music Career
Coolio's music career took off in the early 1990s when he joined the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. He released his debut solo album, "It Takes a Thief," in 1994, featuring the hit single "Fantastic Voyage," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it was his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise," featured in the film "Dangerous Minds," that catapulted him to international fame, earning him a Grammy Award and becoming one of the most iconic rap songs of all time. Over his career, Coolio released several successful albums, including "Gangsta's Paradise" and "My Soul," and sold approximately 4.8 million albums in the U.S.
Personal Life and Legacy
Coolio was a father to ten children and was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. He was also known for his advocacy work, including educating students about climate change and serving as a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In addition to his music, he hosted a cooking show, "Cookin' with Coolio," showcasing his culinary skills. Coolio's contributions to music and culture have left a lasting impact, and he is remembered as a pioneer who brought hip-hop to a broader audience before his passing in 2022.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Greatest Hits2025
- 1.Gangsta's Paradise4:02
- 2.Ooh La La4:06
- 3.County Line2:58
- 4.Rollin' with My Homies4:06
- 5.I Remember4:48
- 6.Fantastic Voyage - Timber Mix5:34
- 7.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) - Timber Mix3:23
- 8.2 Minutes & 21 Seconds of Funk2:24
- 9.Too Hot3:41
- 10.C U When U Get There - Bill & Humberto's Orchestra Mix5:25
Greatest Hits (Rerecorded)2018
- 1.Gangsta's Paradise (Rerecorded)4:03
- 2.Fantastic Voyage (Rerecorded)4:31
- 3.C U When You Get There (Rerecorded)5:00
- 4.1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New) (Rerecorded)3:13
- 5.It's All the Way Live (Now) (Rerecorded)3:46
- 6.Too Hot (Rerecorded)3:26
- 7.Oh La La (Rerecorded)4:58
- 8.It Takes a Thief (Rerecorded)4:50
- 9.Power to the People (Rerecorded)3:23
- 10.Ultimate (Rerecorded)3:04
Cruise Off2018
- 1.I Will3:43
- 2.From the Bottom 2 the Top4:19
- 3.Hotel C5:07
- 4.Lady5:58
- 5.Boyfriend3:27
- 6.Destinesya3:35
- 7.Cruise Off3:16
- 8.Motivation4:58
- 9.Stimulate4:28
- 10.She Loves Me3:17
- 11.[unknown]4:11
Ultimate Collection2014
- 1.Gangsta’s Paradise3:42
- 2.C U When U Get There4:09
- 3.Change (Coolio vs. Ennio Morricone)3:38
- 4.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)3:12
- 5.Gangsta Walk3:54
- 6.Too Hot3:30
- 7.Fantastic Voyage3:58
- 8.Ohh La La4:13
- 9.It’s All the Way Live2:59
- 10.It Takes a Thief4:35
- 11.Gangsta’s Paradise (Kylian Mash & Tim Resler remix)3:20
- 12.Gangsta Walk (DJ Shorty remix)3:37
- 13.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) (Fisher Noman remix)3:35
- 14.Fantastic Voyage (The Cube Guys remix)3:08
- 15.Change (Coolio vs. Ennio Morricone) (DJ’s From Mars remix)4:43
- 16.Ohh La La (Diva & Jones remix)3:24
- 17.It Takes a Thief (Angel Anx remix)4:33
- 18.Too Hot (N3sh & D’Ambrogio remix)4:06
- 19.C U When U Get There (Danny Freakazoid remix)3:35
- 20.It’s All the Way Live (Frog remix)3:43
Best of Coolio2014
- 1.Gangsta’s Paradise3:42
- 2.C U When U Get There4:09
- 3.Change (vs Ennio Morricone)3:38
- 4.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)3:12
- 5.Gangsta Walk3:54
- 6.Too Hot3:30
- 7.Fantastic Voyage3:58
- 8.Ooh La La4:13
- 9.It’s All the Way Live2:59
- 10.It Takes a Thief4:35
- 11.Gangsta’s Paradise (Kylian Mash & Tim Resler remix)3:20
- 12.Gangsta Walk (Shorty radio edit)3:37
- 13.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) (Fisher Noman remix)3:35
- 14.Fantastic Voyage (The Cube Guys remix)3:08
- 15.Too Hot (N3sh & D’Ambrogio remix)4:06
The Essential Collection2012
- 1.Gangsta's Paradise
- 2.Too Hot
- 3.1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New)
- 4.That's How It Is (skit)
- 5.Fantastic Voyage
- 6.Ooh La La
- 7.Geto Highlites
- 8.I Remember
- 9.Hit 'em
- 10.Can U Dig It
- 11.Bright as the Sun
- 12.Recoup This
- 13.The Revolution
- 14.U Know Hoo!
- 15.Get Up Get Down
- 16.Can I Get Down X1
- 17.Smilin'
- 18.2 Minutes & 21 Seconds of Funk
- 19.Hand on My Nutsac
- 20.C U When U Get There5:11
- 21.On My Way to Harlem3:14
- 22.For My Sistas4:27
- 23.Can-O-Corn3:40
- 24.Nature of the Business4:40
- 25.Fucc Coolio (skit)0:49
- 26.Kinda High, Kinda Drunk3:45
- 27.My Soul4:15
- 28.Exercise Yo Game4:49
- 29.Let's Do It4:32
- 30.Ghetto Cartoon3:13
- 31.Cruisin'4:33
- 32.Sticky Fingers2:59
- 33.Devil Is Dope4:13
- 34.Knight Fall4:11
- 35.Homeboy4:06
- 36.Throwdown 20003:53
- 37.A Thing Going On4:44
- 38.One Mo3:45
The Collection2012
- 1.Gangsta’s Paradise4:02
- 2.Geto Highlites4:59
- 3.Ooh La La4:06
- 4.Fantastic Voyage (Timber mix)5:34
- 5.Hit ’em4:22
- 6.C U When U Get There5:11
- 7.For My Sistas4:27
- 8.Can I Get Down 1x3:45
- 9.Is This Me?4:24
- 10.County Line2:58
- 11.Mama, I’m in Love Wit a Gangsta4:10
- 12.Cruisin’4:35
- 13.Homeboy4:08
- 14.My Soul4:15
- 15.Bright as the Sun4:46
- 16.The Winner4:01
- 17.I Remember4:48
The Greatest Hits and Remixes2011
- 1.Gangsta’s Paradise3:41
- 2.C U When U Get There4:07
- 3.Change (Coolio vs. Enni Morricone)3:38
- 4.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin New)3:12
- 5.Gangsta Walk3:53
- 6.Too Hot3:30
- 7.Fantastic Voyage3:57
- 8.Ooh La La4:12
- 9.It’s All the Way Live3:00
- 10.It Takes a Thief4:34
- 11.Gangsta’s Paradise (Bernasconi & Farenthide Re-cut remix)3:42
- 12.1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin New) (Fisher Noman remix)3:35
- 13.Fantastic Voyage (The Cube Guys remix)3:09
- 14.Ooh La La (Diva & Jones remix)3:26
- 15.Gangsta Walk (DJ Shorty remix)3:40
- 16.It’s All the Way Live (Frog remix)3:44
- 17.Change (DJ’s From Mars remix)4:45
- 18.Too Hot (N3sh & D Ambrogio remix)4:07
- 19.C U When U Get There (Danny Freakazoid remix)3:36
- 20.It Takes a Thief (Angel Anx remix)4:28
- 21.Gangsta’s Paradise (Kylian Mash & Tim Resler remix)3:19
From the Bottom 2 the Top2009
- 1.Change (radio edit)3:42
- 2.I Will4:19
- 3.From the Bottom 2 the Top5:08
- 4.Hotel C5:07
- 5.Lady Vs Beat Nouveau3:27
- 6.Boyfriend3:35
- 7.Destinesya vs. Ives Larock3:15
- 8.Cruis Off4:58
- 9.Motivation4:28
- 10.Stimulate3:17
- 11.She Loves Me4:10
Steal Hear2008
- 1.Gangster Walk3:59
- 2.Cruise Off4:59
- 3.They Don't Know3:56
- 4.It's On3:48
- 5.Boyfriend3:35
- 6.Do It4:21
- 7.Lady & A Gangsta4:26
- 8.Make Money4:18
- 9.Back It Up Now3:54
- 10.Keep on Dancing3:51
- 11.Dip It3:33
- 12.Motivation4:28
- 13.One More Night4:10
- 14.Here We Come4:39
- 15.Keep It Gangsta4:13
Hip Hop Masters2008
- 1.Ice Ice Baby4:14
- 2.Knockin’ Boots4:08
- 3.Fantastic Voyage4:04
- 4.Ice Ice Baby (Club Crasher mix)4:26
- 5.Gangsta’s Paradise3:58
- 6.Knockin’ Boots (Mac Daddy mix)5:01
- 7.Fantastic Voyage (Lil Stayne mix)4:07
- 8.Buffalo Soldier3:43
The Return of the Gangsta2006
- 1.Intro0:45
- 2.Let It Go3:37
- 3.Gangsta Walk3:53
- 4.Do It4:21
- 5.Drop Something3:39
- 6.Bloops0:32
- 7.Make Money4:19
- 8.Lady & Gangsta4:25
- 9.Daddy’s Song4:08
- 10.One More Night4:14
- 11.Loosemobile0:37
- 12.Dip It3:32
- 13.Keep On Dancing3:50
- 14.187% WRPM0:11
- 15.Keep It Gangsta4:14
- 16.They Don’t Know3:57
- 17.West Coast Anthem4:43
- 18.Outro0:49
El Cool Magnifico2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
Coolio.com2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Very Best2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
Fantastic Voyage: The Greatest Hits2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
My Soul1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gangsta’s Paradise1995
Tracklist not collected yet.
It Takes a Thief1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Coolio & Friends
Tracklist not collected yet.
Fantastic Voyage1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gangsta's Paradise (Re-Recorded - Sped Up)2023
Tracklist not collected yet.
Rhino Hi‐Five: Coolio, Volume 22006
Tracklist not collected yet.
Rhino Hi‐Five: Coolio2005
Tracklist not collected yet.
Greatest Hits2025
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Tommy Boy Records
- Record label
- Warner Bros. Records
- Record label
- Allied Artists Music Group
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance
Groups
- Comeback Unitedcurrent
- Nu Skoolcurrent
- Sound Master Crewcurrent
- WC and the Maad Circlecurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: A. Ivey, Artis Ivey, Artis Leon Ivey, Jr.
Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known by his stage name Coolio, was an American rapper, songwriter and record producer. He was best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), which won a Grammy Award, and was credited for changing the course of hip-hop by bringing it to a wider audience. Other singles included "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), "1, 2, 3, 4 " (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). He released nine albums, the first three of which achieved mainstream success: It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta's Paradise (1995), and My Soul (1997). Coolio first achieved recognition as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio sold 4.8 million albums in the U.S.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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