AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Coolio

Artist:Coolio f/L.V.

Song:Gangsta's Paradise

Album:The Essential Collection

Rapper Artis "Coolio" Ivey Jr. topped the charts for two weeks with the 1995 single Gangsta's Paradise. It was 1995's biggest hit. After a couple of other hits, Ivey's music career faded and he appeared on reality TV. Rap music careers usually don't last very long. He was born Aug. 1, 1963 in Los Angeles and he grew up in Compton. Ivey was severely asthmatic and a bookworm. Of course that made him an outcast so he started rapping. He earned the nickname Coolio Iglesias. He spent time in jail for larceny and at one time was addicted to crack. After attending Compton Community College, he worked in odd jobs before launching his rap career. He released a couple of singles independently. After appearing on WC and the Maad Circle's 1991 album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, Ivey signed with Tommy Boy and released the 1994 album It Takes a Thief. The video for Fantastic Voyage went into heavy rotation on MTV and the song reached # 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. When Gangsta's Paradise appeared in the film Dangerous Minds and the video got played on MTV, Ivey decided to name the album Gangsta's Paradise. Initially the song was only supposed to be on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack.The single topped the charts for two weeks and it was 1995's biggest hit. The album was certified 2XPlatinum and the Dangerous Minds soundtrack was certified 3XPlatinum. And Ivey won a Grammy. The singer was Larry "L.V." Sanders. He released one album for Tommy Boy that went nowhere and then released albums on small labels. Gangsta's Paradise was his only memorable appearance. Same with producer Doug Rasheed. He has produced other artists but Gangsta's Paradise was his only big hit. Of course Gangsta's paradise is based on the Stevie Wonder classic Pastime Paradise. I think he song is too easily recognized but that probably helped sell the record. After his next album was unsuccessful, Tommy Boy dropped Ivey. This comp is available as a digital download. He subsequently released albums on small labels that weren't successful. He appeared on reality TV like Celebrity Big Brother and Wife Swap. And he appeared in films and TV usually as himself. He died on Sept. 8, 2022 at age 59. Here's the video for Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio featuring L.V.