If a rapper were only to be known for one song, it’s hard to beat “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Coolio’s signature No. 1 smash in 1995 was voted the best single of the year in the Village Voice’s “Pazz & Jop” ...

Released in 1995, Coolio's hip hop track Gangsta's Paradise remains one of the top 100 biggest-selling singles in the world The song spent 13 weeks at #1 in Australia, setting a long-standing record ...

The first half of the '90s was a glorious time for rap, particularly on the West Coast. After artists like Ice-T, N.W.A and Snoop Dogg kicked in the door, the left coast were at the top of the game.

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., better known as Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor and producer Coolio, may have been born in Pennsylvania, but throughout his career, he always claimed Compton as his home turf.

This story is part of our new Hip-Hop: ’73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary.With the unfortunate death of beloved rapper Coolio, hip-hop lovers have been mourning ...

Before his biggest hit happened in 1995, Coolio wasn't even aware of the song that gave it its hook. "Gangsta's Paradise" sampled the Stevie Wonder 1976 single, "Pastime Paradise." The rapper died ...

Coolio's song Gangsta's Paradise is celebrating the 30th anniversary in 2025. Music producer Doug Rasheed reflects on the loop he created for the opening and the production process during an interview ...

When Coolio first heard the demo that became Gangsta's Paradise, he had the same reaction as the rest of us. "I was like, 'Damn, I really like this song.'" The Pennsylvania-born, Compton-raised rapper ...

Before his biggest hit happened in 1995, Coolio wasn’t even aware of the song that gave it its hook. “Gangsta’s Paradise” sampled the Stevie Wonder 1976 single, “Pastime Paradise.” The rapper died ...