On Wednesday, the rapper Ice Cube recalled Coolio’s hard-earned rise, writing on Twitter that he had witnessed “first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry.”Ĭoolio, known for his spindly and sprouting cornrows, went on to sell 4.8 million albums in the United States, according to Luminate, the tracking service formerly known as Nielsen Music. 1 all over the entire planet - not just in the States. Coolio told Rolling Stone that he was on tour in Europe when he realized that “I was No. The scale of the original song’s success awed its creator. “Gangsta’s Paradise” had broad cultural impact, even spawning a Weird Al Yankovic parody, “Amish Paradise,” which replaced the streets with farm country, offering lyrics about churning butter and selling quilts. “Coolio presents himself as an entertainer,” the magazine added, “one who projects an unhinged personality while creating solidly commercial sounds.” Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, Coolio gained a following by combining his credibility with a willingness to appeal to a broad audience by means of softened language, dance tracks, recognizable samples and other nods to past hits.Ī Spin review of the “Gangsta’s Paradise” album in 1996 called it “great pop music” and “the most stylistically broad mainstream rap album you’ll probably hear all year.” Records a decade earlier to expand its commercial reach.īuilding off the gangster rap and G-funk sounds and images of N.W.A, Ice-T, Dr. After performing with the group WC and the Maad Circle alongside WC, Sir Jinx and DJ Crazy Toones, he went solo.Ĭoolio signed to Tommy Boy Records, the independent rap label known for releases by De La Soul, Naughty by Nature and Queen Latifah, which had partnered with Warner Bros. He became more spiritual there and later credited Christianity for helping him overcome his addiction to crack.Īs he embarked on a music career, Coolio joined a growing wave of West Coast hip-hop that was increasingly becoming mainstream it had surged in national popularity as MTV, radio stations and major labels came to embrace this once-regional underground sound. In his 20s, he moved to San Jose to live with his father and fight fires with the California Department of Forestry. While Coolio lamented that his hit had overshadowed his other work, he told PopkillerTV in 2018 that the song had taken him on “a great ride.” Its popularity has endured for decades the music video has garnered a rare billion-plus views on YouTube. “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left.” “C U When U Get There,” which is based on Pachelbel’s Canon, a Baroque-era standard, was a standout track on Coolio’s third album, “My Soul,” from 1997.īut nothing could match the success of “Gangsta’s Paradise” - a song that, with its piercing production and ominous background vocals, became instantly distinguishable for millions of 1990s rap fans, especially with a memorable opening verse based on Psalm 23: Coolio’s other hits included “Fantastic Voyage” - the opening song on his debut album, “It Takes a Thief,” released in 1994 - and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” from the “Gangsta’s Paradise” album, released the next year.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |