Rapper Coolio died on Wednesday at age 59, according to TMZ. Coolio’s longtime manager, Jarez, told the outlet that the rapper was at a friend’s home in Los Angeles when he excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he didn’t return after a reasonable amount of time, the friend reportedly called out to him — but didn’t get a response. Worried, the friend went into the bathroom and discovered Coolio — whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr. — on the floor. The paramedics were called immediately.
Following a suspected cardiac arrest, Coolio was pronounced dead at the scene. However, the official cause of death is still pending. Coolio’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. The rapper, known for multiple smash hits in the mid ’90s including “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage.” He won a Grammy for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which was used as the title track to the 1995 film “Dangerous Minds.”
His death comes just four days after he took to Instagram to post his latest performance in Texas, where many of his fans posted their condolences. “Crazy he just posted a week ago, and has passed,” one loyal fan wrote, while many others shared “Rest in peace” in the comment section. “Rest in paradise,” a second person commented on his most recent Instagram post. He is survived by his six children and ex-wife, Josefa Salina, whom he married in 1996. The former couple went on to call it quits four years later.
Coolio’s first hit record was a cover of Lakeside’s monster hit “Fantastic Voyage.” As a writer on the original song, I send my condolences to Coolio’s family and friends for their loss. R.I.P. Coolio…
