Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in 1963, was an influential American rapper known for shaping hip-hop’s mainstream appeal in the 1990s. He rose to international fame with his Grammy-winning hit "Gangsta's Paradise" in 1995, a track that became a cultural milestone. His other popular singles include "Fantastic Voyage," "1, 2, 3, 4 Sumpin' New," and "C U When U Get There." Coolio first made his mark with WC and the Maad Circle before launching a successful solo career, releasing nine albums, with early works like It Takes a Thief and My Soul achieving major commercial success. Beyond music, Coolio appeared in television, created the reality show Coolio's Rules, hosted the web series Cookin' with Coolio, and published a cookbook. He sold 4.8 million albums in the United States. Coolio passed away in 2022 at the age of fifty-nine.