The leisure trade is mourning the lack of rapper Coolio.
The Grammy-winning “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper — born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. — died Wednesday at age 59, his supervisor, Jarez Posey, confirmed to PEOPLE. His reason behind demise has not been publicly shared.
Coolio’s fellow artists and people in Hollywood paid tribute to him on social media shortly after the information of his demise was introduced.
Bizarre Al Yankovic, who infamously created a parody “Amish Paradise” impressed by Coolio’s tune, saved his message brief and candy. He posted a photograph of him and Coolio embracing and wrote, “RIP Coolio”
Harmful Minds star Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in Coolio’s music video for “Gangsta’s Paradise” — the lead single off the 1995 movie’s soundtrack — was among the many first to mourn the artist’s loss.
“Heartbroken to listen to of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio,” she wrote alongside a clip of “Gangsta’s Paradise” video. “A life reduce solely too brief.”
Kris Connor/Getty Coolio
She added, “As a few of chances are you’ll know I used to be fortunate sufficient to work with him on Harmful Minds in 1995. He received a Grammy for his good tune on the soundtrack – which I believe was the explanation our movie noticed a lot success.”
“I bear in mind him being nothing however gracious. 30 years later I nonetheless get chills once I hear the tune. Sending love and light-weight to his household. Relaxation in Energy, Artis Leon Ivey Jr. ❤️.”
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Kenan Thompson expressed shock after information of his demise. Coolio offered the opening observe, titled “Aw, Right here It Goes!,” for the Nickelodeon tv sequence Kenan & Kel.
“Wait, now Coolio!!!” Thompson wrote in his Instagram Story.
He later reposted a tribute from Questlove, including, “Rattling homie!!! Relaxation in Energy!!!”
Kenan Thompson/Instagram
Ice Dice praised Coolio, tweeting, “That is unhappy information. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the highest of the trade. Relaxation In Peace @Coolio.”
“God Bless The Lifeless. 🙏🏾💙,” rapper Killer Mike wrote in response to the loss.
Snoop Dogg additionally saluted the rapper with a classic snap of them posing collectively on the set of the video for his or her “Gangsta Stroll” collaboration.
“Gangstas paradise. R. I. P. 🙏🏽🌹 🕊 ♿️🚾. @coolio,” he wrote.
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Melissa Joan Hart additionally posted a photograph of her and Coolio from a time he appeared on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
She captioned the picture, “I had the wonderful honor to work and play with @coolio a couple of instances and he was all the time down for a chat, an entire gentleman and a ton of enjoyable to hold with. What a loss! Relaxation In Peace!”
Actor and comic Martin Lawrence wrote, “My deepest condolences and prayers exit to the household of @Coolio #rip” by way of Twitter.
Coolio’s fellow rapper LL Cool J additionally shared a message on social media that reads, “Relaxation in energy my brother . @Coolio Love & Respect”
M.C. Hammer, identified for the hit single “U Cannot Contact This,” shared a photograph of Coolio on Twitter and wrote, “One of many nicest dudes I’ve identified. Good folks. R.I.P. Coolio.”
Poison vocalist Bret Michaels paid tribute by posting an image alongside the late rapper on Twitter. “My deepest condolences exit to the household, buddies & followers on the lack of @Coolio,” he wrote. “This photograph from once we did @ABCNetwork#GreatestHits collectively. Superior man who can be missed. #Coolio“
Shameless actress Tina Malone, who appeared on Movie star Huge Brother alongside Coolio and shared many on-camera spats with the rapper earlier than working by their variations, penned a observe in remembrance of the rapper on Twitter. “RIP COOLIO! YOU DROVE ME NUTS,YOU MADE ME LAUGH! GLAD WE GOT TO MAKE UP! Godbless xx,” she wrote.
One other one in all his fellow Huge Brother contestants, British-Norwegian boy band A1 singer Ben Adams, tweeted a photograph with Coolio and the late Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer, who died in 2018 at age 49. “Very unhappy information to get up to. Had loads of enjoyable with Coolio and certainly Verne on @bbuk and past,” he wrote. “time to dig out the previous clips and reminisce. RIP”
Rapper and singer Denzel Curry shared the “Gangsta’s Paradise” music video in a tweet, writing, “Relaxation in Gangsta’s Paradise Coolio.”
Musician and document producer Terrace Martin shared a reminiscence of his relation to Coolio on Twitter. “Coolio . Thanks for taking up my first world tour . Summer time of 1999 […] Relaxation in love king,” he wrote.
LeBron James reacted to the information in his Instagram Story, typing the rapper’s identify with a number of dove Emojis.
He later wrote, “Precisely the place he’s now! GANGSTA’S PARADISE”
lebron james/Instagram
One of many first to pay tribute to the musician, Questlove posted a throwback picture by way of Instagram of Coolio sporting his iconic braids. “Peaceable Journey Brother. #Coolio,” he wrote.
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Posey confirmed that Coolio died Wednesday.
In response to TMZ, which was first to report the information, Posey stated the late musician was visiting a pal and went to the toilet. When he did not come out, the pal referred to as his identify however he did not reply. They then discovered Coolio on the ground.
The pal referred to as for assist, per the outlet, and as soon as responders arrived, Coolio was pronounced useless.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Photographs
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Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, in 1963, Coolio later moved to Compton, California, the place he attended Compton Group Faculty earlier than turning into a rapper.
Coolio launched the hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” that includes singer L.V., in 1995. The tune topped the Billboard Scorching 100 for 3 weeks and received the Grammy Award for finest rap solo efficiency on the 1996 Grammys.
