Coolio

Coolio has fathered six children from relationships with four different women. He has often not been a good role model to his children. He was charged with battery for punching his girlfriend in 2013.

A spokesman for Environmental Justice and Climate Change, he is dedicated to educating students at historically black colleges about global warming. He is the spokesperson of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America too.

Born Artis Leon Ivey, to Artis Leon Ivey Sr., a carpenter, and Jackie Slater, a factory worker, Coolio was prone to asthma attacks. Intelligent, studious and well-informed, he found life outside home difficult.

He joined the street gang, Baby Crips, and tried to create a wild and violent image of himself by carrying weapons to school. His studies suffered after being jailed for several months for larceny.

After high school, he attended Compton Community College and renewed his high school interest in rap and performed in contests where he was called ‘Coolio Iglesias.’, and on L.A’s rap radio station, KDAY.

To overcome his cocaine addiction, which disrupted his budding career as a rapper, he entered rehab. When he came out, he worked various odd jobs, but was determined to revive his rap career.

In 1987, Coolio recorded two singles, ‘Watch Gonna Do’ and ‘You're Gonna Miss Me’. He joined the band, group WC and the Maad Circle, four years later.

In 1994, his debut solo album, ‘It Takes a Thief’ boasted the hit single ‘Fantastic Voyage’ that reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and minor hits including ‘County Line’ and ‘I Remember’.

Cashing on the success of ‘Gangsta's Paradise’, he released an album by the same name in 1995. This double platinum album had two hit singles ‘1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)’ and ‘Too Hot’.

Despite having officially left the band, WC and the Maad Circle, he contributed to their second album, ‘Curb Servin',’ in 1995; he featured in the single, ‘In a Twist’.

In 1996, he featured in the soundtrack of two movies singing, ‘It's All the Way Live (Now)’, and ‘Hit 'em High’ (with four other rappers), for the movies, ‘Eddie’ and ‘Space Jam’, respectively.

Coolio’s 1994 album, ‘Takes a Thief’, climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard 200, and was certified Platinum. The album was appreciated for the humorous take on typical gangsta rap themes.

His song ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ in the 1995 movie, ‘Dangerous Minds’, stayed on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 3 weeks. It was a No.1 hit in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.