Coolio is a burning example for those who want to change their lives from the grievous dark to the gorgeous brightness. His life touched the glory not with a burst but as the flower blossoms. Initial few singles or the WC Band and Maad Cirle did not promise anything of the advent of a talented rapper. The real swerving came with the ‘Fantastic Voyage’ of the album ‘It Takes a Thief.’ The rap brought in the fresh air of hope and happy tunes instead of prevailing violent aggression.
After his ‘Gangsta Paradise’ in ‘Dangerous Minds,’ he never looked back and became a real source of inspiration for the rappers who are aspirants of optimism and faith. The exceptional success of the movie is followed by the sensational hit of the album with the same name. ‘Too Hot’ has made ‘1,2,3,4’ of his successful ride in the music world.
The successful rhythms had opened an ample scope in the film and television arenas. The rapper has a tremendous sense of cooking and resultantly appeared several times in various cookery contests and shows. He has been taking all his engagements with due care and appreciable enthusiasm. The success always does not reflect the worth of a man.
With his different occupations, Coolio has managed to heap an estimated net worth of $250 thousand. Though the rapper had been in the glory once had fallen in the obscurity, and the pecuniary strength has gone because of disarrayed life.
Early life
It has been a tradition for the rappers to fetch a new name for the stage and fame. Coolio followed the culture of the rappers and preferred to be called with his stage name instead of his original name Artis Leon Ivey Jr. On the first day of August in 1963, Coolio was born at South Central Los Angeles in an area called Compton which is at California, United States of America. Cooloi was born to Artis Leon Ivey Sr. and Jackie Slater. His father Ivey Sr. was a carpenter whereas his mother used to work in the factory. He was raised along with his sibling Malieek Straughter. The little boy had often suffered for his asthma and this he instead of playing with other boy preferred books. The studious boy was intelligent and a real bookworm. The boy preferred home, but his parents wanted to break their relation not caring for the children. He was only 11 then when his parents finally decided to get away from each other’s life.
The life of young teenage changed overnight he got in the street hooligans, Baby Crips a started throwing all anger at others. He tried his level best to be the vital member of the gang, but one-time studious boy fails to convince the ruffians by carrying weapons even to his school. The situations worsen further, as during this time he had to serve in the jail even for his punishment because of theft. Unfortunately, no one could hear the urgency of the boy. Somehow he cleared the high school and got into Compton Community College. The teenage boy has gathered some maturity which made him understand that he had to maneuver his life and get away from proceeding further in a blind lane.
While with the hooligans he had incorporated all bad habits in himself to prove his masculine potency which includes addiction towards cocaine. There was a rapper crying inside, which he picked up during his high school days. With a great spirit, he contested in one program where he was being called as ‘Coolio Iglesias.’ He also makes an entry in KDAY which is a radio station broadcasting raps somewhere in Los Angeles. A struggle between the rap and cocaine disrupted the career in music. Anyhow he wanted to free himself from drug abuse and pursue a career in rap. All messed up, to free himself from the clutches of cocaine he got into some rehab center. While going through the process of rehabilitation, he joined in as a firefighter in the northern Californian forest.
During this period he had done some odd jobs. He got into the security team of Los Angeles International Airport. But no situation had the strength to extinguish the profound longing for music which was ignited while he was his high school days.
Career
The Rapper came up with two single in 1987, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “Watch Gonna Do.” But these singles failed to spawn any identity for the rapper. Even his inclusion after four odd years, in ‘WC Band and Madd Circle’ had fallen short in creating any significant effect in his rapping career. Nothing is happening as wished, but Coolio was convinced that one day or the other he would satisfy the rapping demand of innumerable music world. In 1994 ‘It Takes a Thief’ was released with a single ‘Fantastic Voyage,’ and Coolio’s rapping vessel went past all the upsurges of bad weather of musical sea. Billboard Hot 100 placed his ‘Fantastic Voyage’ on the 3rd place. The album also includes some minor hits in the form of ‘I Remember’ and ‘County Line.’
In 1995 his voice was heard in the movie ‘Dangerous Minds’ in the song ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ which earned him huge fame as the movie made a massive success in the international movie arena. Same year Coolio sensing his demand brought out an album with the same name. Along with ‘Too Hot’ and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” the album got the Double Platinum. He was no more a member of his past band but joined them in their release of band’s second album titled ‘Curb Servin’. He had been featured in one single with the title ‘In a Twist.’ Following a year in 1996, Coolio was signed in by the producers of the ‘Space Jam’ and ‘Eddie.’ The soundtrack of ‘Eddie’ was enriched by his voice in the song “It’s All the Way Live (Now).” With other rappers, he gave his voice for “Hit ’em High.” These two songs received a high acknowledgment from the music lovers.
In 1996 the Red Hot Organization came out with a CD titled “America is Dying Slowly,” and Coolio contributed with his single “I Breaks ‘Em Off.” The rapper was signed by the production team of “Kenan & Kel,” a television series for their theme song. In the same year, he had won ‘Best Rap Video,’ ‘Best Dance Video’ and ‘Best Video’ from MTV Video Music Awards. In 1996 with his mesmerizing “C U When U Get There” the album “My Soul” was released, but his super hit song lagged behind in comparison to its expectation. Tommy Boy Records did not saw any reason to continue their contract with the singer. The musical vessel was suffering in the shallow composition. Then one by one he released ‘Coolio.com’ then ‘El Cool Magnifico’ followed by ‘The Return of the Gangsta’ and another album titled ‘Steal Hear.’ All these albums were released during 2001 to 2008, but none made a considerable rank in any chart.
Realizing the backwater of his rapping career Coolio started venturing in other areas. In 2002 he appeared in on TV series ‘Celebrity Fear Factor.’ The same year he won the ‘Celebrity Bootcamp.’
In 2008 he was seen in one online cooking program “Cooking with Coolio.” He was again seen in the series “Celebrity Big Brother” and again on its succeeding series “Ultimate Big Brother.” But Coolio had a bitter experience as because of the objectionable activities he was asked to leave the show. In 2012 he emerged as runners-up in “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” a series by Food Channel.
In 2013 he planned to auction his 123 songs and concentrate more on the career in the capacity of a chef. Though there is no more release coming up from the rapper he is performing in various concerts during these days.
Personal life
Unfortunately, his entire lifespan does not show any turned around the change from what he has seen from his parents. In 1998 he was arrested because of driving with expired license, weapon, and marijuana. As his parents, Coolio never realized to care for his six children coming out different relationship.
In 2013 he was even arrested for hitting his girlfriend. In the “Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America,” he is performing as s spokesperson.
Quick summary:
Full Name: Artis Leon Ivey Jr
Date of Birth: 1st August 1963
Birth Place: Compton, California, United States of America
Age: 45 Year Old
Profession: Rapper, Actor, Record Producer, Chef
Height: 5 Feet 8 Inches / 173 cm
Weight: NA
Net worth: $250 Thousand
