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For the computer hacker, see Dennis Moran (computer criminal).
Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. (born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and actor. He rose to fame in 1994 with his debut single "Fantastic Voyage", and later in 1995 with the hit single "Gangsta's Paradise", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Dangerous Minds.
[edit] Early lifeCoolio was born in Compton, California the son of Jackie Slater, a factory worker, and Artis Leon Ivey Sr., a carpenter.[1] His parents divorced. Coolio got into trouble outside home as he spent time with Mona Park Compton Crips gang members, although he was never formally inducted nor accepted into the gang, and therefore was not considered as a member of a gang.[2] Coolio spent several months in jail for larceny. [2] Coolio was a regular guest on the Los Angeles radio station KDAY. The beginning of Coolio's musical career was derailed as he began selling crack cocaine. After rehab, Coolio worked various odd jobs, including as a California Conservation Corps member at the Pomona site, [3] and as a firefighter in the forests of northern California in the 1980s.[2] [edit] Recording career Coolio started his career as a member of the rap group, WC and the Maad Circle, which along with Coolio included WC, Sir Jinx and DJ Crazy Toones. He left the group, and in 1994 released his debut album It Takes a Thief. The album was a success, reaching the top 10 of the pop charts (#8 on the Billboard Hot 200) [4]. The album featured the singles "Fantastic Voyage" and "I Remember," which featured J-Ro and Tash of Tha Alkaholiks. "Fantastic Voyage" was a hit single, peaking at #2 on the Hot Rap Singles,[5] and being ranked one of the top 3 songs of the year by Rolling Stone magazine, Spin magazine, and Village Voice. In 1995 Coolio released his second album, Gangsta's Paradise, which is his most successful album. It went quadruple platinum fueled by the title track, a song that also appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Dangerous Minds, and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100[6]. The titled single also became the biggest selling single on the US Billboard Top 100 of 1995.[7] It also contained another major hit, "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" that peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] In 1997 Coolio released his third album, My Soul. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 200, a large commercial dropoff from his first two albums. It contained one charting single, "C U When U Get There", based on Johann Pachelbel's classic piece "Canon in D", which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. His next two albums, El Cool Magnifico (2002), and The Return of the Gangsta (2006), had little success and failed to chart. Coolio's recordings also appeared on the soundtracks to Clueless (1995) and Dangerous Minds (1995). In 2005, he co-hosted the MOBO awards in the UK. [edit] TelevisionCoolio performed the theme song for the 1996 TV show Kenan & Kel, entitled "Awww Here It Goes". Coolio also appeared in a one-time role as the host of a pleasure palace in Space: Above and Beyond. He also starred in an episode of The Bill, as well as in an episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Nanny where he played the nephew of Ray Charles' character. In 2001, he was a special guest on Beat the Geeks; he lost. In 2002 Coolio guest starred in the hit series Charmed, as a Lazarus demon, in the episode Marry Go Round. He played himself in the episode Coolio Runnings of the animated comedy Duckman. He also voiced Kwanzaa-bot, a character featured in the "A Tale of Two Santas" episode of Futurama. In fact, according to the DVD commentary, the producers of Futurama were so impressed by his range of voices, that they said he could do voice-over work professionally. Coolio reprised the character for the direct-to-DVD feature Bender's Big Score. In 2002, Coolio was a contestant on Celebrity Fear Factor.[9] During the third round, he referred to himself as "El Cool Magnifico" (which would become the title of his fourth studio album). That same year, he appeared on Celebrity Bootcamp and won. Coolio starred in the 2003 made-for-TV movie Dracula 3000, in which he played a space-faring stoner named 187, and the feature film Exposed, in which he played a rapper named "Bigg Heat". Coolio played the role of US Navy sailor Franky in the 2004 Croatian film A Wonderful Night in Split. In 2004 he participated in the German Comeback Show where he finished as third behind Chris Norman and Benjamin Boyce. He made another television movie appearance in 2005 as a military officer in the horror film Pterodactyl. That year, he also appeared i Joey on the episode "Joey and the Poker." Twice in 2006, In 2008, Coolio hosted an online cooking show (or video podcast), Cookin' with Coolio[10], for the website and network My Damn Channel. A companion book cookbook called Cookin' with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price was released on November 17, 2009 published by Simon and Schuster[11][12]. Coolio stars with his family in the Oxygen cable television network's reality show Coolio's Rules,[13] scheduled to premiere October 28, 2008. The show follows Coolio as he tries to balance raising a family, starting a new catering business, and dating. On January 2, 2009, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK) house[14], alongside fellow Americans La Toya Jackson and Verne Troyer. He was a controversial figure, and polarised opinion amongst fans of the show. He was accused by some of making offensive jokes and comments, both of a racist and sexist nature. Ofcom received some official complaints regarding the matter but did not launch an official inquiry. In particular Michelle Heaton cried numerous times and claimed that Coolio's constant hints that there was a relationship between her and Ben Adams was the cause. However some viewers considered his comments to be harmless and found his playful actions not only entertaining but a highlight of the show. One of his most notable moments was an emotional response to the inauguration of Barack Obama. On Friday 23 January 9:30 UK time he finished third in the Celebrity Big Brother final. In January 2009, Coolio worked with David Faustino (Bud Bundy from Married with Children) for an episode of Faustino's show Star-ving - Faustino's ex-wife is living with Coolio.[15] On February 24, 2009, Coolio appeared on Channel Five in the UK to discuss Barack Obama's election, stating that he would "take a bullet" for the President.[16] He also spoke of his love for the Los Angeles Lakers.[17] Coolio has also appeared in the online series 'Man in the Box', which also stars Mike Polk along with a cast of Cleveland comedians. He appeared alongside Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Jon Favreau in the director's cut version of Daredevil, where he played a kindhearted man who was accused of murder. This part was cut out of the theatrical release but restored in the director's cut. [edit] Pop culture references
[edit] Personal lifeOn Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK) [18] 2009 Coolio talked about his 6 children by 4 different relationships, including a daughter born on January 21, 1987. On June 10, 2008 Coolio was taken into custody after being pulled over by police in Hollywood. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant related to a 2001 suspended license incident and released on a $10,000 bail.[19] Coolio and jazz saxophonist Jarez were enlisted in July 2008 as spokespersons by the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change to educate students at historically black colleges and universities about global warming.[20] [edit] DiscographyMain article: Coolio discography
[edit] Selected FilmographyCoolio has made numerous appearances in television and movies, mostly small roles or cameos.
[edit] Awards and nominations
Coolio's 1995 song "Gangsta's Paradise" received several awards, including Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards; and Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film at the MTV Video Music Awards. Coolio himself has received several awards, including Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist at the American Music Awards in 1996. At the Grammy Awards in 1997, Coolio received three nominations: Best Rap Album for Gangsta's Paradise, Best Rap Solo Performance for "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Stomp". Overall, Coolio has received five awards from thirteen nominations. [edit] American Music AwardsThe American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Coolio has received one award from two nominations.[22][23][24]
[edit] Grammy AwardsThe Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Coolio has received one award from six nominations.[22][25][26][27]
[edit] MTV Video Music AwardsThe MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV. Coolio has received three awards from five nominations.[22][28][29]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Categories: 1963 births | African American actors | African American rappers | American film actors | American firefighters | American television actors | Musicians from California | Grammy Award winners | Living people | People from Compton, California | West Coast rappers | Big Brother UK contestants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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