LOS ANGELES — Rapper Coolio, known for hits including “Fantastic Voyage” and “Gangsta’s Paradise,” has died at the age of 59, his manager confirmed Wednesday evening.
The news was first reported by TMZ.
The entertainer, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., had a music career that spanned more than three decades.
“As far as what I know now is that he was at a friend’s house and was in his bathroom and had a heart attack,” his manager Jarez Posey said.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Coolio won a Grammy for Gangsta’s Paradise, which was released in 1995 and spent three weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
He shot to fame with “Gangsta’s Paradise” and won a Grammy for best solo rap performance the following year.
The song was in the soundtrack for the 1995 Michelle Pfeiffer film “Dangerous Minds.”
Coolio was also known for hits like “Fantastic Voyage” and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “C U When U Get There” among others.
Overall, Coolio has sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.
Coolio grew up in Compton, California.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Phil Helsel contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
