Coolio, A Popular US Rapper, Died At Age 59

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., better known as Coolio, died at the age of 59.

According to the BBC, the US rapper, best known for his 1995 hit Gangsta’s Paradise, was discovered unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in Los Angeles.

The exact cause of his death on Wednesday has not been revealed, but his longtime manager, Jarez Posey, who broke the news first, said paramedics thought the artist had a cardiac arrest.

Coolio won a Grammy for his song “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the film “Dangerous Minds,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Coolio had a four-decade career that included eight studio albums, an American Music Award, and three MTV Video Music Awards.

Coolio’s untimely death shocked some US musical icons, including Snoop Dogg, MC Hammer, and Ice Cube, who shared their condolences.

MC Hammer called Coolio “one of the nicest dudes I’ve ever met.”

In his own tribute, Snoop Dogg mentioned Coolio’s world-famous track, writing, “Gangstas paradise. RIP.”

“This is heartbreaking news. “I witnessed firsthand this man’s grind to the top of the industry,” said Ice Cube, a fellow rapper and actor.