Gangsta’s Paradise rapper Coolio dead at 59

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer and rappers Snoop Dogg, MC Hammer and LL Cool J have led tributes to Coolio after his death aged 59.

According his manager, he was visiting a friend’s house in Los Angeles on Wednesday when he appears to have suffered a heart attack.

Real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr, Coolio was best known for his 1995 hit Gangsta’s Paradise, which was recorded as the soundtrack for Pfeiffer’s film Dangerous Minds.

Propelling him to international fame, it remained at number one on the US Billboard charts for three weeks and earned him a Grammy for best solo rap performance.

Sharing a clip from the music video on Instagram, Pfeiffer said she was “heartbroken” over a “life cut entirely too short”.

“As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.

“I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear the song.”

She signed off the post: “Rest in power Artis Leon Ivey Jr”.

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