American actor and rapper Coolio died on September 28 at the age of 59. He was known for his title Gangsta’s Paradise, which accompanied the film “Rebel Spirits”, released in France in 1996.
Real name Artis Leon Ivey, “Coolio” began his solo music career in 1994 with the album It Takes a Thief which is a success. But the following year, a global hit awaits the artist with the release of the single Gangsta’s Paradise.
Resumption of Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder with new lyrics in a duet with LV, the track accompanies the release of the feature film Rebellious Spirits (Dangerous Minds) with Michelle Pfeiffer.
This feature film was released in 1996 on French screens and tells the confrontation between a former Marine teacher and a class of difficult students, from working-class backgrounds and ethnic minorities. Produced by the Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer duo, the film is a hit, like its soundtrack. Coolio’s second album is accordingly titled… Gangsta’s Paradise.
GBVI Excerpt from a poster of “Rebellious Spirits”
As early as 1996, the rapper tried his hand at a film career by debuting in Crook in spite of himself by Garry Marshall. He continues with a cameo in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin. At the time, he was credited as “Banker”, but was to play in the Scarecrow sequel. A sequel that ultimately never saw the light of day.
In 1998, he starred alongside another rapper (Ice-T) in the science fiction TV movie Judgment Day, then got the lead role in Submersion (2000), a disaster film. In 2003, he was cut from the film Daredevil, in which he played Dante Jackson, a man accused of murdering prostitute Lisa Tazio. His character was reinstated in the Director’s Cut which was released in 2004.
His career as an actor will never really take off and in parallel, Coolio is still expanding his discography until 2009 and the release of his latest album, From the Bottom 2 the Top. He was found dead at a friend’s house on September 28, 2022 at the age of 59.