Rapper Coolio, best known for his chart-topping song Gangsta's Paradise, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59.
The musician, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor of a friend's house in Los Angeles at around 4pm.
EMTs pronounced Coolio dead on the scene and an autopsy is now underway to establish the official cause of death - though law enforcement sources shared that 'no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene' and they do not suspect foul play.
Paramedics suspected he suffered a cardiac arrest, according to the star's longtime manager, Jarez.
Tributes to the late rapper were led by Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer, 64, who shared the music video for Gangsta's Paradise. Pfeiffer worked with Coolio on the video and the song was the cornerstone of the soundtrack for her 1995 Dangerous Minds.
The track topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and won Coolio the Grammy award for best rap solo performance in 1996.
'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio. A life cut entirely too short,' Pfeiffer said on social media.
'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. Sending love and light to his family. Rest in Power, Artis Leon Ivey Jr.'
Rapper Ice Cube took to Twitter to share his condolences, writing: 'This is sad news. I witness first hand this man's grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace.'
Hot Ones host Sean Evans shared a photo of a Coolio CD and wrote: 'First CD I ever bought in may life and the most legendary Wing 10 Last Dab these eyes have ever seen. RIP Coolio.'
And fellow musician Snoop Dogg referenced the world-famous track in his own tribute, posting: 'Gangstas paradise. R I P,' before sharing a picture of the two posing on the set of the music video for their collaborative track Gangsta Walk, released in 2006.
Coolio was born in 1963 in the steel-making city of Monessen, south-western Pennsylvania, before moving to Compton, Los Angeles as a young man where he began developing his skills by entering rap contests.
He recorded the singles Watcha Gonna Do and You're Gonna Miss Me in the late 1980s, before joining group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991.
He had his breakout moment as a solo artist three years later with the single Fantastic Voyage, from his individual debut album It Takes a Thief, which was released by Tommy Boy Records.
The LP reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 200 chart and raised his profile so much that Hollywood came calling.
Gangsta's Paradise, featuring singer LV and Pfeiffer in the music video, snatched top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for three weeks, also topping the charts in the UK, France, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
An album with the same title was released later in 1995 and was soon certified twice platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with the release also containing hit singles 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) and Too Hot.
Coolio collaborated the next year on the soundtrack to the Michael Jordan-starring family film Space Jam, teaming up with Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Cyprus Hill's B-Real and Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan for the song Hit 'em High.
He achieved a special place in many television viewers' hearts with the memorable theme song – titled Aw Here It Goes – to the children's show Kenan and Kel, along with turns on The Nanny and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Later, he endeared himself to viewers across the pond when he became a star contestant on the celebrity version of UK reality show Big Brother in 2009.
He finished third and along with winner Ulrika Jonsson went on to join the cast of Ultimate Big Brother the following year, the last series of the show to air on Channel 4.
Coolio recorded eight studio albums finishing with 2009's From the Bottom 2 the Top, and kept working in TV including appearances as himself in Adult Swim's Black Jesus in 2014 and last year in the presidential puppet-themed show Let's Be Real.
Coolio most recently took to the stage less than two weeks before his death at Riot Fest in Douglass Park on September 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.
The rapper has toured smaller venues throughout the United States over the past few years, playing a number of hits from his back catalogue, though Gangsta's Paradise remained a fan favourite.
The singer used religious undertones in the lyrics and said he felt a calling to make the tune.
'Gangsta's Paradise wanted to be born; it wanted to come to life, and it chose me as the vessel,' Coolio said.
Some of the lines were from Stevie Wonder, who would not allow any cuss words.
Coolio continued: 'I had a few vulgarities... and he wasn't with that. So I changed it. Once he heard it, he thought it was incredible.'
The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua, and featured Pfeiffer reprising her Dangerous Minds role as former marine LouAnne Johnson who goes to work at a high school as a teacher in a rough neighborhood in California.
Gangsta's Paradise was also parodied by US musical comedian Weird Al Yankovic, who released a comedy track named Amish Paradise.
At the time it was claimed that Coolio had not given him permission for the parody, but the rapper stated in interviews that the pair had since made amends.
Sharing a picture of the pair embracing, Weird Al Yankovic wrote: 'RIP Coolio.'
Fellow US rapper Vanilla Ice said he was 'freaking out' after hearing the news of Coolio's.
'I'm freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away,' the rapper, real name Robert Matthew Van Winkle, wrote on Twitter.
Rapper LL Cool J wrote: 'Rest in power my brother. @Coolio Love and Respect,' while MC Hammer described the late musician as 'one of the nicest dudes I've known.'
A talented actor, Coolio played in dozens of films and TV shows throughout his career, and had three movies in the works according to his IMDb page: Bobcat Moretti, It Wants Blood 2, and a TV movie Vegas High.
As well as for his successful music career, he became well known in the UK for his appearances on Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.
The rapper came third in the sixth series of UK Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, losing out to broadcaster Terry Christian, who was the runner-up, and presenter and model Ulrika Jonsson, who won.
But along with Jonsson he went on to join the cast of Ultimate Big Brother the following year in 2010, the last series of the show to air on Channel 4.
Jonsson told PA that his death was a 'shock' but the pair had shared 'so many laughs' together.
'I spent a fair bit of time with Coolio', she said. 'He was a misogynist, broke wind a lot; he fancied himself as a cook but my God, we had so many laughs.'
Coolio sensationally walked out of the Ultimate Big Brother house after having a huge bust-up with fellow contestant Nadia Almada.
The pair spent the night bickering, with the simmering tension coming to a head when the rapper was caught red-handed in the act of hiding the transgender star's clothes.
They were each ordered to the Diary Room where, after calming down, Coolio decided it was time to leave, a spokeswoman for the show explained.
He later became a chef and even released a cookbook titled Cookin' with Coolio. He also appeared on an episode of Celebrity Wife Swap in 2013.
The rapper is survived by his 10 children and ex-wife, Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. The former couple split four years later.
