How Coolio found new fans with his stint on Big Brother

From a volunteer firefighter to an international rapper with a stint on Big Brother and a side-business as a TV chef, Coolio, who has died aged 59, lived a life as colorful as his lyrics. 

The musician, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, shot to fame with his perennial 1995 hit Gangsta’s Paradise, which appeared on the soundtrack of Michelle Pfeiffer’s film, Dangerous Mind. 

The actress, 64, was among the stars who led tributes to Coolio following his death in Los Angeles on Wednesday. 

Coolio, who is thought to have had as many as 10 children, was known to music fans across generations for hits including Aw Here it Goes, the main theme song for popular Nickelodeon TV series, Kenan and Kel. 

The artist was then introduced to a new generation of fans when he appeared in Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 in the UK, and the next year when he took part in Ultimate Big Brother. 

He was also a keen chef and launched a web series, Cookin’ with Coolio, and released a cookbook, entitled Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price.

Coolio, 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 on Wednesday

The West Coast legend, who was 59, is survived by his ex-wife, Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. The former couple split four years later after having four children

The West Coast legend, who was 59, is survived by his ex-wife, Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. The former couple split four years later after having four children

The musician was a keen chef and launched a web series, Cookin' with Coolio, and released a cookbook, entitled Cookin' with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price.

The musician was a keen chef and launched a web series, Cookin’ with Coolio, and released a cookbook, entitled Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price.

Coolio was introduced to a new generation of fans in the UK when he appeared in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, and the next year when he took part in Ultimate Big Brother.

Coolio was introduced to a new generation of fans in the UK when he appeared in Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, and the next year when he took part in Ultimate Big Brother.

Born in August 1963, Coolio is the son of carpenter Artis Ivey and Jackie, a factory working. He grew up in Compton, California, where he attended the Community College. 

Before turning to music, Coolio was a volunteer firefighter and worked for security at LAX before getting rapping. 

Talking of his music, the rapper said: ‘Just because you’re from the west coast, and you talk about some real s***, you get labeled a “Gangsta Rapper,'” he told in Rap Sheet. 

‘I’m not a political rapper. I don’t rap about love all the time and s*** like that. I rap about all of it. I’m a well-rounded person and I might say anything.’ 

The musician first encountered success with the rap band WC and the Maad Circle.  

He was co-contributor to the band’s first album Ain’t a Damn Thing Change, which cemented his career in the rap business. 

But it’s the song Gangsta’s Paradise that propelled to mainstream fame, with the tune making its way to Michelle Pfeiffer’s movie Dangerous Mind. 

Coolio (pictured on September 18) had made an array of appearances at festivals and was in the middle of his sell-out tour with 90s star Vanilla Ice at the time of his tragic passing

Coolio (pictured on September 18) had made an array of appearances at festivals and was in the middle of his sell-out tour with 90s star Vanilla Ice at the time of his tragic passing

Coolio joined the rap scene as part of WC and the Maad Circle, and contributed to their first album before focusing on his own projects

Coolio joined the rap scene as part of WC and the Maad Circle, and contributed to their first album before focusing on his own projects 

Pfeiffer famously appeared opposite Coolio in the music video, and it topped the Hot 100 for three weeks, becoming one of of the most successful rap songs of all time in the process.

‘It’s about life, because you’re living in the gangster’s paradise also,’ Coolio said about his song, speaking in 1995 on the Howard Stern Show. 

Gangsta’s Paradise was the second-best-selling single of 1995 in the U.K, and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. In 1996, it won him a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.   

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic produced a parody of the song, Amish Paradise, however, Coolio accused him of not asking him for permission to use the song. 

The album Gangsta’s Paradise was released in 1995 and was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA and sold more than two million copies globally.

Following this success, Coolio continued to put out music throughout the 1990s, and released eight albums in total from 1994 to 2009. 

Michelle Pfeiffer starred in the music video of Gangsta's Paradise

Dream collaboration: The Golden Globe Award winner and Coolio filmed the music video in 1995

Dream collaboration: Golden Globe Award winner Michell Pfeiffer and Coolio filmed the Gangsta’s Paradise music video in 1995

Coolio participated in the promotion of Pepsi Music Live, which a campaign the brand ran in 1998

Coolio participated in the promotion of Pepsi Music Live, which a campaign the brand ran in 1998

In the late 2000s, Coolio decided to diversify his career, and made a splash in the UK when he appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2009. 

The rapper performed well on the reality show and finished third. His strong personality made for some gold TV moments that are still referenced to this day. 

He had a run-in with Shameless star Tina Malone on the show when he refused he refused to let Ulrika Jonsson – who went on to win the series – deliver a shopping list to the Diary Room.

However, the two of them eventually patched things up, and Tina was amongst the celebrities who paid their respect after his death was made public yesterday.

Paying tribute to the rapper on Twitter, she wrote: ‘RIP COOLIO! YOU DROVE ME NUTS, YOU MADE ME LAUGH! GLAD WE GOT TO MAKE UP! Godbless xx.’

Ulrika 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 – he was a misogynist, broke wind a lot; he fancied himself as a cook but my God, we had so many laughs,’ she said.

Ofcom received a certain amount of complaints about Coolio’s behavior in the house.

While the regulatory body did not take action at the time, it said: ‘Coolio was a “larger than life” character in the house, playing the role for many viewers of the ‘villain of the piece’ where such a role, after 10 years of Big Brother, is generally expected by the audience.

The rapper was No.2 in the UK with Gangsta's Paradise in 1995, and appeared at the Brit Awards in 1996, pictured

The rapper was No.2 in the UK with Gangsta’s Paradise in 1995, and appeared at the Brit Awards in 1996, pictured

The rapper, left, dressed to the nines and posing with his friend Snoop Dog at a party in the 1990s

The rapper, left, dressed to the nines and posing with his friend Snoop Dog at a party in the 1990s 

‘He exhibited an acerbic wit; was clearly at times quite bored; baited female housemates; and, was at times, generally unpleasant, making statements and references that appeared calculated to be potentially offensive and provoke a reaction.’

In 2010, he made an explosive appearance on Ultimate Big Brother, where he left the house after five days following a heated tiff with British singer Nadia Almada. 

It was mutually agreed by Big Brother and Coolio that it would be best if he left the show. 

Nadia, who won series five of Big Brother, was a transgender woman, who kept this fact from other contestants on her first run on the show, but was out and proud during the Ultimate series. 

Also in 2009, Coolio took an interest in cooking, and launched his cooking web series Cookin’ with Coolio. 

The musician, who called himself the Ghetto Martha Stewart, and the Black Rachael Ray after the cooking stars, said his cooking style was being a ‘kitchen pimp.’

Speaking of his love of cooking with the Miami New Times in 2009, he said: ‘You don’t have to be a rich man to eat well, it’s okay to get in the kitchen and experiment and do thing.’ 

Loved up! Coolio and his ex wife Josefa were into PDAs at the height of their romance in 2006 (pictured in London)

Loved up! Coolio and his ex wife Josefa were into PDAs at the height of their romance in 2006 (pictured in London)

Coolio with three of the four children he shared with Josefa at the premiere of Space Jam in 1996 in Westwood, California

Coolio with three of the four children he shared with Josefa at the premiere of Space Jam in 1996 in Westwood, California 

The rapper with his four children: Artisha, Artis, Jackie, and Brandi Ivey during a NBC Universal press tour in 2008

The rapper with his four children: Artisha, Artis, Jackie, and Brandi Ivey during a NBC Universal press tour in 2008

‘A lot of cookbooks are too complicated, I just try to break it down to the essence and keep it hood. Five-star meals at a one-star price,’ he said. 

He told People in 2016, ‘Pimp your kitchen and don’t let your kitchen pimp you.’

Coolio explained it necessitated having the right tools, non-slip footwear and putting time and love in the food. 

The book was praised for its laugh out loud instructions, which included ‘Having the right utensils is a good start, but then you gotta show them who’s the boss up in this b****.’ 

The rapper was much more reserved when it came to his personal life.  He shared four children with his ex-wife Josefa Salinas, whom he married in 1996. 

Together, they had three daughters, Artisha Ivey, Brandi Ivey and Jackie Ivey, and one son, Artis Ivey III.

However, the couple separated four years after their last child was born.

It is believed Coolio had 10 children in total from other women, one being thought to be Annabella Chatman. 

His six other children reportedly being named Grtis Ivey, Milan Ivey, Darius Ivey, Zhaneand Ivey, Kate Ivey, and Shayne Ivey. It is believed that Kate Ivey and Shayne Ivey are twins. 

Coolio and his friend Kim Chambers during Ron Jeremy Birthday Bash Hosted by Stormy Daniels in Association with Penthouse and Esterman in 2007

Coolio and his friend Kim Chambers during Ron Jeremy Birthday Bash Hosted by Stormy Daniels in Association with Penthouse and Esterman in 2007

Before his death, he was thought to be dating model Mimi Ivey. 

In 2008, the TV reality show Coolio Rules followed the stars in his family life, where he was seen interacting with the children he shared with Josefa. 

In the pilot episode of the show, Coolio revealed in a voiceover interview: ‘They’re almost grown and I don’t have much time to catch up and teach them what my mama taught me.’

In 2010, TMZ reported that Annabella sued him for alimony, but the outlet reported she was more interested in child support than money. 

She said at the time she had to file the suit to prove she was eligible to get Medi-Cal, the Californian health insurance. 

Three years later, in 2013, Coolio was arrested after allegedly assaulting Annabella, pushing her to the ground and punching her. 

TMZ revealed at the time that police report showed the rapper ran off after the incident, with Annabella claiming he struck her with his car as he left. 

Police reported that she had tire marks on her legs when they showed up at the scene, with New York Daily News writing she was ‘covered in blood,’ had a split lip and a bleeding middle right finger. 

Coolio claimed Annabella attacked him because she was jealous, however, police arrested him and charged him with a misdemeanor count of battery constituting domestic violence. 

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