US Rapper Coolio Died from Fentanyl Overdose
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
Coolio is said to have been killed by a fentanyl overdose, having been found unconscious on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in Los Angeles on 28 September, and died after 45 minutes of CPR from paramedics failed to resuscitate the star
Best known for his 1995 chart-topping hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the performer died at the age of 59 from an accidental fentanyl overdose, as confirmed by the Los Angeles county coroner.
Coolio’s death, as gathered by Excel Magazine International, was further complicated by his pre-existing cardiomyopathy, which made it harder for his heart to function properly.
It was further learnt that investigators also found that his severe asthma and cigarette smoking contributed to his untimely passing.
Jarez Posey, Coolio’s former manager, confirmed the heartbreaking news of his client’s passing.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr on August 1, 1963, in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Coolio moved to Compton, California, where he began his meteoric rise in the music industry.
He started rapping at the tender age of 15 and decided by the age of 18 that he wanted to make it his career.
Coolio attended community college before devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene, where he would soon achieve legendary status.
His exceptional talent and contributions to music were recognized in 1995 when he won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” a hit song from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film Dangerous Minds. The song featured a sample of Stevie Wonder’s 1976 hit “Pastime Paradise.”
Coolio’s enduring popularity in the music industry was marked by his impressive career album sales, which totalled 4.8 million, and 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, according to Luminate.
The rapper was also nominated for six Grammys during his illustrious career.
With his distinctive persona, Coolio became a cultural staple, occasionally acting, providing a voice for an animated show, and even providing the theme music for a Nickelodeon sitcom.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is known to be highly potent, was discovered in Coolio’s system and was deemed the primary cause of his passing.
