Coolio

Coolio was an American rapper, actor, chef and record producer from Compton, California. He rose to fame in the mid-1990s with the global hit "Gangsta's Paradise," which topped charts worldwide and earned a Grammy. His style blended West Coast gangsta rap with funk and pop sensibilities. Key albums include It Takes a Thief (1994) and My Soul (1997). He collaborated with artists such as L.V., 40 Thevz and WC, and later appeared in films and television while also working as a chef.