Created by rap artist Coolio (formally known as Artis Leon Ivey Jr.), the 1995 track is, in simple terms, a global phenomenon. This ultimate throwback is a reflection on the life of a gangsta, combining rap, popular culture and inspiring lyrics.
Coolio made his mark in hip hop forever, with this song receiving an unprecedented response from the public which still resonates today. “It was a long time ago, I had one view of what it was; a hood song. Then I found out that I couldn’t really do that anymore because it meant so many different things to so many different people, that I let it develop on its own and let it create its own space,” he says.
“I believe that the song gave me some type of divine intervention because it just came, and it wasn’t something that I really had to think about. I wrote the song so quickly, it was almost as if I always knew it.”
With the hit gaining worldwide attention, it comes as a surprise that it was written so quickly. “I wrote it in an hour and a half or so. It was written and recorded within four hours of me hearing it. It just happened like that. I can’t really explain it.”
With Coolio’s thoughtful lyrics, distinct verbal flow and the hook lifted from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 track Pastime Paradise, Gangsta’s Paradise is powerful and impossible to ignore. However, the 53-year-old explains a few swear words were removed as a “conscious choice”.
“In the original, we did have a few curse words in there but in order for me to get Stevie Wonder to sign off on it, there was a list of words that after he listened to it, these were the words that he changed and that’s what I had to do. But it’s equally as strong, it didn’t need them. Not at all.”
With his holistic view on his music and career, Coolio proves he hasn’t given up on music, continuing to perform and tour worldwide with this year’s release of a five song EP Long Live The Thief. The first single, Kill Again discusses gang violence with the intention of forcing the nation to talk about change.
“I don’t vary away from my beliefs very much and the things that I feel passionate about,” he says. “Just because you might not see me doing them [sharing his beliefs] when you first hear about me or when you realise that I’m still around. I just do my thing and try to do it to the best of my ability. When it comes to recording, it’s weird almost, being able to still be around at this time and still have a chance to be heard by the masses at any given point in time because of the internet.”
A survivor of tremendously challenging life lessons who is still embracing creating music, Coolio is not only an artist known around the world as a musical phenomenon, but also a cooking master of reinvention launching his book, Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price, in 2009 and filming his own cooking show Cookin’ with Coolio.
“The new cookbook is almost ready, and I’ve already started recording episodes for the new show. I’m absolutely a gourmet chef and I have a refined palate. I like fusion – I fuse anything with black,” he laughs. “I be blazing. I do Blitalian (Black Italian), Blasian (Black Asian). I do whatever. There’s no rules for me.”
Taking time out from behind the stove, Coolio is returning to Australia next month, alongside a slew of other ’90s favourites, including Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa, Color Me Badd, Tone Loc and Young MC for the I Love the ’90s tour.
“I chose to go with the live band feel more so than a DJ so it makes it a good combination, a good mix up. I try to do it as often as I can but it can get hectic because you have to deal with more than just two or three personalities. I don’t really bring a lot of people on my own but because of how this tour goes we absolutely need it, so we’ll figure it out as we go.
