The famed nineties rapper, Coolio has died at 59, but the cause of his death is yet to be confirmed.
Real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr, Coolio emerged onto the LA rap scene in the 1980s, but it was Gangsta’s Paradise that propelled him to international fame and earned him a Grammy for best solo rap performance.
The song reached number one on the US Billboard charts and stayed there for three weeks.
He was nominated for five other Grammys during his career, which began in the late-1980s.
His hit Fantastic Voyage reached No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
US rapper Vanilla Ice said he was “freaking out” following reports of Coolio’s death.