It may be the only song of his that I know, but heavens, what an earworm it is.
Sorry to hear of his untimely demise at the ridiculous age of 59.
Post your favourite Coolio tracks here and enlighten me further while toasting his talent.
RIP Coolio
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The earworm part is all Stevie Wonder’s, I think.
I came here to say precisely that, H.P.
Same. We really are predictable.
I’m a bit perplexed why his death is getting so much media coverage here in Australia. Anyone who’s heard of him has done so for precisely one song, the best bits of which were lifted directly from the original. I doubt anyone who doesn’t personally know him has thought of him for 25 years.
God help us when Joy Sarney or Sisqo finally leave us.
https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/09/30/public-holiday-for-coolio-next-thursday-pm-confirms/
Ha! In the news feed from my work computer this morning, four of the 10 featured stories were about Coolio.
If you are only going to be remembered for one song/track/ record, his only UK hit, (happy to be corrected) is rather fabulous.
Doesn’t matter who the earworm belongs to – he developed it into a genius piece of music.
Also See you when I get there is superb.
He had a talent that’s for sure.
Stevie Wonder did give Coolio to use his song providing the cuss words were taken out. Having heard and played Stevie`s original a long time before the cover version I prefer it.
As you say Foxey 59 is too early in anyone`s life to depart this mortal coil.
R.I.P. Artis Leon Ivey Jr
I love Stevie and have about 5 of his albums all of which are very good.
I don’t have any Coolio albums but have even recently thought about a compilation – he elevated this song to something even better than the excellent original.
That’s your opinion but you are telling me IT IS better than S.W.’s version. I said that I preferred the original, I did not say whether it was better or worse.
Coolio (or his guys) had an opportunistic ear for a hit during his brief time in the sun which made him emblematic of that awkward period of hip hop just after its golden age when it was nonetheless providing regular chart smasheroos (yer Regulates, yer Insane In The Brains yer Ya Mamas yer Let’s Talk About Sexes).
Too Hot (“What started out as a plan ended up in a plot”) and C U When You Get There were proper hits and Fantastic Voyage should have been one, while I don’t think the Coolster would – off air – pretend he was doing much more than bolting his verses onto smartly chosen choruses..
Bolting a verse on to someoone else’s smart chorus is the actual definition of ninety percent of hip hop. Not a criticism, just – you’re better than this, SR 😉
Yeah, I don’t think it’s usually quite as lazy, though, as it got around this period. The new laws around sampling meant a lot of early to mid 90s records were built on just one lift (Monie Love’s It’s A Shame, Salt N Pepa’s Whatta Man – which is the song I was thinking of above). Creative hip hop found a way past the Sample Apocalypse (IMHO) and someone like Coolio – who I do think would admit he was a minor figure – was left behind.
By way of balance, if you think I’m being unkind, pop has always been about seeing the opening as much as raw talent and The Coolster has four songs on rotation on my personal radio station, which is more than Bob Dylan..
Preach 🙏
Preach-around.
RIP Coolio.
Gangsta’s Paradise was indeed excellent, and holds a particular poignancy for me as No.1 Son was massively in love with it from the moment of its release in October 1995; he was three weeks away from turning 7, and sang along with Coolio (and did all the gestures) next to the telly when TOTP was on. I can picture it vividly even now, and it still melts my heart.
So, thanks for the great song Mr Ivey Jr, and many thanks also for that inseparable and indelible memory.
Edit: and it also gave me the opportunity to introduce him to Stevie’s original and all his other stuff, which he also loved.
It’s definitely not respectful to the memory of Coolio but when appropriate I direct you to I’ll See You When We Get There, as performed by Michael Barrymore.
I would not be surprised if a watching Steve Coogan developed his entire Alan Partridge character just from that clip.
Why do we have to respect everyone who carks it? Never knew the fellow.
Because it’s the internet, Rob.
I’m like, literally, crying, y’know?
I’d only believe that if you’d said it with this: 😭😭😭😭😭
That’s how you do sadness on the internet.
Mea culpa.
In future, if I feel it might be apposite to remark upon the early demise of someone who once produced a single that I enjoyed, in order to elicit further information about other works of theirs that I might find enjoyable, should I check with you first to see if you knew them?
Yes please.
Just read the Guardian piece; Entertainment Weekly dubbed Gangsta’s Paradise “the bleakest tune to ever top the pop charts”.
Theme From M*A*S*H*?
The Drugs Don’t Work?
Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter?
Grandma we love you?
Shadappa Your Face?
It certainly depresses the hell out of me.
Ghost Town tops the bleak chart, I reckon.
Greatest Missed Thread Of The Afterword, right here.
I just hope they make as much fuss about Gerry Rafferty when he shuffles off. Now there’s talent.
He played the Stylophone on Space Oddity, you know.
Wasn’t that Bob (I’ll have a P please) Holness…….
Seeing as no one else is posting Coolio tracks, I’ve long enjoyed this one.