Hip-Hop Legend Coolio Dies At Age 59 After Collapsing In Bathroom

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Coolio, the Grammy-winning rapper best known for his hit songs “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” has passed away at the age of 59.

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. better known as Coolio was found dead on (September 28th) Wednesday afternoon. The rapper went to the bathroom and didn’t come out. His friend called him, but he didn’t answer. After a while, his friend went in to check on him—and saw that he was lying motionless on the floor of the bathroom. Although EMTs arrived quickly and attempted CPR, Coolio was pronounced dead after more than 45 minutes of resuscitation attempts.

Coolio struggled throughout his life with drug problems, but police did not find drugs or paraphernalia in the bathroom where he was found dead. The official cause of death has yet to be determined, but it appears that Coolio suffered a cardiac arrest.

Fans reacted to the news on Twitter, posting their condolences.

Otto Von Biz Markie tweeted: “RIP Coolio, whose one massive hit overshadowed a formidable run of classic West Coast bangers. An original member of the Maad Circle & Compton representative – with an undeniable star quality, humor, charisma, and a gift for making street tales mainstream without sanitizing them.”

The rapper’s manager reportedly told TMZ that Coolio had traveled from his home in Las Vegas to Los Angeles so he could get or renew his passport. The manager explained that obtaining the passport was more difficult in Los Angeles than in San Diego, and they had discussed traveling to San Diego to complete this process over the phone.

As for why he needed to go to the passport office, Coolio had shows scheduled in Germany this weekend. The manager says he was getting ready to join Coolio when he got the call that he had collapsed in the bathroom at his friend’s house in Los Angeles.

Rapper Coolio was known for being a humble, respectful artist who gained fans worldwide. His passing brought sorrow to many people.

A Memorable Encounter

In 2000, Silvia Tine, owner of Dilemaradio, had the pleasure of meeting Coolio while he was in Europe for the Night of the Proms in Antwerp, Belgium. She recalls him as a friendly and down-to-earth artist. They spent some time together, and she remembers his kindness and sense of humor. Though they lost touch over the years, she had always hoped to reconnect for a project. Sadly, that opportunity never came.

Rest in Power, Coolio!