How Did Coolio Die? Information About the Life and Death of the Rap Superstar

Last updated on April 10th, 2023 at 07:35 pm

On September 28th, 2022, fans everywhere mourned as it was announced that world-famous rapper, Coolio, died at the age of 59. Although this isn’t a young age like those artists in the 27 club, it is still much younger than the average life expectancy in the United States. 

So what happened to the rapper famous for the song “Gangsta’s Paradise”? And how did he die? Keep reading to find out. 

Who is Coolio?

Coolio was born under the name Artis Leon Ivey Jr in 1963. While he was initially drawn to the drug scene, he was able to rise above it thanks to jobs in the security industry. 

Eventually, Artis became a rapper, and he released his first single, “Whatcha Gonna Do?” in 1987. His career was slow to start, but by the time he released “Gangsta’s Paradise” in 1995, he already had a record deal. 

Although he is most known as a rapper, Coolio also created a cooking web series and released his own cookbook named Cookin with Coolio. 

How Old is Coolio?

Coolio was born on August 1st, 1963. He died in September 2022, making him 59 years old at the time of his death. 

Where is Coolio From?

Coolio was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Compton, California, at a young age. This is what led to him getting involved in drugs and his eventual arrest. He was able to turn his life around, however, and attended Compton Community College before he began working in security. 

What Happened to Coolio?

While Coolio was famous in the late 1990s, by 2001, he was falling from fame and was dropped from his record label. While he continued to release music in the coming years, none had the success of his songs released in the early 90s. 

At some point, he must’ve felt a bit desperate as he appeared on the Comeback Show in Germany in 2004. The show was designed to help artists looking to come back into the music industry. Ultimately, it didn’t work. 

In 2010, Coolio started appearing on reality TV shows as well as a brief stint in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. 

In 2016, the rapper ran into legal trouble when he was found trying to sneak a gun through Los Angeles Airport TSA. He was sentenced to probation and had to perform community service. 

How Did Coolio Die?

Coolio was visiting a friend’s house when he was found unconscious on the bathroom floor. His friends immediately called 911, and CPR was performed. Unfortunately, it didn’t do any good, and Coolio was declared dead when the paramedics arrived. 

Coolio’s cause of death is cardiac arrest, and there appears to be no foul play. His body was cremated and given to his family. 

While the police did investigate his death, it is well known that Coolio suffered from severe asthma. His friend speculate it had something to do with his death. 

Update: Coolio’s Cause of Death Revealed

On April 7, 2023, the cause of Coolio’s death was made public.

His autopsy, revealed by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner-coroner, found that he had died of an accidental drug overdose.

Methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl were all found to be causes of his death, though he also dealt with underlying health issues.

When Did Coolio Die?

Coolio died on September 28th, 2022. 

How Many Kids Does Coolio Have?

In total, Coolio has ten children. Four of Coolio’s children were from the marriage with his wife, which lasted from 1996 until 2000. The other 6 all have 6 different mothers. He also had 5 grandchildren as of 2022. 

After his death, each of his children was given a necklace to hold a bit of his ashes. 

Coolio Net Worth

At the time of his death, Coolio’s net worth was $1.5 million.