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For every hip-hop fan who was sick of hardcore gangsta posturing, a former street thug with gravity-defying dreads named Coolio turned out to be the answer. His trick? Mixing hip-hop party grooves with surprisingly thoughtful observations on ghetto life. Not everyone could have pulled this off--perhaps because of his checkered past, Coolio was able to preach unity, maintain credibility--and still hit multi-platinum sales around the world.
Previously a crack addict and jailbird, Coolio got a late start on his rap career. In a field of players in their early '20s, he was already pushing 30 at the time of his debut, It Takes A Thief. Although crediting six producers and even more songwriters, the album comes across as a personal (yet highly commercial) blast of smoothly danceable hip-hop. With videos featuring summertime convertible-cruising, songs like the nostalgic "I Remember" and the feel-good hit "Fantastic Voyage" linked Coolio inextricably with good times. The follow-up, Gangsta's Paradise, provided more of the same, with an especially haunting bit of choral production on the title track (1995's biggest single). As enjoyable as both records are, the production is extremely safe--nearly every chorus features high-profile samples from old-school hip-hop or '70s soul.
Incidentally, despite the title of that record, Coolio was never an actual gang member. Born Artis Ivey, Jr., the rap (or, more appropriately, pop) star was more of an asthmatic bookworm who just happened to live in the notoriously bad neighborhoods of South Central and Compton. Still an avid reader, Coolio harbors fond dreams of someday writing fantasy novels. Overall, Coolio continues to be a man with a lot to say and the will to say it--as long as it remains commercially viable.