Rapper Coolio has died at the age of 59, leaving the music world, his fans, friends and family devastated.
The iconic musician passed away from suspected cardiac arrest while at his friend's home in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday [September 28], with his manager confirming his shock death to American publications shortly after. No official cause of death has yet been announced.
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer was one of the first celebrities to pay tribute to the late star as the news broke - telling her fans she was 'heartbroken' as she reflected on the rapper's 'brilliant song' Gangsta's Paradise for the soundtrack for her hit 1995 film, Dangerous Minds.
Fellow musicians LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, MC Hammer and Ice Cube also took to social media to remember the late rapper, as the world reacted to the passing of the Grammy award-winning entertainer - real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr - and beloved dad of up to ten children.
Reports differ on exactly how many children Coolio welcomed into the world prior to his death on Wednesday, but four of his offspring starred on screen with him in 2008, when the reality TV show Coolio's Rules followed the dad navigating life as a single parent and raising his teenage children Los Angeles, California.
Son Artis and daughters Artisha, Brandi and Jackie Ivey - who the late star shared with ex-wife Josefa Salinas - all appeared alongside their late father on the MuchMore TV series for one season, with the six episodes covering Coolio signing up for online dating, his reaction to one of his daughter's getting a boyfriend and the late rapper introducing the new love of his life to beans on toast.
In the pilot episode of the show, Coolio said of his children, who were aged between 14 and 20 at the time: "They're almost grown and I don't have much time to catch up and teach them what my mama taught me."
He later added in another episode: "I love them and they love me."
Coolio and his four co-star children's mother Josefa tied the knot in 1996, before divorcing in 2000.
It's also reported the late rapper was also a father to six other children from various other relationships; Grtis, Milan, Darius, Zhane , Kate and Shayne Ivey. Shayne and Kate are twins. Darius, Artis and Milan were reportedly snapped performing on stage with their father three years ago.
Coolio may also have welcomed a child into the world with Anabella Bellesi, following their romance in 2009 - with the late rapper's former love interest taking legal action in attempt to get Coolio to pay child support in 2010, according to TMZ.
Coolio was believed to be dating model Mimi Ivey at the time of his death.
The rapper burst onto the music stage in LA in the late 1980s, but it was his '90s hit Gangsta's Paradise which made him an international star. The iconic tune, which was recorded to be the soundtrack for Michelle Pfeiffer's hit film Dangerous Minds, went on to become his signature song.
Away from his personal life and successful career, the rapper also used his platform for good - working with numerous charities and non-profit organsations during his life.
As a child, Coolio was taken to the hospital several times due to asthma complications - even suffering an asthma attack on stage later on in life - and his children were also diagnosed with the condition. He became a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and helped raise awareness and funds for the foundation.
The late star also cared about the future of this planet too, and in July 2008, Coolio, alongside jazz saxophonist Jarez, were enlisted as spokespersons by the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change to educate students at historically black colleges and universities about global warming.
On Wednesday, Coolio's longtime manager, Jarez, confirmed the star's death - explaining how his late client was visiting a friend in Los Angeles when they became concerned after he went to the bathroom and didn't return.
Jarez told TMZ how Coolio was unresponsive to calls for him to return, leading the pal to check on the star. However, he was found laying on the floor.
The former Celebrity Big Brother star is said to have been pronounced dead at the scene after his friend had called emergency services.
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