Marty Whelan led the Irish tributes to Coolio yesterday as the world of hip hop and rap mourned the loss of a legend.
The Gangsta’s Paradise star, real name Artis Levon Ivey Jr, passed away on Wednesday aged 59. It is believed he suffered a heart attack. His manager Sheila Finegan confirmed the news in a statement, saying: “We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away this afternoon. He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly.
Read more: Coolio dead: Dublin cafe pays tribute to rap legend and regular customer
“Thank you to everyone worldwide who listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing. Please have Coolio’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.” The rapper, who was born in Pennsylvania before moving to Compton, California, was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in LA, according to US media reports.
And as tributes flooded in from around the globe, Winning Streak presenter Marty told how he remembered Coolio “with great fondness” as he shared a video clip of their first meeting on RTE’s afternoon show Open House in 2002. The music legend delivered a memorable performance of Ghetto Square Dance while some of the show’s crew got their moment in the spotlight as they acted as his back-ing dancers.
Recalling the show yesterday, Marty said: “Ah Coolio, I remember him with great fondness. To have him dancing with the staff was quite the moment. Which they did willingly. The very idea of introducing Coolio on afternoon television shows you how innovative RTE has always been.”
Speaking on Drivetime yesterday on RTE Radio 1, Marty added: “He was a gorgeous man. He was a joyous fella. He got involved in the whole gangster rap thing but he was much older than a lot of the other guys. He’d be 10 or 12 years older than them so he was above a lot of the nonsense that went on.
“He was a gentleman and we were delighted to have him on the programme. How I’ll be able to play him on Lyric FM in the morning, I’ve no idea... He was full of chat. He was a very good guy.”
Irish comedy puppet duo Podge and Rodge joined Marty in paying tribute to the late hip hop star and shared a video clip of an interview with him on their own RTE show in 2009.
Ciaran Morrison and Mick O’Hara of Double Z Creative, who are also the voices of Zig and Zag, said: “In 1995 when Gangsta’s Paradise broke we interviewed Coolio and LV (Luncheon Voucher as Zig called him) in a tent outside the Big Breakfast house as it was midterm #zigandzag and he was lots of fun.
“Then in 2009 we got to interview him again as Podge and Rodge on our chat show. Always a great guest and very funny.”
Coolio was no stranger to Ireland and spent some time this summer touring and working in Dublin. Before his death, the star revealed he was in town working on a new music collaboration with Aslan’s Christy Dignam.
He told the Irish Examiner earlier this year: “We’ve just got into it. We’re working on a track. We haven’t even started writing any lyrics.
“The track is being built as we speak. Somewhere within the next four to six weeks we should have something tangible we could work with. It’s probably going to be a banger, I would imagine.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be dark and deep or if we’re going to go clubby and happy, that remains to be seen. I’m more inclined with being dark and deep and still being a banger.”
The late rapper often spoke of his fondness for Ireland and visited many times throughout his life. He worked with Irish artists, including rap duo Versatile, and made various appearances on stage and screen.
Just months before he passed away he stunned punters with a live performance at Conor McGregor’s Dublin pub, performing his classic hit Gangsta’s Paradise to a cheering crowd. The rap legend visited the Black Forge Inn in June with Versatile, who he had previously recorded a music video with in the capital.
News of his passing sent shockwaves throughout the music world as fellow stars and friends in the industry spoke of their heartbreak. Ice Cube said: “This is sad news. I witnessed first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio.”
MC Hammer described Coolio as “one of the nicest dudes I’ve known” as he shared a photo of the pair together with Tupac and Snoop. Snoop Dogg posted a picture of the two on Instagram, posing on the set of the music video for their collaborative track Gangsta Walk, released in 2006. Alongside it he wrote: “Gangstas paradise. R I P.”
New York rapper Flava Flav also penned a tribute after learning of the loss, writing: “Coolio was the West Coast Flavor Flav... He loved telling everyone that.
“We was supposed to perform together this Tuesday. RIP my friend. Rest in Gangsta’s Paradise my friend.”
Coolio recorded the hit Gangsta’s Paradise for the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. The actress said yesterday she was “heartbroken” to hear the news of his death.
She added: “A life cut entirely too short. I remember him being nothing but gracious. Thirty years later I still get chills when I hear the song.
“Sending love and light to his family. Rest in Power, Artis Leon Ivey Jr.” Coolio won a Grammy for Best Solo Rap performance for Gangsta’s Paradise and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks with the track.
He was nominated for five other Grammys during a career that began in the late 1980s. He also went on to become well-known for his appearances on reality television including Big Brother. He came third in the sixth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 in the UK and the following year joined the cast of Ultimate Big Brother, the last series of the show to air on Channel 4.
Coolio also became a supporter of Celtic Football Club and was spotted at matches kitted out in Glasgow’s green and white.
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