Current:Home > ContactCoolio's Cause of Death Revealed -ProsperityStream Academy
Coolio's Cause of Death Revealed
View
Date:2025-04-28 15:05:09
Coolio's family is sharing what led to his death.
The "Gangsta's Paradise" rapper died due to fentanyl, family spokesperson Jarel (Jarez) Posey told TMZ on April 6. According to the rep, authorities informed Coolio's family that he also had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system at the time, and added that his asthma and cigarette use were factors as well.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has officially ruled his cause of death as an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, according to an autopsy report obtained by E! News.
Coolio, a father of six, died Sept. 28 at age 59 at a Los Angeles residence. His manager told NBC News later that day, "As far as what I know now is that he was at a friend's house and was in his bathroom and had a heart attack."
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told E! News that paramedics responding to a report of a medical emergency arrived at a home to find a man unresponsive and attempted to resuscitate him for 45 minutes. With consultation with a physician, the star was then pronounced dead.
A rep for the Los Angeles Police Department also said that the man appeared to have died of natural causes and that there were no evidence of foul play. Coolio's identity was later released by the coroner's office.
Many celebs paid tribute to Coolio after news of his death. Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred with the rapper in a music video for his No. 1 single "Gangsta's Paradise" from the soundtrack to her 1995 film Dangerous Minds, wrote on Instagram that she was "heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio." She added, "A life cut entirely too short."
Parody musician Weird Al Yankovic, whose 1996 parody of "Gangsta's Paradise," called "Amish Paradise," once drew criticism from the rapper, shared a photo on Twitter of himself hugging the rapper. In his post, which went viral, he wrote, "RIP Coolio."
Coolio, a native of Los Angeles, began his music career in the late '80s and rose to fame with the breakout single "Fantastic Voyage" from his 1994 debut solo album It Takes a Thief. But it was his single "Gangsta's Paradise" that made him an international superstar, partially thanks to the popularity of its music video, which aired on heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels around the world. The song won the star a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.
Coolio later released Gangsta's Paradise the album with the single as its lead track. The record, which was certified double Platinum, also contains the hits "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "Too Hot."
Coolio also appeared on reality TV over the past two decades. In 2008, he starred in his own series, Coolio's Rules. A year later, he was a housemate on season six of Celebrity Big Brother UK and later returned for Ultimate Big Brother. In 2012, he competed on the Food Network series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. The following year, he and his then-girlfriend Mimi appeared on Wife Swap.
Amid his TV endeavors, Coolio continued his music career. In a July interview with the Irish Examiner, he revealed he was working on a collaboration with Christy Dignam of the Irish rock band Aslan.
"It's probably going to be a banger, I would imagine," the rapper told the newspaper. "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."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (18)
Related
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- A Bankruptcy Judge Lets Blackjewel Shed Coal Mine Responsibilities in a Case With National Implications
- Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh as the head of men's designs at Louis Vuitton
- High-paying jobs that don't need a college degree? Thousands of them sit empty
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- The IRS now says most state relief checks last year are not subject to federal taxes
- California’s Relentless Droughts Strain Farming Towns
- Senators talk about upping online safety for kids. This year they could do something
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- A Tesla driver was killed after smashing into a firetruck on a California highway
Ranking
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible Costars Give Rare Glimpse Into His Generous On-Set Personality
- Shopify deleted 322,000 hours of meetings. Should the rest of us be jealous?
- As Oil Demand Rebounds, Nations Will Need to Make Big Changes to Meet Paris Goals, Report Says
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Recession, retail, retaliation
- Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh as the head of men's designs at Louis Vuitton
- How Some Dealerships Use 'Yo-yo Car Sales' To Take Buyers For A Ride
Recommendation
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
And Just Like That, the Secret to Sarah Jessica Parker's Glowy Skin Revealed
Rail workers never stopped fighting for paid sick days. Now persistence is paying off
Rep. Ayanna Pressley on student loans, the Supreme Court and Biden's reelection - The Takeout
What to watch: O Jolie night
Renting a home may be more financially prudent than buying one, experts say
Mission: Impossible co-star Simon Pegg talks watching Tom Cruise's stunt: We were all a bit hysterical
California’s Strict New Law Preventing Cruelty to Farm Animals Triggers Protests From Big U.S. Meat Producers