Coolio Bio

Contestant Coolio as seen on Food Network's Rachael Vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-off Season 1

Contestant Coolio as seen on Food Network's Rachael Vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-off Season 1

Photo by: Anders Krusberg ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Anders Krusberg, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Contestant Coolio as seen on Food Network's Rachael Vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-off Season 1

Coolio was a celebrity contestant on Season 1, Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. Coolio began rapping at a young age and performed in many local Los Angeles rap contests as a youth. He recorded two singles in the late ‘80s titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me," and ended up joining the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991. Three years later Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, It Takes a Thief. The album contained the single "Fantastic Voyage," which became Coolio's breakout song. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the biggest rap singles of the year. The album also contained a few minor hits, including "County Line" and "I Remember." Overall, the album was very successful; it went platinum, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200.

After the success of his debut, Coolio became a legitimate rap star. In 1995 he recorded a song for the movie Dangerous Minds, "Gangsta's Paradise." The song, which featured R&B singer L.V., would become one of the most successful rap songs of all time, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for three weeks. The album Gangsta's Paradise was released in 1995 and was certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA. The album also contained two other major hits in "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "Too Hot." In 1996 Coolio had another Top 40 hit with the song "It's All the Way Live (Now)" from the Eddie soundtrack. He was also featured on the song "Hit 'em High" from the soundtrack to the movie Space Jam with B-Real, Method Man, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes.

Coolio performed the theme song for the 1996 television show Kenan & Kel, entitled "Aw Here It Goes." He also appeared in a one-time role as the host of a pleasure palace in Space: Above and Beyond. And he was featured in an episode of The Bill, as well as starring in episodes of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The Nanny, in which he played the grandson of Ray Charles' character, Sammy.

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