Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Michelle Pfeiffer lead tributes to ‘gifted’ Coolio after rapper dies aged 59-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Snoop Dogg (r) is among the stars who have paid tribute to Coolio (Picture: Getty Images)

Coolio has been remembered fondly in celebrity tributes following his death aged 59. 

The rapper, best known for his 1995 hit single Gangsta’s Paradise, died on Wednesday when he was found lying unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house.

A cause of death has not been confirmed but his manager said that paramedics suspect the musician suffered a cardiac arrest. 

Coolio, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was well-connected in the world of showbiz and managed to reach all corners during his varied career. 

A bevy of hip hop stars have led tributes to the late rapper, with Ice Cube tweeting: ‘This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio.’ 

MC Hammer shared kind words about his late peer and wrote: ‘One of the nicest dudes I’ve known. Good people. R.I.P. Coolio.’ 

LL Cool J said: ‘Rest in power my brother . @Coolio  Love & Respect.’ 

Snoop Dogg shared a photo of the two on Instagram, showing them posing on the set of the music video for their collaborative 2006 track Gangsta Walk, and referenced Coolio’s iconic song, writing: ‘Gangstas paradise. R I P.’ 

Vanilla Ice was particularly in shock and said: ‘I’m freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away.’ 

Scarface actress Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in the 1995 movie Dangerous Minds for which Coolio’s hit single Gangsta’s Paradise featured on the soundtrack, said she was ‘heartbroken’ to hear of the rapper’s death while hailing him as ‘gifted’. 

Coolio died on Wednesday following a suspected cardiac arrest (Picture: WireImage)

The rapper was best known for the songs Gangsta’s Paradise and See You When I Get There (Picture: Getty Images)

Michelle Pfeiffer paid tribute to the ‘gifted’ rapper, who recorded Gangsta’s Paradise for the soundtrack for her 1995 movie Dangerous Minds (Picture: WireImage)

Former NWA rapper Ice Cube said he was saddened by the news (Picture: Getty Images)

She continued: ‘A life cut entirely too short. As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995.

‘He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.

‘I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 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.’ 

TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Ultimate Celebrity Big Brother alongside Coolio, told PA: ‘Gosh. That’s a shock. 

‘I spent a fair bit of time with Coolio – he was a misogynist, broke wind a lot; he fancied himself as a cook but my God, we had so many laughs.’ 

US musical comedian Weird Al Yankovic also paid his respects to Coolio sharing a photo of the pair embracing, alongside the simple caption: ‘RIP Coolio.’ 

Yankovic famously parodied Gangsta’s Paradise as Amish Paradise, but at the time it was claimed that Coolio had not given him permission to do so.

Coolio later stated in interviews that the pair had since made amends.

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MORE : Rapper Coolio, known for iconic hit Gangsta’s Paradise, dies aged 59

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