Artis Leon Ivey Jr. is an rapper, actor and producer who is known by his stage name Coolio. He started recording in the last 1980s but made his breakthrough after releasing his debut album It Takes a Thief, in 1994. The album became certified platinum and spawned the track "Fantastic Voyage," which went on to become one of the biggest singles of the year. Coolio's contribution to the 1995 film Dangerous Minds titled "Gangsta's Paradise," became the number one song of the year for all genres, reaching number one in over a dozen countries and earning him a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. He added the song and made it the title track to his 1995 double platinum album. Although Coolio released a few more hit songs, his susequent albums failed to meet the expectations that came with the world-wide success of Gansta's Paradise.
