Rapper Coolio’s cause of death announced
Rapper Coolio died from the effects of fentanyl and other drugs, a coroner has ruled.
The 59-year-old star, best known for his 1995 single Gangsta’s Paradise, died at a friend’s home in Los Angeles in September.
His manager, Jarez Posey, said the rapper’s family had been informed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office that the musician had died from a fentanyl overdose.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain, including during and after an operation.
The coroner also listed the effects of heroin and methamphetamine as a cause of death – and ruled the death was accidental.
A form of heart disease – known as cardiomyopathy – and asthma were listed as contributing factors.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1963, Coolio began performing as part of the West Coast hip-hop scene after moving to Compton, California.
He released his debut album, It Takes A Thief, in 1994, scoring a top 10 hit with the single Lakeside.
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The following year, he released his hit single Gangsta’s Paradise, which featured in the film Dangerous Minds.
The song, which topped the singles charts in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, won a Grammy Award for best rap solo performance the following year.
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He was nominated for five other Grammys during his career and sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.
Alongside music, Coolio made a number of TV and film appearances, including finishing third in the sixth series of Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2009.
His manager said his children planned to honour their father in future documentary and film projects.
