10+ Best Coolio Songs [UPDATED]
Ranked & Background
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Top 10 Coolio Songs Of All Time: Artis Leon Ivey Jr. is a rapper, singer, actor, record producer, and chef, who reinvented his own life and made himself not only a ‘name’ but a registered trademark “COOLIO.”
As a fan, I’m sure you’re here to entertain yourself with Coolio tracks you want to add on your playlist this week, and lucky for you because we listed some of our exclusive favorite tracks for you to check out and binge-listen to today!
On August 1, 1963, in Compton, California, USA, an ordinary boy named Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was born, but who knew he would one day become an extraordinary existence known throughout the world as Coolio.
Discography
In 1991 Coolio joined the MC and the Maad Circle and released a collaborative album, “Ain’t a Damn Thing Changed.”
In 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, “It Takes a Thief.” The lead single “Fantastic Voyage” received heavy rotation on MTV and peaked at No. 3.
And to top it off……
Coolio released a new album, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” the following year, becoming the biggest hit of his career, selling over 17 million records globally and producing a long list of concerts for adoring fans in every country.
And if you’re also a Disney fan, you must have heard “Gangsta’s Paradise” playing as a backtrack in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ released in 2019, giving Coolio’s fans a nostalgic vibe.
So, you might be thinking….
Is Coolio a one-hit-wonder? Did he get famous overnight?
We’ll figure this out together at the end, so stay tuned and don’t miss a beat.
Moving on to his songs…
So far, Coolio has released
With 6 of them hitting the Billboard Chart, including our favorite song, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” that stayed at number 1 spot on Billboard Hot 100 for weeks setting a record, here is a list of Top Coolio songs to listen to.
So, take a break and take a look at Best Coolio Songs
Let’s get started…
#1. Gangsta’s Paradise
Link: Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Featured Artist: Coolio Feat. L.V.
Songwriter(s): Stevie Wonders
Lyricist(s): Artis Ivey jr., Larry sanders, Doug Rasheed
Producer: Doug Rasheed
Label: Tommy boy
Genre: Hip hop, gangsta rap,
Release Date: August 8, 1995
Length: 4:04 minutes
Awards: 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap song, MTV Best Rap Video 1996
Coolio’s biggest hit peaked at # 1 on the Billboard charts for three weeks straight. #1 single of 1995 for all genres, and #1 in all the countries premiered. The song was no doubt an all-around winner.
Moreover…
Coolio won a Grammy Award in 1996 for ‘Best Rap Performance’ for the song. It starts with a frightful string from an old Stevie Wonder song, layered over simple hip-hop percussion and profound bass.
After a few seconds, there’s the applause of a coastbestnare drum, and a man starts citing lines from Psalm 23. “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ….”
But then diverges to:
“I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left.”.
Then…
Coolio freestyled the following few lyrics, with the rest of the verses coming to him in one go. Since it has sampled Stevie Wonder’s music, “Gangsta’s Paradise” is probably the only one of the Coolio songs not containing any swear words as Stevie himself didn’t permit any.
#2. Fantastic Voyage
Link: Coolio – Fantastic Voyage (Official Music Video) [Clean]
Songwriter(s): Norman Beavers, Marvin Craig, Brian Dobbs, Artiss Ivey Jr., Fred Alexander jr., Mark Adam Wood Jr., Tiemeyer McCain, Thomas Oliver Shelby, Stephen Shockley, Otis Stokes
Producer: Brian Dobbs
Label: Tommy Boy Records
Genre: West Coast hip hop, G-Funk, Gangsta rap
Release Date: March 8, 1994
Length: 5:32 (Main version), 4:08 (Radio version)
Awards: 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap song, MTV Best Rap Video 1996
Another chart-topping Coolio song peaked at No.3 on Billboard Chart with its irresistible chorus and hip hop music is ‘Fantastic Voyage.’
The fact that it went under the nose for many; this masterpiece from his album “It Takes a Thief” was about escapism, as Allmusic’s Jason Lymangrover will comment later on.
Here, as in the artists’ “Gangster’s Paradise,” Coolio mourns the facts of dark metropolitan destitutions. He writes, “Tryin’ to find a place… where my kids can play outside without livin’ in fear of a drive-by.”
Not only that…
The music video will take you on a magical beach trip that you can’t forget easily, and neither could Coolio, as at the end of this song, also left him wondering if the events were actual or a dream and dressed the stage for the video. “I Remember.“
#3. 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)
Link: Coolio – 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New) [Official Music Video]
Release Date: February 20, 1996
Genre: hip hop
Length: 3:20
Label: Tommy boy Records
Songwriter(s): Artis Ivey Jr, A. Sear
Producer: Jammin James Carter, Poison Ivey
Awards: MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video
Coolio recorded two music videos for the song:
- The first one is directed by David Dobkins and was released for the timber mix featuring Coolio. Stars like Jamie Foxx and A.J. Johnsons also shined in this video.
- The second one featured the Muppets and was aired on the Disney channel. Also, the Muppets Tonight episode in which Coolio appeared as a guest star used this music video as a closing number.
The best part is…
This song has been certified gold by the RIAA!
#4. C U When U Get There
Link: Coolio – C U When U Get There (feat. 40 Thevz) [Official Music Video]
Featured Artist: 40 Thevz
Songwriter(s): Johan Pachelbel, Artis Ivey jr., Dominic Aldridge, Henry Straughter, Malieek Straughter
Producer: Dominic Aldridge
Genre: G-funk, West Coast Hip hop.
Label: Tommy Boy, Warner Bros Records
Release Date: July 7, 1997
Length: 5:10
Album: My Soul
This received some critical reception from Billboard’s Larry Flick, who called the song an “inspiring hip-hop anthem.” He added, “The song’s “keep pushin’ on” message is direct and delivered in street-savvy language that will connect with its desired youth audience.
Also…
Daily Record described it as a “superb R&B ballad.”
The strong lyrics offer a route to a choir-belted chorus that adds an appropriate sprinkle of intensifying emotions. The track’s factor is simple-paced electro beat and a surge of masterful strings, and you have the makings of the most significant hit number.
#5. It’s All The Way Live
Link: Coolio – It’s all the Way Live Now (Music Video)
Songwriter(s): Artis Leon Ivey Jr.,
Producer: Bryan Wino Dobbs, Brian G.
Genre: hip hop
Label: Hollywood
Release Date: May 14, 1996
Length: 4:19
The song is Coolio’s ‘Top 40 Hit Singles’ and his fourth album to be certified gold by RIAA for selling 500,000 copies.
The song took lyrics from “It’s All the Way Live” by the band Lakeside; His second single to have included a sample and name from a Lakeside song after his 1994 hit, “Fantastic Voyage.”
However…
The song wasn’t included in his Tommy Boy Records Greatest Hits compilation in 2001 regardless of it as one of Coolio’s biggest hits. This was because Hollywood Records, who released the Eddie soundtrack, owned the rights to the song.
6. Too Hot
Link: Coolio – Too Hot (Music Video) [Explicit]
Songwriter(s): Coolio, James “J.T” Taylor, George Brown, Artis Ivey Jr.
Producer: Bryan Dobbs
Genre: West Coast hip hop, G-funk
Label: Tommy Boy Records
Release Date: August 8, 1995
Length: 3:42
The song is included in Coolio’s album “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Significant pieces of the first were held yet enhanced by autonomous rap entries. In the rap sections, he likewise addresses the illness HIV/AIDS.
Coolio performed in the music video “Too Hot” from the album “Gangsta’s Paradise” recorded for Tommy Boy Records.
In case you should know…
The video begins with a lady walking up a flight of stairs and knocking on Coolio’s entryway, and both of them end up in bed before she leaves in the wake of getting a page.
The girl can be seen meeting her boyfriend outside as Coolio strolls around the condo and raps in the next scene. Also, it incorporates scenes from the couples indulged in unprotected sex, leading eventually to disintegration.
Confronted by a demonic Coolio, the scared woman wakes up in bed next to him.
#7. Gangsta Walk
Link: Coolio ft. Snoop Dogg – Gangsta Walk [Music Video]
Featured Artist: Coolio feat. Snoop Dogg
Songwriter(s): Sergio Fertitta, A. Ivey, J. Salinas, C. Broad, R.Jones
Producer: Roblow, Battlecat, Sergio, Fertitta
Release Date: August 8, 2006
Length: 3:51
Genre: Gangsta rap, G-funk, West Coast hip hop
Label: Subside Records, Edel
The song had its first performance at a ceremony dedicated to the Italian debut of Coolio in Milan.
The song’s music video was filmed in Los Angeles in January 2006 in a futuristic studio and 3D graphic-designed piece directed by Marco Gentile.
The music video features Snoop Dogg in a black suit, surrounded by women in white, sitting in a white control room, while Coolio is in a parking lot.
#8. Hit ‘em High
Featured Artists: B-real, Method Man, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes
Songwriter(s): A. Ivey Jr., Clifford Smith, James Todd Smith, Louis Freese, Jean Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes, Trevor Smith
Producer: Trackmasters
Genre: hip hop
Label: Atlantic
Release Date: January 7, 1997
Length: 4:17
Album: Space Jam
Although the video was criticized, Monstar’s ‘Anthem’ really hit the charts high throughout the United States but somehow did not make it to the Billboard Hot 100.
The black and white music video directed by Hype Williams features Monstar scenes from the movie, while the rap artists were wearing Monstars’ jerseys from the film while rapping on the basketball court.
#9. Ooh La La
Link: Coolio – Ooh La La (Official Music Video) [Clean]
Songwriter(s): A. Ivey Jr., Diane Warren, Robbie Shakespeare, Oji Pierce, Grace Jones, Lowell Dunbar, Dana Manno
Producer: Oji Pierce
Genre: hip hop
Label: Tommy Boy, Warner Bros. Records
Release Date: September 1997
Length: 4:05
This song is among Coolio’s ‘Top 40 Hits’ for most countries, which also peaks #2 in New Zealand; however, the song failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100.
The song contains a sample of lyrics from the song “Pull Up to the Bumper” by Grace Jones. At the start of the music video, Coolio is seen having his breakfast cereal with the song “Hit Em” playing in the background.
The morning paper that hit Coolio in the head reads, “Today you will find the love of your life, but beware, she will NOT REVEAL herself to you. You MUST FIND HER”. Although It is a good song for Horoscope lovers, you have to listen to believe.
#10. I Remember
Link: Coolio – I Remember (feat. J Ro & Billy Boy) [Music Video] {Clean}
Featured Artist: feat J Ro & Billy Boy
Songwriter(s): Artis L/Jr. Ivey
Producer: Gary Herd
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Label: Tommy boy
Release Date: August 1994
Length: 4:33 minutes
Coolio himself performed along with J-Ro and Billy Boy for this track. It was recorded for Tommy Boy and Warner Brothers Records.
The music video shows Coolio asking around about a license plate, where he finds a radio.
As he turns on the radio, he gets sucked into the past, where he saw his young self eating breakfast made by his mother and playing with his neighborhood friends.
Other Coolio songs and Music Videos:
And the list of songs goes on…
But the answer to your question remains: is Coolio a one-hit-wonder?
Well, why don’t you tell me the answer to that? With so many songs, no wonder he became so famous after all; he gave it all to move forward and use his early life struggles as his stepping stones.
Albums like “Gangsta Paradise,” “My Soul,” and “El Cool Magnifico” were just the beginning of his career. Coolio also played some minor roles as an actor in many TV shows and movies.
Not only that…
He also had a web-based cooking show named “Cookin’ with Coolio” once logged over 4 million hits.
Conclusion: 10+ Best Coolio Songs
Coolio’s list of achievements is pretty long because he kept moving forward without looking back, using his failures to climb even higher than before. Through his innovative songs and albums, he created a chance for himself to rise and show the world that nothing is impossible.
For more fun stuff and exciting articles about Coolio, feel free to follow us on Bouncemojo.com.
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