The death, in September 2022, of American rapper Coolio, known for the 1995 song “Gangsta’s Paradise”, was due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl, as announced by his manager. According to Jarez Posey, the musician’s family has been informed of the findings of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The artist was found unconscious on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in Los Angeles six months ago. He was 59 years old.

Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivy Jr., won a Grammy for the 1995 song “Gangsta’s Paradise.”

The song was later selected for the film Dangerous Minds, became one of the most successful rap songs of all time and helped bring the genre into the mainstream.

In fact, it is still widely heard and has surpassed one billion views on YouTube.

At the time of his death, the rapper was suffering from asthma and heart disease, CBS News reported.

Although Coolio had used phencyclidine (or PCP), his death was caused by the effects on his body of a cocktail of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamines, according to CBS.

The coroner’s office ruled his death accidental. Coolio got his start in music in the 80s, but established himself in the hip hop scene with Gangsta’s Paradise.

Born in Pennsylvania, he grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton. He became famous in the American West Coast rap music scene in the 90s.

He adopted his stage name after a conversation he had with a friend, who asked him: “Who do you think you are? Julio Iglesias?”.

Before turning to hip hop professionally he worked as a volunteer firefighter in the San Jose area.

A talented producer and actor, he has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother in the UK in 2009.

He even put his love of cooking to good use as he launched a book and web series titled “Cooking with Coolio”.

During his career, which spanned four decades, he recorded eight albums, won an American Music Award and three MTV Video Music Awards.