Grammy-winning rapper Coolio dies aged 59

Los Angeles: Renowned American rapper Coolio, who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s, has passed away, his manager said. He was 59.  

As per details, the rapper died at a friend’s house in Los Angeles, but details on the circumstances around the musician’s sudden death were not immediately clear. 

Authorities reportedly also revealed to the paper that a death investigation has been opened, but as of this time, there doesn’t appear to be any signs of foul play.

The final cause will be determined by a coroner’s office at a later time following an autopsy and toxicology tests.

Coolio, whose legal name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” in 1996, and was nominated for five other Grammys during a career that began in the late-1980s. 

He also came third in the sixth series of UK Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 and went on to join the cast of Ultimate Big Brother the following year, the last series of the show to air on Channel 4. His career album sales totaled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, according to Luminate.

He was married to Josefa Salinas from 1996 to 2000. They had four children together.