Throwback Thursday: Coolio – “Gangsta’s Paradise” (featuring L.V.)

Throwback Thursday: Coolio – “Gangsta’s Paradise” (featuring L.V.)

Yesterday, hip-hop legend Coolio passed away. In honor of his life and career, it’s only right that we revisit his signature hit, “Gangsta’s Paradise” (featuring L.V.).

Released in August of 1995, “Gangsta’s Paradise” was the lead single from the Dangerous Minds soundtrack. It is rapped from the perspective of a trigger-happy man — a “gangsta,” if you will — stuck in a pattern of violence that he has been conditioned to view as normal due to his surroundings. The chorus, sung by L.V., attempts to explain this dysfunction, declaring it a “gangsta’s paradise.” The song’s message counteracted the recurrent themes of gangsta rap, which had grown in popularity in the years leading up to its release. Also, it mirrored the central themes of the Dangerous Minds movie, which was about at-risk youth navigating the obstacles of growing up in lower-income communities.

“Gangsta’s Paradise” is based on a sample of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise,” which was an album cut on his 18th studio album and magnus opus, Songs in the Key of Life. According to Coolio, the initial version of the song had to be changed because Stevie Wonder wouldn’t clear the sample unless he removed the profanities.

September 28, 2022, the day Coolio passed away, also happened to be the 46th anniversary of the release of Songs in the Key of Life.

“Gangsta’s Paradise” was a monster hit, topping the charts across the globe and ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart for 1995. It would also win a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. And with over a billion views on YouTube — in just five years, mind you — the song has more than stood the test of time.

Coolio gave us many other jams, but this is the one that etched his name in music history. Rest in peace, Coolio.

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