It happened on September 28th. Coolio was visiting a friend – and collapsed in the bathroom. His death came as a surprise.
According to his longtime manager, the US rapper Coolio, who became world famous with the song “Gangsta’s Paradise”, is said to have died of the opioid fentanyl, among other things. “Coolio’s loved ones just got word from the coroner – fentanyl killed the rapper – and he also had trace amounts of heroin and methamphetamine,” Jarez Posey told TMZ.
In addition, the artist’s “severe asthma and decades of cigarette consumption” also played a role in his death. His body wasn’t able to fight back, the longtime family friend said.
died at the age of 59
The rapper, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jrunter, collapsed in the bathroom of a friend’s house on September 28 in Los Angeles. He was 59 years old. His surprising death had caused consternation in the music scene. Numerous rappers such as Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and MC Hammer had spoken out.
Coolio landed a number one hit with “Gangsta’s Paradise” in 1995. The song, based on Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and also featured on the soundtrack of the film “Dangerous Minds” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, earned him a Grammy. He also had success with songs like “Fantastic Voyage” and “I Remember”. He has also acted in TV series and films. The rapper has had multiple run-ins with the law for illegal drug and gun possession.
Stronger than heroin
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. It’s a driver of the opioid crisis in the US, killing tens of thousands every year. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl — the small amount that fits on the tip of a pencil — is considered a potentially lethal dose, according to the DEA.
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is approved for the treatment of severe pain, usually associated with advanced cancer. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl is sold in illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effects, and is often mixed with heroin or other drugs such as cocaine, or compressed into counterfeit prescription pills. (dpa)