Coolio scored his first US No.1 single with Gangsta's Paradise which later went on to win a Grammy award.
Coolio, the Compton, California rapper released his debut album in 1994, and quickly saw a single from the album called Fantastic Voyage become a sizable radio hit. The next year, though, Coolio dropped Gangsta’s Paradise — first via the soundtrack to Michelle Pfeiffer’s hero-teacher movie Dangerous Minds, then on his sophomore album, Gangsta’s Paradise — and became a number one hit 21 years ago today. The song became such a massive success, it topped charts worldwide and nabbed Coolio a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.
The song replaced Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone at the top of the Billboard Chart in 1995. It went on to stay number one for three weeks. One of the reasons why the song was popular is because it didn’t use any profanity in the lyrics. That is because Stevie Wonder didn’t approve it. Gangsta’s Paradise sampled Wonders’ 1976 song Pastime Paradise. Coolio, who co-wrote the song with other artists, asked permission to Wonder who wouldn’t allow the song’s use of the sample if it had any profanity. Coolio said, "I had a few vulgarities in the song...and he wasn't with that. So I changed it. Once he heard it, he thought it was incredible.”
The song is about a gangster reflection on his life.
Get a chance to hear your favorite songs of 1995 during Y101’s Friday Gold Rush, where our rhythm crew will play the hits of the past. Get ready for some all-time hits only here at the rhythm of the city, Y101, Always First. All hits, all the time!
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