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Coolio
One of the biggest rap stars of the 1990s, Grammy winner Coolio – born Artis
Ivey, Jr. on August 1, 1963, in Monessen, Pennsylvania - helped bring hip hop to
a huge commercial audience at a time when the genre was marred by gang violence
and the murder of some of its leading artists. Raised in Compton, Los Angeles,
he started performing in high school talent shows where he picked up the
nickname Coolio Iglesias. He became a regular on local radio and featured on
tracks by WC And The Maad Circle. Signed to Tommy Boy Records, his thin, spiky
dreadlocks and exuberant personality mad...
