Coolio

Micco · 01-11-2015, 09:43 PM

Sorry for the somewhat long read, but I figured I should post something unique, so hopefully you'll find this interesting, a career overview of West-Coast MC, Coolio.

Any Coolio fans here? Personally I think once he released his top single "Gangster's Paradise" he became critically overlooked and shoved aside because of pop chart success. IMO his first three albums are definite West-Coast classics, Coolio had an amazing talent on putting old school soul chorus's into his tracks and making them in place and great. This issue with mainstream success making people shove off good MCs is something that happens along from what I can see, 3 other notable cases I could put out would be Skee-Lo, Young MC, and Tone-Loc. Now I won't lie saying his later albums are mostly trash, but this dude put out some legitimate classics and is treated as a joke nowadays, a lot of his music is super funky for Hip-Hop, plus he started as part of WC & The Maad Circle, another classic West-Coast act. (not saying he did some stupid things, he has very much fallen off since his start.)

Gangster's Paradise is far from his best track, here are some of my favorite Coolio cuts, in order from release. Check it out:

Off his first album, "It Takes a Thief", full of great funky samples, definitely his most simple album in terms of overall production, still an easy West-Coast Classic:

-Fantasic Voyage, his first single that was successful, this is the timber mix, both versions are incredibly funky:

-County Line, funky, hilarious great story telling track on Coolio's time standing in the county line.

-Ghetto Cartoon, basically what it sounds like, A ghetto story recreated with classic cartoons, along with a dope reggae hook. Somewhat like Spice 1's "187 Proof" (nowhere near as classic though)

-Smokin Stix, pure funk, fast, track about smokin'.

-Sticky Fingers, great track about Coolio's main hobby before rappin', stealin'.

-I Remember, Coolio's soulful sentimental track about his ghetto childhood.

Onto his next album, "Gangster's Paradise", containing the hit album titled hit, which imo, is one of the weaker cuts here, once again full of funky soulful samples and cuts, this is imo Coolio's best, a 10/10 album and easily one of the best out of '95, he speaks on the implications of drugs, alcohol, sex protection, relationships, respecting women, criminal lifestyle, and love. Yet the biggest hit became a gangster track, somewhat ironic. I'd Highly recommend a full listen through, I'll give a run down in order by tracks of what the album has to offer, some great tracks I won't youtube link for the sake of not having a Coolio overdose.

-Geto Highlites, a soulful overview of the shortcomings and hardships of the ghetto and criminal lifestyles.

-Gangster's Paradise, the song that ironically killed Coolio in the eyes of Hip-Hop heads, we all know it, samples the classic Steve Wonder original for the beat and hook.

-Too Hot, funky track with a very nice piano in the background and a great hook, speaking on the importance of sexual protection, one of favorites off the album.

-Cruisin', soulful song sampled the original Smokey Robinson love song, features a cool back and forth style in verses between Coolio and female rapper Malika, another one of my favorites.

-Exercise Yo' Game, extremely funky gangsta track feature 40 Thevs, along with two extreme West-Coast legends, E-40 and Kam.

-Sumpin' New (1, 2, 3, 4), my absolute favorite Coolio track, just a fun, party track, I'm posting the Timber Mix over the original because it's a easily superior version, the music video has to be Coolio's best. Who doesn't want to see Coolio ride a kid's tricycle in order to make it to a party. Once again, funky as ever.

-Smilin', great sample of the Sly & The Family Stone classic, a love track focused on a woman who's got Coolio smilin'.

-Kinda High Kinda Drunk, sampling Schoolly D's classic line for the hook, very nice story telling track on the implications of that one time Coolio got too high and drunk.

-For My Sistas, a cut with an R&B feel speaking on respect for woman along with uplifting rhymes for the struggles of his sistas.

-Is This Me?, another soulful song on Coolio and his struggle with the criminal decisions he's dealing with day to day he doesn't believe is really him yet the ghetto won't let him go.

-A Thing Goin' On, a delightful rap version of the soul classic "Me and Mrs. Jones"

-Bright As the Sun, a soulful track speaking on the heat of sun shining down on brothers in the ghetto, essentially the heat serves as a symbol for the reason people in the ghetto are making bad decisions.

-The Revolution, the only track on this album I'd say isn't a classic, a more serious, dark, hardcore ghetto rap.

-Get Up Get Down, a funky track sampling Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", a posse cut featuring a plethora of features, most notably West-Coast legends WC and Ras Kass.

classic album.

Next up is Coolio's great album, "My Soul', although not as strong as Gangster's Paradise, this is still a classic album easily, here are the best cuts and the ones worth listening:

Alright ya'll it's getting late for me, I'll start off with "My Soul" at a later date, hopefully it gives ya'll a chance to listen what I've already posted and give me your opinion. I'd appreciate if you would. Try and listen to give me an honest opinion based on what you've actually heard. Peace and salute.

DwnWthVwls · 01-12-2015, 02:48 AM

Coolio is sick. I actually haven't listened to him in a long time but this thread brings back some memories. Gangsta's Paradise got played on the regular growing. Good stuff, keep it coming.

~~John Wilkes Booth~~ · 01-12-2015, 03:03 AM

cant say i'm a fan specifically... never looked into his albums tbh but his gangsta's paradise song was one of the first rap songs i actually liked as a kid. i was in 4th grade.

~~john_fan~~ · 01-30-2015, 05:49 PM

I wish he would put out some new music

Micco · 01-31-2015, 02:16 PM

John he did two albums and some single for pornhub within' the last 4 years or so. Trouble is the music is trash, he tried to adapt and took the swag route.

DwnWthVwls · 02-01-2015, 03:05 AM

Pornhub has music? wtf.

Micco · 02-01-2015, 09:50 PM

Yea, PornHub paid him to make a song about their site "Take It To The Hub" lmao.

JimRay · 02-11-2015, 01:24 PM

I love the video for Fantasic Voyage

01-11-2015, 09:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Micco Karaoke Crooner Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 170	Coolio Sorry for the somewhat long read, but I figured I should post something unique, so hopefully you'll find this interesting, a career overview of West-Coast MC, Coolio. Any Coolio fans here? Personally I think once he released his top single "Gangster's Paradise" he became critically overlooked and shoved aside because of pop chart success. IMO his first three albums are definite West-Coast classics, Coolio had an amazing talent on putting old school soul chorus's into his tracks and making them in place and great. This issue with mainstream success making people shove off good MCs is something that happens along from what I can see, 3 other notable cases I could put out would be Skee-Lo, Young MC, and Tone-Loc. Now I won't lie saying his later albums are mostly trash, but this dude put out some legitimate classics and is treated as a joke nowadays, a lot of his music is super funky for Hip-Hop, plus he started as part of WC & The Maad Circle, another classic West-Coast act. (not saying he did some stupid things, he has very much fallen off since his start.) Gangster's Paradise is far from his best track, here are some of my favorite Coolio cuts, in order from release. Check it out: Off his first album, "It Takes a Thief", full of great funky samples, definitely his most simple album in terms of overall production, still an easy West-Coast Classic: -Fantasic Voyage, his first single that was successful, this is the timber mix, both versions are incredibly funky: -County Line, funky, hilarious great story telling track on Coolio's time standing in the county line. -Ghetto Cartoon, basically what it sounds like, A ghetto story recreated with classic cartoons, along with a dope reggae hook. Somewhat like Spice 1's "187 Proof" (nowhere near as classic though) -Smokin Stix, pure funk, fast, track about smokin'. -Sticky Fingers, great track about Coolio's main hobby before rappin', stealin'. -I Remember, Coolio's soulful sentimental track about his ghetto childhood. Onto his next album, "Gangster's Paradise", containing the hit album titled hit, which imo, is one of the weaker cuts here, once again full of funky soulful samples and cuts, this is imo Coolio's best, a 10/10 album and easily one of the best out of '95, he speaks on the implications of drugs, alcohol, sex protection, relationships, respecting women, criminal lifestyle, and love. Yet the biggest hit became a gangster track, somewhat ironic. I'd Highly recommend a full listen through, I'll give a run down in order by tracks of what the album has to offer, some great tracks I won't youtube link for the sake of not having a Coolio overdose. -Geto Highlites, a soulful overview of the shortcomings and hardships of the ghetto and criminal lifestyles. -Gangster's Paradise, the song that ironically killed Coolio in the eyes of Hip-Hop heads, we all know it, samples the classic Steve Wonder original for the beat and hook. -Too Hot, funky track with a very nice piano in the background and a great hook, speaking on the importance of sexual protection, one of favorites off the album. -Cruisin', soulful song sampled the original Smokey Robinson love song, features a cool back and forth style in verses between Coolio and female rapper Malika, another one of my favorites. -Exercise Yo' Game, extremely funky gangsta track feature 40 Thevs, along with two extreme West-Coast legends, E-40 and Kam. -Sumpin' New (1, 2, 3, 4), my absolute favorite Coolio track, just a fun, party track, I'm posting the Timber Mix over the original because it's a easily superior version, the music video has to be Coolio's best. Who doesn't want to see Coolio ride a kid's tricycle in order to make it to a party. Once again, funky as ever. -Smilin', great sample of the Sly & The Family Stone classic, a love track focused on a woman who's got Coolio smilin'. -Kinda High Kinda Drunk, sampling Schoolly D's classic line for the hook, very nice story telling track on the implications of that one time Coolio got too high and drunk. -For My Sistas, a cut with an R&B feel speaking on respect for woman along with uplifting rhymes for the struggles of his sistas. -Is This Me?, another soulful song on Coolio and his struggle with the criminal decisions he's dealing with day to day he doesn't believe is really him yet the ghetto won't let him go. -A Thing Goin' On, a delightful rap version of the soul classic "Me and Mrs. Jones" -Bright As the Sun, a soulful track speaking on the heat of sun shining down on brothers in the ghetto, essentially the heat serves as a symbol for the reason people in the ghetto are making bad decisions. -The Revolution, the only track on this album I'd say isn't a classic, a more serious, dark, hardcore ghetto rap. -Get Up Get Down, a funky track sampling Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", a posse cut featuring a plethora of features, most notably West-Coast legends WC and Ras Kass. classic album. Next up is Coolio's great album, "My Soul', although not as strong as Gangster's Paradise, this is still a classic album easily, here are the best cuts and the ones worth listening: Alright ya'll it's getting late for me, I'll start off with "My Soul" at a later date, hopefully it gives ya'll a chance to listen what I've already posted and give me your opinion. I'd appreciate if you would. Try and listen to give me an honest opinion based on what you've actually heard. Peace and salute. __________________ Follow me on instagram @HipHopLand, #salute! Last edited by Micco; 01-11-2015 at 09:48 PM.

01-31-2015, 02:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Micco Karaoke Crooner Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 170	John he did two albums and some single for pornhub within' the last 4 years or so. Trouble is the music is trash, he tried to adapt and took the swag route. __________________ Follow me on instagram @HipHopLand, #salute!

02-01-2015, 09:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Micco Karaoke Crooner Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 170	Yea, PornHub paid him to make a song about their site "Take It To The Hub" lmao. __________________ Follow me on instagram @HipHopLand, #salute!

01-12-2015, 03:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~John Wilkes Booth~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2,235	cant say i'm a fan specifically... never looked into his albums tbh but his gangsta's paradise song was one of the first rap songs i actually liked as a kid. i was in 4th grade.

01-30-2015, 05:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~john_fan~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1	I wish he would put out some new music

02-11-2015, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
JimRay Groupie Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 14	I love the video for Fantasic Voyage