Straight out of Compton no more!

Do you remember Coolio? The rapper with the mini dreads who rose to fame in the mid 1990s with Gangstas Paradise? (Yeah, I could never forget that Michelle Pfeiffer music video either.) Coolio songs bring back so many great memories from high school (Fantastic Voyage is still one of my faves), so I have to sometimes ask myself if there is more to him than just Coolio songs.

Well, indeed there is. Did you know that Coolio is the proud owner of a web based cooking show and book entitled Cookin With Coolio? Did you also know that Coolio is quite the prolific music producer and actor, with roles that include Futurama, The Nanny, and even Muppets Tonight? Well now you know. And the reason I know is because of the genius of the Coolio wiki, which has everything you never knew you wanted to know about West Coast Coolio rapper (and Coolio albums, Coolio movie, and, of course, Coolio songs).

Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in 1963 (no, Coolio was not his birth given name), Coolio is also known for more than just his music. In fact, he is quite the philanthropist, too.
He participates on game shows for charity dollars, is a spokesperson for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change committee, as well as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

In addition to being a bard and writer, Coolio certainly has a well rounded resume. Do you know any other Coolio facts that I have neglected to mention? If so, share your comments below!