Coolio’s first hit single was Fantastic Voyage from their debut album It Takes a Thief (1994). Tommy Boy Records expected the American rapper to continue in the same vein, but Artis Leon Ivey Jr. surprised them with Gangsta’s Paradise. The track was so different from Coolio’s previous work that the label’s representatives were even afraid of the backlash from loyal fans.
Their fears once again confirmed that the most seasoned producers are not always able to recognize a musical masterpiece. Gangsta’s Paradise topped the charts in a dozen countries, won several prestigious awards and sold around six million copies. She made Coolio one of the leading rappers and forever changed the history of hip-hop.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Gangsta’s Paradise Coolio
The track was born thanks to the joint efforts of producer Doug Rashid, musician Larry Sanders and Coolio. The song is based on a sample from Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and is also credited as a co-writer.
Let’s listen to the authors’ memories of the history of the song Gangsta’s Paradise:
Doug Rasheed: I was renting a place with Paul Stewart, Coolio’s manager… Paul was a DJ. He had a record collection and I had a record collection. We often compared who could extract the coolest sample from them. One day I picked up Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” because it’s one of my favorite albums. I cut a sample from “Pastime Paradise” and Paul was like, “Wow, that’s cool!”
Rolling stone
Doug invited Larry Sanders, better known as LV, to work on the track.
Larry Sanders: I came in singing Pastime Paradise, but then I changed it to Gangsta’s Paradise. I sang all the vocals, including the chorus and chorus. All the chorus you hear is me, really. I recorded all the parts from soprano to tenor and bass. Doug and I were thinking, “Listen, who can be called to rap in a song?” I invited my homie Prodeje from the South Central Cartel, but he said, “Dude, you need to do it yourself!” I said, “No, I need a rapper!” Prodeje didn’t take on the song and that’s when I thought of Coolio.
Rolling stone
Coolio agreed to sing the track without hesitation, but first he had to write the lyrics for Gangsta’s Paradise.
Coolio: I sat down and started writing. When I listened to the bass line, the chorus melody and the break, my mind just opened up. “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/I take a look at my life and I see there’s nothing left” – I freestyle read these words. They seemed to escape from my head, and I just wrote them down. I thought for a minute and then wrote the rest of the song non-stop, from the first to the third verse. You know, I want to believe that it was an insight from above. Gangsta’s Paradise” wanted to be born. She wanted to come into this world, and she chose me as her vessel.
Rolling stone
A demo version of the song was sent by Paul Stewart to several film studios. The producers of the comedy action movie “Bad Boys” laid eyes on her, but the parties did not agree on a price. As a result, Gangsta’s Paradise was included in the soundtrack of the film “Dangerous Minds» (Dangerous Minds) starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
When the song was recorded and the thriller was ready for release, there were still difficulties with Stevie Wonder.
Coolio: When Stevie heard it, he said, “No way. I won’t let my song be used in some gangster track.” It was a problem. But it so happened that my wife knew Stevie’s brother… She called him, arranged a meeting with Stevie and convinced him. He only made a condition that I should remove the swear words… I didn’t know that his other condition was 95% publishing rights! If I knew this, I might not agree…
In August 1995, the composition was released as a single from the Coolio album of the same name. The track climbed to the first lines of the charts in the US, UK, Australia and many other countries.
The further history of the song Gangsta’s Paradise is full of impressive achievements, prestigious awards and flattering reviews. She is featured on several well-known charts, including Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time and VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of All Time. Coolio was awarded the Grammy for Best Rap Artist.
Clip Gangsta’s Paradise Coolio
The Gangsta’s Paradise video was filmed at the urging of Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of Dangerous Minds. He convinced Michelle Pfeiffer to star in the video. The video was directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Coolio: At first I wasn’t really happy with Antoine Fuqua’s concept because I wanted to see lowriders and shit in the video… Thank God he was more insightful. I did not fully understand his vision, but I trusted him.
Rolling stone
Let’s watch the music video of Gangsta’s Paradise Coolio, which won two MTV Video Music Awards.
At the 1995 Billboard Music Awards, Stevie Wonder sang Gangsta’s Paradise with Coolio.
Interesting Facts
- In Australia, Gangsta’s Paradise topped the charts for thirteen weeks. The record stood for twenty-two years until it was broken by Ed Sheeran with Shape of You (2017).
- It was the first hardcore rap track to reach number one in the UK.
Gangsta’s Paradise Lyrics coolio
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there’s none left
‘Cause I’ve been blasting and laughing so long that
Even my mamma thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain’t never crossed a man that didn’t deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know that’s unheard of
You better watch how you talk and where you walk
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke
Fool, I’m the kinda G that little homies want to be like
On my knees in the night, saying prayers in the street light
chorus:
Been spending most of their lives
Living in the gangsta’s paradise
Been spending most of their lives
Living in the gangsta’s paradise
We keep spending most of our lives
Living in the gangsta’s paradise
We keep spending most of our lives
Living in the gangsta’s paradise
They got the situation, they got me facing
I can’t live a normal life, I was raised by the strip
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watching got me chasing dreams
I’m a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I’m a loc’d out gangsta, set trippin banger
And my homies is down so gonna rouse my anger fool
Death aint nothing but a heart beat away
I’m living life do or die, what can I say
I’m twenty three never will I live to see 24
The way things are going I don’t know
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me
Chorus
Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody’s running, but half of them ain’t looking
It’s going on in the kitchen, but I don’t know what’s cooking
They say I’ve got to learn but nobody’s here to teach me
If they can’t understand it, how can they reach me
I guess they can’t
I guess they won’t
I guess they front
That’s why I know my life is out of luck fool
Chorus
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me x2
Gangsta’s Paradise Lyrics coolio
Walking through the valley of death’s shadow,
I look back at my life and realize there’s nothing left
After all, I’ve been dressing up and laughing for so long that
Even my mom thinks I’m crazy
But I never crossed the path of someone who didn’t deserve it.
Treat me like a bum, you know, that’s unheard of
Better watch what you say and where you go
Or you and your buddies might get chalked
I hate to roam around, but I have to keep an eye on the area
When they give up, I see myself in the smoke from the barrel
Idiot, I’m that gangster that youngsters want to be like
And at night I’m on my knees and I pray in the light of the lanterns
Chorus:
They are almost all their lives
Spend in a paradise for gangsters
They are almost all their lives
Carrying out in paradise for gangsters
We remain almost all our lives
We spend in paradise for gangsters
We remain almost all our lives
We spend in paradise for gangsters
They have everything under control, they leave me no choice
I can’t live normally, I was raised by the street
That’s why I belong among the guys in hoods
I watched too much TV, which made me chase my dreams
I’m an educated fool with only money on my mind
I have a barrel in my hand, and a sparkle in my eyes
I’m a local gangster, fighting for my own
And my homies are around, so don’t piss me off, moron
Death is nothing more than a lost heartbeat
I don’t give up until the very end, what more can I say
I’m twenty-three and I don’t think I’ll live to be twenty-four
I don’t know what’s next
Tell me why we’re so blind that we don’t understand
The only ones we hurt are you and me
Chorus
Power and money, money and power
Minute by minute, hour by hour
Everyone is running somewhere, but half does not look around
Something is going on in the kitchen, but I don’t know what’s being cooked there.
They say I should learn but no one here teaches me
If they don’t get it, how will they get through to me?
I don’t think they can
I don’t think they want
I think they’re against me
That’s why I know I’m out of luck in my life, fool
Chorus
Tell me why we’re so blind that we don’t understand
The only ones we hurt are you and me – 2x
Song Quotes
When Coolio wrote the lyrics, I was like, “Wow, man, that’s deep!” – after all, he was talking about exactly what I sang.
LV, Rolling Stone
I don’t think Michelle Pfeiffer has ever been around so many black people in her life.
Coolio, Rolling Stone
