For the last five days of October, I’m remembering music artists that died in 2022 by celebrating their music and legacy.
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (Coolio): Aug 1, 1963 – Sep 28, 2022
The very reasons why people love hip hop and gangsta rap are the same reasons why I’m not crazy about these genres. Many of their most well-known tracks rely on samples from existing tracks for their riffs – and even for their melodies and lyrics. I just prefer originality when it comes to these core music elements. But I understand the significance of a samples-heavy approach. It’s a reminder that the artists themselves are fans just like us. Samples also serve as an ode to the past and to key musical influences. And if you’re going to sample someone else’s music, you may as well use the best, like Coolio did in “Gangsta’s Paradise”.
Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life is a great listen. But I have to admit, I heard “Gangsta’s Paradise” before I even knew about “Pastime Paradise”. Hearing the songs in this order allowed me to appreciate the latter that much more. Coolio had the groove and his finger on the pulse of the new reality. But Stevie had the vision and musical creativity, being one of the first to use a synthesizer to create string sounds. “Gangsta’s Paradise” made the groove and rhythm more palatable for everyone – from black kids in the hood to white suburban kids to parody kingpin “Weird Al” Yankovic. “Gangsta’s Paradise” is that rare track that is both a cultural statement and a cultural phenomenon.
“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left.”