Authorities Tried for 45 Minutes to Resurrect Rapper Coolio, Dead at 59

The Los Angeles Fire Department has released further details regarding the rapper’s final moments in the wake of his passing on Wednesday.

 

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., also known as Coolio, passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 59.

 

Jarez, his longtime manager, confirmed the information to TMZ.

 

Jarez stated to the publication that although no official conclusion had been made, paramedics believed cardiac arrest to be the cause of death.

 

The LAFD verified in a statement to ET that at 4:00 p.m. a group of firefighters and paramedics arrived at the 2900 block of South Chesapeake Avenue. PT after hearing about a medical emergency. With consultation from the Base Hospital Physician, the patient was declared dead just before 5:00 p.m. PT. LAFD cleared the scene, which was left under LAPD supervision while waiting for the coroner. “LAFD arrived four minutes after dispatch to find a roughly 60-year-old male unresponsive. They performed resuscitation efforts for approximately 45 minutes, per protocol.

 

Upon arriving at the L.A. Coolio, who was a part of the 1980s rap culture, shot to popularity in 1995 when he cut “Gangsta’s Paradise” for the movie Dangerous Minds. The rapper won a GRAMMY for the song.

 

Numerous celebrities used social media to reminisce on Coolio’s life and career after learning of his passing.

 

Ice Cube expressed his sadness over the news on Twitter.

 

I saw this man’s struggle to rise to the pinnacle of his profession firsthand; may he rest in peace.

 

In an interview with ET on Wednesday night, John Legend described the news of Coolio’s passing as “very terrible.”

 

Legend told ET, “We are losing folks at too young of an age.”

 

“Coolio made some beautiful tunes; he was unfortunately taken from us too young. It was a soundtrack of our lives.

 

In the video below, learn more about the rapper’s life and legacy.