By Diana DasrathNBC
News
American rapper Coolio, known for hits like 'Fantastic Voyage' and 'Gangsta's Paradise', died on Wednesday at the age of 59, his manager announced late at night.
The news was first reported by the entertainment site TMZ.
The artist, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr.,
had a musical career that spanned more than three decades.
“As far as I know, he was at a friend's house and he was in his bathroom and
he had a heart attack
,” said his manager, Jarez Posey.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Coolio won a Grammy for "Gangsta's Paradise," which was released in 1995 and spent three weeks atop Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
The song was part of the soundtrack of the movie 'Dangerous Minds' (1995), starring Michelle Pfeiffer
Coolio was also known for hits like "Fantastic Voyage" and "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" and "CU When U Get There," among others.
The rapper, who grew up in California, has sold more than 17 million records, according to his website.
He also appeared in various television series and movies.
