USA: RAP ARTIST COOLIO IS OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM "MY SOUL" AND THE FIRST SINGLE "SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET THERE" IS ALREADY CLIMBING THE CHARTS

Record ID: 387126

  • Title: USA: RAP ARTIST COOLIO IS OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM "MY SOUL" AND THE FIRST SINGLE "SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET THERE" IS ALREADY CLIMBING THE CHARTS
  • Date: 16th July 1997
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 16) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) COOLIO (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING ABOUT PUTTING MESSAGES IN HIS MUSIC, "I TRY TO DO THAT A LOT, NOT JUST THIS SONG. I WILL GIVE YOU A MESSAGE, THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT. I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING AND HAVE THE
  • Embargoed: 31st July 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM lOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAAT56S6JRHZ6QXQ3I9FS6X46H4
  • Story Text: Two years after his hit release "Gangsta's Paradise" sold four million copies and won him a Grammy Award, rap artist Coolio is back with a new album and a new single featured on the soundtrack for the Tim Robbins film "Nothing to Lose." The new album is the musician's third and it's called "My Soul," while the first single from the album, and from the soundtrack, is "C U When U Get There." Using a choir, violins, and the two hundred and eighty year old music of Pachebel's Canon in D, the single combines both melancholy and optimism.

    Coolio doesn't shy away from putting messages in his music. In fact, the artist says anyone who has the opportunity to present himself to millions of people and have them listen would be foolish if he didn't give meaning to his music.

    The album "My Soul" is filled with trademark Coolio ruckus and signature Coolio concepts. The atmosphere ranges from bubbling to eerie to infectious, old-school beats. It's this mixture of styles that made "Gangsta's Paradise," along with his previous album, "It Takes a Thief," big hitswith both rap fans and pop and rock-lovers as well. In an age of animosity and downright violence between rap singers, Coolio is seen as one of the few rappers who's been able to garner mainstream success and critical acclaim and still get respect from the streets.

    Following his musical successes, Coolio branched out into business, opening his own talent management company called Crowbar. He also financed a Los Angeles-based hair salon called Whoop De Doo, where his own distinctive crown of dreadlocks became the most popular request among customers.

    But Coolio's life wasn't always so easy. Born 32 years ago as Artis Ivey in Compton, California, he grew up with an absent father and a drug-addicted mother. To get money for food, he turned to robbery and eventually breaking into houses. He was a member of gang for a brief time, did ten months prison time for a friend's larceny, and by 1985 had developed an addiction to crack cocaine.

    To help kick his habit, he moved to Northern California and fought forest fires. But he credits his ability to break the addiction to his faith in God.

    Coolio says he plans to start touring Europe in support of his new ablum in early August and then return to the United States for performance dates in September. He also hints that another musical act has approached him to tour with them. Although he claims this act has sold more records then Michael Jackson, he won't give any more specifics.
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