Coolio‘s death on Wednesday at age 59 was a shock to his fans across the world. The rapper born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was found dead on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house, with an official cause of death still pending at press time.
His untimely passing elicited an upswell of sympathy and condolences from friends, fans and fellow rappers, who praised the artist known for his trademark upturned braids and signature 1995 Billboard Hot 100 smash “Gangsta’s Paradise.”
The single spent three weeks atop the list in 1995 and finished as the year-end No. 1 song on the Hot 100. It also ruled the Hot Rap Songs list for 11 consecutive weeks and would go on to win the Billboard Music Award for single of the year, as well as a Grammy for best rap solo performance. In 2021, “Gangsta’s Paradise” ranked among the 100 Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs.
But it didn’t just become a karaoke and radio staple; it also inspired dozens of other acts to try their hand at covering the dark, soulful tune that snipped the hook from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song “Pastime Paradise.” The track, featured in the Michelle Pfeiffer inner-city school drama Dangerous Minds, would sell more than 3 million copies in the U.S and famously inspire a spoof by “Weird Al” Yankovic called “Amish Paradise.”
Al wasn’t the only one who couldn’t resist the song’s siren pull, though. It has also drawn in dozens of other acts to take their own unique swings on the single. From Italian glam rockers Måneskin‘s funky bilingual take to YouTube pop singer Kina Grannis’ acoustic ramble, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox ragtime rip, Falling in Reverse’s punishing punk homage and a classical guitar version from Luca Stricagnoli.
Oh, and who could forget Johnny Aloha’s slack key Hawaiian guitar version and Brittany Snow’s not-quite-pitch-perfect attempt on Ellen? Check out nine inventive covers of “Gangsta’s Paradise” below.
