New England Patriots

Patriots pay tribute to Coolio by opening practice with ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’

The late rapper released the hit song in 1995, the year Kendrick Bourne and Raekwon McMillan were born.

Coolio performs during the "I Love The 90's" tour on Aug. 7, 2022, at RiverEdge Park in Aurora, Illinois. Rob Grabowski / Invision / AP, File

By Khari A. Thompson

1 minute to read

The Patriots paid tribute to the late rapper Coolio by opening Thursday’s practice with his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise.”

Coolio, whose birth name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at age 59 on Wednesday. His manager, Jarez Posey, told NBC News that Coolio had a heart attack at a friend’s house and was found in the bathroom.

Coolio won a Grammy for Gangsta’s Paradise, which was featured on the soundtrack for the 1996 movie Dangerous Minds. The song spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, according to The New York Times.

Gangsta’s Paradise is Coolio’s biggest hit, but people around the age of most of the Patriots players may also recognize his voice from “Aw Here It Goes” the theme song for the Nickelodeon show Keenan and Kel.

Advertisement:

Several Patriots were born in 1995, including wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

Profile image for Khari A. Thompson

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com