Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Most of Coolio's hit debut It Takes a Thief was fairly upbeat material, but the appearance of the stark single "Gangsta's Paradise" in the summer of 1995 signaled a change in the rapper's music. Driven by an ominously deep bassline and slashing strings, the creeping, threatening funk of "Gangsta's Paradise" was the most chilling thing Coolio had recorded to date, but the menace didn't come at the expense of his considerable talent for immediate, catchy hooks. Consequently, the single shot to the top of the charts and hovered in the Top Ten for many weeks. The album followed shortly afterwards, and it didn't fail to deliver on the promise of the single. Not only did Coolio expand his sound, but his songwriting skills improved, as Gangsta's Paradise has very few weak moments. Alternating between slow, funky grooves and elastic, party-ready anthems, Gangsta's Paradise is proof that Coolio is one of the most exciting and interesting hip-hop artists of the mid-'90s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Coolio, Producer, MainArtist - L.V., FeaturedArtist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
D. Davis, ComposerLyricist - J. Austin, ComposerLyricist - Wino, Mixer - Coolio, MainArtist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - C. Hamabe, ComposerLyricist - Christopher Hamabe, Producer - Devon Davis, Producer - Mark Nathan, Mixer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Larry Sanders, ComposerLyricist - Doug Rasheed, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Stevie Wonder, Composer - Coolio, MainArtist - L.V., FeaturedArtist - Artis Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Bob Morse, Mixer - G. BROWN, Composer - Coolio, MainArtist - B. Dobbs, Composer - A. Ivey Jr., Composer - Brain Dobbs, Producer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
M. Bradford, ComposerLyricist - D. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - W.ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - C. Hamabe, ComposerLyricist - Christopher Hamabe, Producer - Mark Nathan, Mixer - J. Tarplin, ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
J. Williams, ComposerLyricist - E. Stevens, ComposerLyricist - E-40, FeaturedArtist - Wino, Producer - Coolio, MainArtist - M. THOMPSON, ComposerLyricist - 40 Thevz, FeaturedArtist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Albee, Producer - H. Straughter, ComposerLyricist - M. Straughter, ComposerLyricist - Kam, FeaturedArtist - Paul Stewart, Producer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
D. Grusin, ComposerLyricist - P. Adams, ComposerLyricist - S. Bunch, ComposerLyricist - T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - A. Sear, ComposerLyricist - T.Browne, ComposerLyricist - S. Cooper, ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
J. Carter, ComposerLyricist - D. Aldridge, ComposerLyricist - S. Stewart, ComposerLyricist - ROB CHIARELLI, Mixer - Coolio, MainArtist - James Carter, Producer - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Dominic Aldridge, Producer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Coolio, Producer, MainArtist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
J. Carter, ComposerLyricist - D. Aldridge, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Dominic Aldridge, Producer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Oji Pierce, Producer - E. Isley, ComposerLyricist - O. Isley, ComposerLyricist - Bob Morse, Mixer - R. ISLEY., ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - O. Pierce, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - C. Jaspar, ComposerLyricist - Oji, Mixer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
ROB CHIARELLI, Mixer - Coolio, MainArtist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Deyon Davis, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Rated R, ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
C. Gilbert, ComposerLyricist - K. Gamble, ComposerLyricist - L. Huff, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - O. Pierce, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Oji Pierce, Mixer, ComposerLyricist - Bob Morse, Mixer - Coolio, MainArtist - O. Pierce, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Spoon, Producer - Coolio, MainArtist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
A. Butler, ComposerLyricist - G. Goldstein, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - B. Dobbs, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Brian Dobbs, Producer
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
W. Calhoun, ComposerLyricist - P. Jackson, ComposerLyricist - B. Maupin, ComposerLyricist - M. Bradford, ComposerLyricist - J. Austin, ComposerLyricist - Coolio, MainArtist - B. Dobbs, ComposerLyricist - H. Hancock, ComposerLyricist - A. Ivey Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mark Nathan, Mixer - H. Straughter, ComposerLyricist - M. Straughter, ComposerLyricist - Brian Dobbs, Producer - L. Petty, ComposerLyricist - W. Rooney, ComposerLyricist
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Album review
Most of Coolio's hit debut It Takes a Thief was fairly upbeat material, but the appearance of the stark single "Gangsta's Paradise" in the summer of 1995 signaled a change in the rapper's music. Driven by an ominously deep bassline and slashing strings, the creeping, threatening funk of "Gangsta's Paradise" was the most chilling thing Coolio had recorded to date, but the menace didn't come at the expense of his considerable talent for immediate, catchy hooks. Consequently, the single shot to the top of the charts and hovered in the Top Ten for many weeks. The album followed shortly afterwards, and it didn't fail to deliver on the promise of the single. Not only did Coolio expand his sound, but his songwriting skills improved, as Gangsta's Paradise has very few weak moments. Alternating between slow, funky grooves and elastic, party-ready anthems, Gangsta's Paradise is proof that Coolio is one of the most exciting and interesting hip-hop artists of the mid-'90s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:19
- Main artists: Coolio
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Tommy Boy Music, LLC
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC 2004 Tommy Boy Music, LLC
Distinctions:
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.