Gangsta's Paradise (album)

Last updated
Gangsta's Paradise
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise.jpg
Studio album by
Coolio
ReleasedNovember 7, 1995 (1995-11-07)
StudioEcho Sounds, Los Angeles, California and Studio 56, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length64:25
Label
Producer
  • Coolio
  • Christopher Hamabe
  • Devon Davis
  • Doug Rasheed
  • Bryan "The Wino" Dobbs
Coolio chronology
It Takes a Thief
(1994)		Gangsta's Paradise
(1995)		 My Soul
(1997)
Singles from Gangsta's Paradise
  1. "Gangsta's Paradise"
    Released: August 1, 1995
  2. "Too Hot"
    Released: October 31, 1995
  3. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"
    Released: February 20, 1996

Gangsta's Paradise is the second studio album by American rapper Coolio, released on November 7, 1995. [2] [3] It is Coolio's best-selling album, with over two million copies sold in the United States. The album produced three singles, which became hits: the title track (which was first used in the 1995 film Dangerous Minds , [4] released before Coolio's album), "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and "Too Hot".

Contents

Album information

Three songs were released as singles. "Gangsta's Paradise" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" reached number 5, and "Too Hot" peaked at number 24.

The album was nominated for a 1997 Grammy for Best Rap Album. The song "Gangsta's Paradise" won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Sumpin' New" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Cash Box (favorable) [6]
Christgau's Consumer Guide A− [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [9]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
NME 7/10 [12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Spin 8/10 [15]

Barry Walters of Spin magazine said, "Today's rappers aren't interested in sharing any knowledge with outsiders. Coolio is the great exception... the most stylistically broad mainstream rap album you'll probably hear all year. Even upon first listen, it sounds like a collection of hits." [15]

Entertainment Weekly ranked the album #4 on EW's Top 10 Albums of 1995, and said, "The level-headed street philosopher, preaching respect for black women, fatherly responsibility, and safe sex... continuing in the great tradition of Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder... Coolio and his crew make the ghetto seem not just a place of desolation, but of hope." [9] [16]

The Source magazine's Allen S. Gordon wrote, "The crazy braided one brings skilled and insightful lyrics that reach and relate to all levels of the Black experience... sets standards that corny lyrics and catchy loops can't compete with... Few artists can straddle the line between commercial and underground hip-hop." [14]

Musician said, "Coolio ties his music to a message that's as deep as the groove." [17]

Rap Pages gave the album 7 out of 10, and said, "Maybe because he rapped for a decade with no props, got yanked on record deals... this cool-ass homie from Compton has stayed grounded... Coolio rejoices in the only life he knows." [18]

NME gave the album 7 out of 10, and said, "Instead of playing the role of the Uzi-toting big-shot, he adopts a more reflective view of urban life in Los Angeles... In doing so, Coolio takes a deliberate step forward from last year's light-hearted debut." [12]

Track listing

#TitleProducer(s)Performer(s)Length
1"That's How It Is"Coolio
  • Coolio
  • Talkbox
1:00
2"Geto Highlites"
  • Christopher Hamabe
  • Devon Davis
  • Coolio
  • 40 Thevz (backing vocals)
4:59
3"Gangsta's Paradise"
  • Doug Rasheed
  • Danger Jay
  • Coolio
  • L.V.
  • Trinna Simmons (backing)
4:00
4"Too Hot"Bryan Wino Dobbs
3:40
5"Cruisin'"
  • Christopher Hamabe
  • Devon Davis
  • Coolio
  • Malika
  • Shaunna D. (backing)
4:34
6"Exercise Yo Game"
  • Jay Williams
  • Maurice Thompson
4:49
7"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"
  • James Carter
  • Poison Ivey
Coolio3:33
8"Smilin'"
  • Dominic Aldridge
  • James Carter
  • Reece Carter (co-producer)
  • Coolio
  • Baby G (backing)
4:07
9"Fucc Coolio"CoolioCoolio0:50
10"Kinda High Kinda Drunk"
  • Dominic Aldridge
  • James Carter
  • Danny Taylor (co-producer)
Coolio3:44
11"For My Sistas"Oji Pierce
  • Coolio
  • Lashann Dendy
4:26
12"Is This Me?"
  • Devon Davis
  • Roblow for Crimelab Production
  • Coolio
  • L.V.
  • Rated R
4:23
13"A Thing Goin' On"Oji Pierce
  • Coolio
  • Jeremy Monroe
4:45
14"Bright As the Sun"Oji Pierce
  • Coolio
  • Will Wheaton
4:47
15"Recoup This"Spoon
  • Coolio
  • Capucine Jackson (backing)
  • P.S. (backing)
1:21
16"The Revolution"Bryan Wino DobbsCoolio3:48
17"Get Up, Get Down"Bryan Wino Dobbs
5:32

Samples and interpolations

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [42] Gold35,000^
Belgium (BEA) [43] Gold25,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [44] Platinum100,000^
France (SNEP) [45] 2× Gold200,000*
Germany (BVMI) [46] Gold250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [47] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [48] Platinum15,000^
Sweden (GLF) [49] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [50] 2× Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [51] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [52] 2× Platinum2,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide—5,000,000 [53]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ "Coolio :: Gangsta's Paradise :: Tommy Boy/Warner Bros". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16. The production throughout "Gangsta's Paradise" is excellent, capturing a pleasant, upbeat g-funk sound.
  2. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-Hop. p.  81. ISBN   0-87930-759-5.
  3. ↑ "Coolio: Do what you gotta do in order to survive. That's the way Amerikkka has taught you". MTV . November 13, 1996. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Dangerous Minds at IMDb
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio". AllMusic . Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  6. ↑ Robertson IV, Gil L. (December 23, 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box . p. 11. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857125958.
  9. 1 2 Browne, David (November 10, 1995). "Gangsta's Paradise". Entertainment Weekly . p. 62. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  10. ↑ Coker, Cheo (November 11, 1995). "** Coolio, "Gangsta's Paradise," Tommy Boy". Los Angeles Times . ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  11. ↑ Ashon, Will (December 1995). "Coolio: Gangster's Paradise" (PDF). Muzik . No. 7. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise". NME . 1995-11-04. p. 49. ...Instead of playing the role of the Uzi-toting big-shot, he adopts a more reflective view of urban life in Los Angeles....In doing so, Coolio takes a deliberate step forward from last year's light-hearted debut...
  13. ↑ Harris, Keith (2004). "Coolio". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780743201698.
  14. 1 2 Gordon, Allen S. (February 1996). "Record Report: Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". The Source . No. 77. pp. 87–88.
  15. 1 2 Walters, Barry (January 1996). "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise". Spin . SPIN Media LLC. p. 82. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
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  53. ↑ "Coolio, rapper whose hit Gangsta's Paradise was the first hip-hop song to sell a million copies in Britain – obituary". The Telegraph. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
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