Gangsta's Paradise (album)

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".

Gangsta's Paradise
Studio album by Coolio
Released	November 7, 1995 (1995-11-07)
Studio	Echo Sounds, Los Angeles, California and Studio 56, Hollywood, California
Genre	West Coast hip hop gangsta rap G-funk[1]
Length	64:25
Label	Tommy Boy Warner Bros.
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
"Gangsta's Paradise" Released: August 1, 1995 "Too Hot" Released: October 31, 1995 "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" Released: February 20, 1996

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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Cash Box	(favorable)[6]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	A−[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[8]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[9]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
Muzik	[11]
NME	7/10[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[13]
The Source	[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

#	Title	Producer(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	Coolio J.T. Taylor	3:40
5	"Cruisin'"	Christopher Hamabe Devon Davis	Coolio Malika Shaunna D. (backing)	4:34
6	"Exercise Yo Game"	Jay Williams Maurice Thompson	40 Thevz Coolio E-40 Kam	4:49
7	"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)"	James Carter Poison Ivey	Coolio	3:33
8	"Smilin'"	Dominic Aldridge James Carter Reece Carter (co-producer)	Coolio Baby G (backing)	4:07
9	"Fucc Coolio"	Coolio	Coolio	0:50
10	"Kinda High Kinda Drunk"	Dominic Aldridge James Carter Danny Taylor (co-producer)	Coolio	3:44
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 Dobbs	Coolio	3:48
17	"Get Up, Get Down"	Bryan Wino Dobbs	Coolio Malika Shorty Leek Ratt P.S. WC Ras Kass	5:32

Samples and interpolations

• "Geto Highlites" contains a sample of "Groove With You", originally performed by The Isley Brothers. The intro of the song contains interpolations of the lines "What you gonna play now?" from "Make It Funky", originally performed by James Brown, and "Get on up" from "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine", also originally performed by James Brown.
• "Gangsta's Paradise" contains an interpolation of "Pastime Paradise", originally performed by Stevie Wonder, and the first line of the song is taken from Psalm 23.
• "Too Hot" contains an interpolation of "Too Hot", originally performed by Kool & The Gang.
• "Cruisin'" contains an interpolation of "Cruisin'", originally performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
• "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" contains samples of "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips More)", originally performed by Tom Browne, and "Wikka Wrap", originally performed by The Evasions.
• "Smilin'" contains an interpolation of "You Caught Me Smiling", originally performed by Sly & The Family Stone.
• "Kinda High, Kinda Drunk" contains interpolations of "Saturday Night" and "The Boyz in Da Hood"
• "For My Sistas" contains an interpolation of "Make Me Say It Again Girl", originally performed by The Isley Brothers.
• "A Thing Goin' On" contains an interpolation of "Me and Mrs. Jones", originally performed by Billy Paul.
• "The Revolution" contains an interpolation of "Magic Night".
• "Get Up, Get Down" contains an interpolation of "Chameleon", originally performed by Herbie Hancock.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–96) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 12 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[20] 4 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 28 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 14 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[23] 17 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] 9 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 11 French Albums (SNEP)[26] 38 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27] 6 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[28] 5 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[29] 24 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 16 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 2 UK R&B (UK R&B Singles and Albums Charts)[32] 3 UK Albums (OCC)[33] 18 US Billboard 200[34] 9 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[35] 14

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[36] 41 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[37] 52 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 45 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 21 US Billboard 200[40] 20 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[41] 42

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42]	Gold	35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[43]	Gold	25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[44]	Platinum	100,000^
France (SNEP)[45]	2× Gold	200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[46]	Gold	250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[47]	Gold	50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48]	Platinum	15,000^
Sweden (GLF)[49]	Gold	50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[50]	2× Platinum	100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[52]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide	—	5,000,000[53]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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.
7. Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 9780312245603.
8. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958.
9. 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. "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. Gordon, Allen S. (February 1996). "Record Report: Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". The Source. No. 77. pp. 87–88.
15. Walters, Barry (January 1996). "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise". Spin. SPIN Media LLC. p. 82. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
16. "1995 The Best & Worst". Entertainment Weekly. No. 307–308. December 29, 1995 – January 5, 1996. p. 130.
17. "Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Musician. February 1996. p. 94.
18. "Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Rap Pages. Los Angeles. December 1995. p. 30.
19. "Australiancharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
20. "Austriancharts.at – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in German). Hung Medien.
21. "Ultratop.be – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
22. "Ultratop.be – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in French). Hung Medien.
23. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1794". RPM. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
25. "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
26. "Lescharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
28. "Charts.nz – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
29. "Norwegiancharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
30. "Swedishcharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
31. "Swisscharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
32. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
33. "Coolio | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
34. "Coolio Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
35. "Coolio Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
36. "Jahreshitparade Alben 1996". austriancharts.at. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
37. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
38. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
39. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996". hitparade.ch. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
40. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
41. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
42. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
43. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
44. "Canadian album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta Paradise". Music Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
45. "French album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta Paradise" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
46. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Coolio; 'Gangsta Paradise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
47. "Dutch album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 29, 2019. Enter Gangsta's Paradise in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1996 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
48. "New Zealand album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
49. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
50. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Gangsta's Paradise')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
51. "British album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
52. "American album certifications – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
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.