Gangsta's Paradise

by Coolio

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	09/26/2020
Label:	Tommy Boy
UPC:	0016998513217
Rank:	18941

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Coolio   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals
L.V.   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
E-40   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Kam   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
40 Thevz   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Tom Browne   Primary Artist
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
The Evasions   Primary Artist
Ras Kass   Guest Artist,Vocals
WC   Guest Artist,Vocals
Shorty   Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocals
James "J.T." Taylor   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Stan Jones   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (10 String)
Andrew Gouche   Bass
Baby G.   Vocals (Background)
Charles Anderson   Bass
James Taylor   Vocals (Background)
Lek Ratt   Vocals
Darrell Crooks   Guitar
Wil Wheaton   Vocals (Background)
Jeremy Monroe   Vocals
Eric Park   Guitar
Chris Fletcher   Guitar
Rated R   Vocals
Brian James   Guitar
Malika   Vocals,Vocals
Will Wheaton   Vocals (Background)
Roy "Dog" Pennon   Bass,Keyboards
Eric "Funkyworm" Park   Guitar
Shaunna D.   Vocals (Background)
Christopher Hamabe   Keyboards
Trinna Simmons   Vocals (Background)
Charlie Anderson   Bass
Larry Sanders   Vocals (Background)
Devon Davis   Keyboards
Troy Mason   Vocals
Lashanna Dendy   Vocals (Background)
Charles "Chopper" Anderson   Bass
Frank Cannon   Keyboards
W.C.   Vocals
Malika Ubaka   Vocals
P.S. Pookie   Vocals
Leek Ratt   Vocals
Capucine Jackson   Vocals

Technical Credits

Sekou Bunch   Composer
Patrick Adams   Composer
Paul Jackson   Composer
Bob Morse   Mixing,Engineer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
James Carter   Composer,Producer
Joey Gardner   Remixing,Remix Engineer
Cary Gilbert   Composer
Jay Williams   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Gil Goldstein   Composer
Ernie Isley   Composer
Rob Chiarelli   Mixing
Ronald Isley   Composer
Jerry Goldstein   Composer
Rated R   Composer
Oji Pierce   Mixing,Composer,Producer
O'Kelly Isley   Composer
40 Thevz   Performer
Artis Ivey, Jr.   Composer,Lyricist
Tom Browne   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer,Lyricist
DJ Romeo   Musician,Instrumentation
Toni Smith   Composer
Dave Grusin   Composer
Patrick MacDougall   Engineer
Sylvester Stewart   Composer
Chris Jasper   Composer
Coolio   Composer,Producer
Larry Sanders   Composer,Lyricist,Composer,Lyricist
Bennie Maupin   Composer
John Austin   Composer
Wallace Roney   Composer
Leon Huff   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Mark Nathan   Mixing,Engineer
Schoolly D   Composer
Peter Reardon   Engineer
Marvin Tarplin   Composer
Artie Butler   Composer
Kevin Davis   Mixing
Brian Dobbs   Composer,Producer
Danny Taylor   Producer
Herbie Hancock   Composer
Earl Stevens   Composer
Andy Ivey   Composer
Melvin Bradford   Composer
Christopher Hamabe   Composer,Producer,Programming
Poison Ivey   Producer
Sandra Cooper   Composer
Speedy Dee   Composer
A. Butler   Composer
Jammin' James Carter   Composer,Producer
William Calhoun   Composer
Dominic Aldridge   Composer,Producer
Dobbs the Wino   Producer
Paul Stewart   Producer
Devon Davis   Composer,Producer,Programming
Maurice Thompson   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Wino   Mixing,Producer
Albee   Producer
Reece Carter   Producer
Maurice "Dj Moe" Thompson   Producer
Jammin' James   Instrumentation
Jay Jay Supreme Williams   Producer
Adrian Sear   Composer
George "Funky" Brown   Composer,Lyricist
Doug Rasheed   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
William Calhoun, Jr.   Composer
Malieek W. Straughter   Composer
Bryan Dobbs   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Douglas B. Rasheed   Composer
Oji   Mixing
John R. Austin   Composer
Henry Straughter   Composer
Marika Bradford   Composer
Spoon   Producer
Deyon Davis   Composer,Producer
Letice Petty   Composer