Gangsta's Paradise (album)

Gangsta's Paradise
Studio album by Coolio
Released	November 21, 1995[1]
Recorded	1994-1995, at Echo Sounds, Los Angeles, California and Studio 56, Hollywood, California
Genre	West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, G-funk
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 8, 1995 "Too Hot" Released: August 8, 1995 "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" Released: February 20, 1996

Gangsta's Paradise is the second studio album by rapper Coolio, released on November 21, 1995. It is Coolio's best-selling album, with over three million copies sold in the United States. The album produced three singles, which became hits: the title track (which was first used in the film Dangerous Minds,^[2] released that same year before Coolio's album), "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", and "Too Hot".

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	[3]
Robert Christgau	A−[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[5]
Spin	8/10[6]
NME	7/10[7]
The Source	[8]

Spin gave the album 8 out of 10, and 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."^[9]

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."^[10][11]

The Source gave the album 4 Mics out of 5, and said, "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."^[12]

Musician said, "Coolio ties his music to a message that's as deep as the groove."^[13]

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."^[14]

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."^[15]

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 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, LV, 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 Dobbs	Coolio	3:48
17	"Get Up, Get Down"	Bryan 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" is a cover 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.
• "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 and certifications

Charts

Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 12 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] 4 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 28 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 14 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[20] 9 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 11 French Albums (SNEP)[22] 38 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] 6 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[24] 5 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[25] 24 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 16 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 2 UK Albums (OCC)[27] 18 US Billboard 200[28] 9 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] 14

Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Canada[30] Platinum 100,000 Germany[31] Gold 250,000 Netherlands[32] Gold 40,000 Sweden[33] Gold 10,000 United Kingdom[34] Gold 300,000 United States[35] 2× Platinum 2,000,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

1. All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-Hop. 2003. p. 81. ISBN 0-87930-759-5.
2. Dangerous Minds at IMDb
3. AllMusic review
4. Robert Christgau review
5. "Gangsta's Paradise". EW.com. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
6. Spin (12/95, p.82) - 8 (out of 10) - "...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..."
7. NME (Magazine) (11/4/95, p.49) - 7 (out of 10) - "...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..."
8. The Source (2/96, pp.87-88) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...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..."
9. 12/95, p.82
10. 12/29/95-1/5/96, p.132
11. 11/10/95, p.62
12. 2/96, pp.87-88
13. 2/96, p.94
14. 12/95, p.30
15. 11/4/95, p.49
16. "Australiancharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
17. "Austriancharts.at – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in German). Hung Medien.
18. "Ultratop.be – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
19. "Ultratop.be – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in French). Hung Medien.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
21. "Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
22. "Lescharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
23. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
24. "Charts.org.nz – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise". Hung Medien.
27. "Coolio | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
28. "Coolio – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Coolio.
29. "Coolio – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Coolio.
30. Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
31. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Gangsta%27s+Paradise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
32. Dutch certifications nvpi.nl (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
33. Swedish certifications "Ifpi.se". (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
34. United Kingdom certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
35. United States certifications riaa.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)