-
Play on Mog
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Rdio
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Hype Machine
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
About This Track
Gangsta’s Paradise is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V. from the movie Dangerous Minds (1995) (starring Michelle Pfeiffer). The song was later released on the albums Gangsta’s Paradise and Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album. The song was voted as the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.
It sampled the chorus and music of the song “Pastime Paradise” by Stevie Wonder (1976).
The song was also listed at #69 on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All-Time.
In 2008, it was ranked number 38 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Following Coolio’s appearance in the UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009 Gangsta’s Paradise re-entered the UK singles chart peaking at #31.
L.V. released a solo version of the single in 1996 on his debut album, I Am L.V… This version did not feature Coolio, and featured additional lyrics written by L.V. himself. The single did not repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio.
The music is a reworking of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”, a song from his album Songs in the Key of Life. “Gangsta’s Paradise” uses the same tune, and a different orchestration of the same backing music. Coolio changed the lyrics to be more relevant to life on the streets.
The song begins with a line from Psalm 23:4 from the Bible: As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but then diverges with: I take a look at my life / And realize there’s nothin’ left. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background.
It sampled the chorus and music of the song “Pastime Paradise” by Stevie Wonder (1976).
The song was also listed at #69 on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All-Time.
In 2008, it was ranked number 38 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Following Coolio’s appearance in the UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009 Gangsta’s Paradise re-entered the UK singles chart peaking at #31.
L.V. released a solo version of the single in 1996 on his debut album, I Am L.V… This version did not feature Coolio, and featured additional lyrics written by L.V. himself. The single did not repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio.
The music is a reworking of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”, a song from his album Songs in the Key of Life. “Gangsta’s Paradise” uses the same tune, and a different orchestration of the same backing music. Coolio changed the lyrics to be more relevant to life on the streets.
The song begins with a line from Psalm 23:4 from the Bible: As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but then diverges with: I take a look at my life / And realize there’s nothin’ left. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background.
Send ‘Gangsta's Paradise’ Ringtone to Cell Similar Music
Play Coolio RadioWith: Warren G, Luniz, Naughty By Nature, Daz Dillinger and more…
People who listen to this also like
| Track | Duration | Listeners | ||
|
|
Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day | 4:20 | 509,228 | |
|
|
Coolio - Too Hot | 4:05 | 17,758 | |
|
|
2Pac - Changes | 4:34 | 225,501 | |
|
|
Luniz - I Got 5 on It | 4:13 | 164,040 | |
|
|
Eminem - Lose Yourself | 4:25 | 558,523 | |
|
|
50 Cent - In Da Club | 2:34 | 642,281 |
Albums featuring this track
-
Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.)
Coolio
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Hip Hop The Collection 2009
Diverse Artister Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Fantastic Voyage: The Greatest Hits
Coolio Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
The Very Best
Coolio Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $84.30
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
alehnooo wrote:
super!!!!!!!!
-
cherokeegrl wrote:
I love this song
-
hotwaffles wrote:
I feel guilty for knowing the Weird Al version more than this
-
shezz22 wrote:
good song and movie
-
Pezrawr wrote:
Why does the video to this song make me cringe?
-
sammpimp wrote:
yeah its aight brings u back n time.
-
beastinmitch21 wrote:
its the shit
-
uisge5 wrote:
My neice was a bit upset when someone had sampled this song. I opened her eyes when I told her that this is taken from the Stevie Wonder classic Passtime Paradise. Check it!
-
retrowens wrote:
Bad ass song from the time when I was half the age I am now
-
straw4uberry wrote:
sounds like C-lo
-
rumor wrote:
I'm 23 now but will I live to see 24? The way things are going, I don't know. ♥
-
jbbassomatic wrote:
Tell me why are we so blind to see that the one's we hurt are you and me?
-
BigPolaka wrote:
это можно даже философией назвать
-
BigPolaka wrote:
красивая песня и слова жизненные и правильные. cooolio respect
-
Shallon-Hughes wrote:
powerful song. I love it !
-
Dakota3131 wrote:
it gives me goosebumps :: D
-
redtrish wrote:
Damn I remember this song when I was a teenager
-
dannygrl wrote:
makes me think of the movie "dangerous minds". Love this song
-
jomabbs wrote:
Don't arous my anger..........................Foooooool
-
Impaled_ wrote:
Absolutely classic.
Track Stats
1,802,331 Scrobbles
428,232 Listeners
Recent Listening Trend
Listening Now
-
wakenbake840
Scrobbling now from Xbox LIVE (Wakenbake840’s Library Radio)Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
Top Listeners
-
jkenny12
Top Listener
-
Flux242
Top Listener
-
martsssss
Top Listener
-
raptormitch
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
mattyp1985, xXnavajoXx23, reapingrim32 and 42 other people loved Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise. 1 hour ago
-
sherbearz1 added Gangsta's Paradise to sherbearz1’s library. Thursday evening
-
sherbearz1 added Gangsta's Paradise to the playlist. Thursday evening
-
LoneWolf6969, NassEmirates, d_law80 and 2 other people loved Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise. Thursday evening
-
shakirajade18 added Gangsta's Paradise to shakirajade18’s library. Thursday morning
-
shakirajade18 added Gangsta's Paradise to the playlist my collections. Thursday morning
-
JustbeingCRAZY, LULU2K12, nbenitez4 and 31 other people loved Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise. Thursday morning
-
mateodavis added Gangsta's Paradise to mateodavis’s library. Wednesday morning
-
bboof, lmfao321, ttvv12 and 8 other people loved Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise. Wednesday morning
Related Journals
-
Het is gewoon TOO MUCH! (deel 3)
by SnaderC |
13 Oct 2011
| 2 comments
-
Topic - najlepsze utwory lat 90.
by EVENo94 |
17 Aug 2011
-
My Year in Music: 2011
by bellfruit |
7 Jun 2011
