In a breaking story, Hip-Hop artist Coolio died today (September 28). The Grammy Award-winning artist born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was 59 years old. On Wednesday, he was found unresponsive at a friend's residence in the rapper's hometown of Los Angeles, California. According to TMZ, EMTs arrived and pronounced Coolio dead... Read more

In the mid-1990s, two of the biggest stars in music were rappers, Coolio and Tupac Shakur. At the 38th Grammy Awards in February of 1996, the two men competed for "Best Rap Solo Performance." Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" took the trophy home, while Tupac's "Dear Mama" joined singles by Biggie, Dr.... Read more

For nearly 30 years, WC has been a West Coast lyrical giant. Whether in the form of Low Profile, The MaaD Circle, Westside Connection, or his impressive solo career, the South Central Los Angeles, California native MC has been able to make it work, and let the flows shine. 1995... Read more

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Coolio seemed to be living in the shadows. A product of Southern California, the MC born Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. made some of his first noise alongside WC, DJ Crazy Toones and the collective known as WC & The Maad Circle. As the... Read more

#5 Tommy Boy Records More than any other hip-hop record label on this countdown, Tommy Boy Records is noteworthy not for impressive stats or significant accomplishments of individual artists, but for the overall breadth and impact of its entire catalog. For more than 20 years, the label released hip-hop records... Read more