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US rapper Coolio has been charged under a felony law after being found to have a handgun in his backpack at a Los Angeles airport.
The artist (real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr.) was charged on October 13th 2016.
The event took place in September 2016.
Coolio is best-known for his Grammy award-winning hits single ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ which featured in the movie Dangerous Minds.
His career has been pretty much hit and miss since then. Some albums gaining the respect and adoration he hoped for, others failing miserably.
‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ was perhaps the pinnacle of his musical output and saw him take the number one spot in numerous countries including the UK.
This recent incident has added appeal to Los Angeles courts, as Coolio has two prior convictions. One is for drug possession and the other carrying a concealed weapon.
If he is convicted the rapper will be facing a three-year sentence in state prison.
Since his mid-1990’s heyday the vocalist has embarked on various career paths.
He performed the theme tune for hit Nickelodeon show Kenan and Kel, created a cookbook and re-imagined himself as a chef.
Coolio featured on the show’s opening credits and tried his hand at a number of television opportunities when they offered themselves.
Recent years have seen him forge his way in reality TV shows. From cooking to wife swap variations, he seems to have tried them all.
Most notable was his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK (twice) and it was not a moment of shining glory for the former Platinum selling rapper.
According to sources a bodyguard of the singer said he was the owner of the ‘loaded’ weapon found in hand luggage at LAX airport, but those around Coolio and in attendance have stated that the bag in question was in fact his.
At a recent hearing the vocalist was absent and his representative said he was unavoidably detained due to work commitments.
This latest development may well be the final nail in the coffin for the rapper. The US do hit people very heavily when they break their laws and especially if it is multiple times.
