Entertainment
Coolio, US west coast rapper of Gangsta’s Paradise fame, dies aged 59

The rapper Coolio has died at the age of 59 in Los Angeles, his manager has confirmed.
The artist, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, passed away at a friend’s house, his longtime manager, Jarez Posey, told the Associated Press and other outlets including TMZ, Rolling Stone and Variety.
A cause of death was not confirmed, and a Guardian request to his manager for a comment was not immediately returned.
Coolio is best known for his 1995 single Gangsta’s Paradise, for which he won a Grammy for best solo rap performance. The runaway hit came from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film Dangerous Minds and sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song Pastime Paradise.
He was nominated for five other Grammys during a career that began in the late 1980s.
His career took off with the 1994 release of his debut album, It Takes a Thief, on Tommy Boy Records. Its opening track, Fantastic Voyage, would reach No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A year later, Gangsta’s Paradise would become a No 1 single, with its haunting opening lyrics: “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/ I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left/ ’cause I’ve been blastin’ and laughin’ so long that/ even my mama thinks that my mind is gone.”
Earlier this year, the song hit one billion views on YouTube. “I want to thank everybody for all the years of love and being there for me,” Coolio said in a video marking the milestone, Billboard reported. “I hope I got you through some good times and got you through some bad times.”
Pfeiffer was among those to pay tribute to the rapper. In a post on Instagram, the actress said: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio. A life cut entirely too short … I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear (Gangsta’s Paradise).”
Rapper Ice Cube wrote on Twitter: “This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace.”
Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh, Coolio moved to Compton, California, where he went to community college. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to hip-hop.
His early work for firefighting crews in the San Jose area was “a way to clean up”, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1994. “In firefighting training was discipline I needed. We ran every day. I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did.”
Coolio would go on to become an actor as well as an award-winning musician, appearing in dozens of films and popular television shows, Variety reported.
In recent years, Coolio had appeared on the reality show Big Brother and developed a cooking series which grew an online following. He made headlines in 2013 for a planned auction of his music rights, including to Gangsta’s Paradise, in order to fund his career as a chef. He also wrote a cookbook and appeared on celebrity cooking shows.
Entertainment
“I Have Social Anxiety” — BBNaija Housemate Dede Opens Up Amid Criticism

Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Dede, has revealed her struggle with social anxiety following criticisms from fellow contestants who described her as a “snub.”
Dede’s reserved nature has sparked controversy in the house, especially her refusal to hug male housemates, which some interpreted as unfriendly or aloof.
In a candid conversation with fellow housemate Koyin, Dede opened up about her mental health challenge.
“Do you have social anxiety?” she asked Koyin.
Koyin replied, “No, do you?”
“Yes, I do,” Dede answered.
Koyin then reassured her not to be overly concerned about how others perceive her, adding that “such is life.”
During her first diary session with Biggie, Dede had described herself as an introvert who “doesn’t like people.” She also offered clarity on her decision not to hug other housemates, saying it stemmed from the fact that she didn’t know them before the show.
Dede’s admission has since sparked conversations on social media about mental health awareness and the importance of respecting personal boundaries.
Entertainment
“Davido Is Nigeria’s Most Influential – Manager Asa Asika Insists”

Asa Asika, manager of Afrobeats superstar Davido, has declared that the singer is the most influential person in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Zeph podcast, the renowned talent manager stood by his belief, despite ongoing debates and differing opinions in the entertainment industry and among fans.
“Davido is mad influential. I don’t care what anybody says, I think Davido is the most influential person in Nigeria. I have seen it firsthand,” Asika said.
Davido, the head of DMW (Davido Music Worldwide), is currently the most followed Nigerian across major social media platforms, a metric often cited by fans to support claims of his dominance in the digital space.
However, the debate over who holds the most real-world and online influence among Nigeria’s top music exports—Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy—has remained a hot topic for years, with each artiste commanding a fiercely loyal fanbase.
Asika’s statement is expected to reignite the conversation, particularly among fans of the three Afrobeats giants.
Entertainment
“UK Men Are Too Broke for Me” – Bobrisky Lashes Out on Instagram

Controversial social media personality, Okunyele Idris Olarenwaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, has sparked reactions online after criticising men in the United Kingdom over their lifestyle and financial status.
In a recent Instagram post, Bobrisky described UK men as “too broke” for his taste, noting that their tendency to share apartments and split bills is far from impressive.
“By the way, UK men are too broke, avoid them,” he wrote.
“They share apartments, they share bills among themselves, ewwww.”
The popular influencer went further to outline the standards he expects from any potential suitor, insisting that they must exude luxury and class, particularly through their choice of fashion and accessories.
“Before any UK guy can approach me, please come correct. The least wristwatch I want to see you wear is Presidential Rolex and a designer’s slippers,” he added.
“If me as a girl can rock Presidential Rolex, why can’t you?”
The post has since generated mixed reactions on social media, with fans and critics weighing in on Bobrisky’s high-end preferences and controversial take on UK men.
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