Gangsta's Paradise (song)
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| "Gangsta's Paradise" | ||
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| Single by Coolio featuring L.V. | ||
| from the album Gangsta's Paradise | ||
| Released | November, 07, 1995 | |
| Format | CD single, Cassette Single | |
| Recorded | 1995 | |
| Genre | Gangsta rap | |
| Length | 4:00 | |
| Label | Tommy Boy Records | |
| Writer(s) | Artis Ivey Doug Rasheed Larry Sanders Stevie Wonder |
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| Producer(s) | Doug Rasheed | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Coolio featuring L.V. singles chronology | ||
| "It Takes a Thief" 1994 |
"Gangsta's Paradise" 1995 |
"Mama I'm in Love Wit a Gangsta" 1995 |
"Gangsta's Paradise" is a rap song by Coolio from the movie Dangerous Minds (1995) (starring Michelle Pfeiffer). The song was later released on the album Gangsta's Paradise and Dangerous Minds (Soundtrack) in 1995. Coolio was awarded with 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.
The back beat is that of the theme from Scarface.
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 "Pastime Paradise" sample was also used in a single released in 1991 by French rap group IAM entitled, "Tam-tam de l'Afrique" ("drums of Africa").
The song begins with a line from Psalm 23 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 nothing left. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background.
Much of the lyrics are very dark and tragic; and are meant to be a criticism of the violence and tragedy of the "gangsta" life. The choral lines (sung by L.V.) Tell me why are we so blind to see / That the ones we hurt are you and me offer an especially plaintive self-criticism.
The song is arguably one of the biggest R&B/Hip Hop songs of all time, reaching #1 in more than 13 countries around the world, including the UK, where it was the first rap song to ever reach #1.
There are some parodies of the song, including "Amish Paradise" by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Coolio claimed that he did not give permission for the parody, which led to disagreements between the two. Yankovic claimed that he was told Coolio had given the go-ahead through his record label, and apologized. Photos from the XM Satellite Radio booth at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show suggest Yankovic and Coolio may have made amends. [1]
Another parody by Paul Shanklin using Gangsta's Paradise is "Algore Paradise," in which Rush Limbaugh mocks the Democratic Party.
The Ian Brown song "F.E.A.R." borrows the main riffs from "Gangsta's Paradise".
[edit] Sales records and awards
Billboard
- Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers 1995
- Top Hot 100 Single number one
- Top Hot 100 Single Sales number one (2.5 million copies) (2x platinum)
MTV
[edit] Trivia
- The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua of Propaganda Films.
- Although L.V. released his solo version of the single it couldn't repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio.
| Preceded by "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single- September 9, 1995- September 23, 1995 |
Succeeded by "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey |
| Preceded by "Fairground by Simply Red |
UK Singles Chart Number 1 single October 22, 1995 for 2 weeks |
Succeeded by "I Believe / Up On The Roof" by Robson & Jerome |
| Preceded by "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey |
RIANZ (New Zealand) number one single October 27, 1995 |
Succeeded by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men |
