Studio Album · No. 2
Gangsta's Paradise Songwriting Credits by Coolio
Tommy Boy / Warner Bros.
West Coast Hip HopGangsta RapG-Funk
94%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 16 of 17 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 17 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 17 tracks with documented writers, by whether Coolio carries a lyricist or composer credit.
16 trackswritten by Coolio
1 trackoutside writers
Coolio's roles on this album
Share of the 17 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist94%
Composer94%
Producer18%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
17
Tracks
45
Lyricists
13
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1995
Released
Data Insight
Thirteen of the 17 tracks carry his name. Three carry no writing credit at all, and one, "Geto Highlites", belongs entirely to its producers. The title track is a Stevie Wonder song rebuilt: Wonder gets a writing credit because it uses "Pastime Paradise", and the record that made Coolio famous is the one where he shares the credit with a Motown legend.
Gangsta's Paradise came out on Tommy Boy and Warner Bros. in November 1995, reached number nine on the Billboard 200 and is certified 2x platinum. The title track had already topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks after appearing in Dangerous Minds.
Track Listing & Credits 17 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
That's How It Is
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Coolio | Coolio (Performer) |
| 2 |
Geto Highlites
|
Christopher HamabeDevon DavisJohnta Austin | Christopher HamabeDevon DavisJohnta Austin | Devon DavisChristopher Hamabe | Coolio (Performer) |
| 3 |
Gangsta's Paradise
#1
|
CoolioL.V.Doug RasheedStevie Wonder | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Larry SandersDoug RasheedStevland Morris | Doug Rasheed | Coolio (Performer) |
| 4 |
Too Hot
#24
|
CoolioBryan DobbsGeorge Brown | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Bryan DobbsGeorge Brown | Bryan Dobbs | Coolio (Performer) |
| 5 |
Cruisin'
|
CoolioChristopher HamabeDevon DavisMarika BradfordMarvin TarplinSmokey Robinson | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Christopher HamabeDevon DavisMarika BradfordMarvin TarplinSmokey Robinson | Christopher HamabeDevon Davis | Coolio (Performer) |
| 6 |
Exercise Yo' Game
|
CoolioEarl StevensHenry StraughterJay WilliamsMalieek StraughterMaurice Thompson | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Earl StevensHenry StraughterJay WilliamsMalieek StraughterMaurice Thompson | Jay WilliamsMaurice Thompson | Coolio (Performer) |
| 7 |
Sumpin' New
|
Adrian SearCoolioDave GrusinSekou BunchTom BrowneToni Smith | Adrian SearArtis Leon Ivey Jr.Dave GrusinSekou BunchTom BrowneToni Smith | James CarterCoolio | Coolio (Performer) |
| 8 |
Smilin'
|
CoolioDominic AldridgeJames CarterReece CarterSylvester Stewart | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Dominic AldridgeJames CarterReece CarterSylvester Stewart | Reece CarterDominic AldridgeJames Carter | Coolio (Performer) |
| 9 |
Fucc Coolio
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Coolio | Coolio (Performer) |
| 10 |
Kinda High Kinda Drunk
|
CoolioDominic AldridgeJames CarterJ.B. Weaver, Jr. | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Dominic AldridgeJames CarterJ.B. Weaver, Jr. | Danny TaylorDominic AldridgeJames Carter | Coolio (Performer) |
| 11 |
For My Sistas
|
Oji PierceCoolioChris JasperErnie IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ronald IsleyRudolph Isley | Oji PierceArtis Leon Ivey Jr.Chris JasperErnie IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ronald IsleyRudolph Isley | Oji Pierce | Coolio (Performer) |
| 12 |
Is This Me?
|
CoolioDevon Davis | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Devon Davis | Devon Davis | Coolio (Performer) |
| 13 |
A Thing Goin' On
|
Oji PierceCoolioCary GilbertKenneth GambleLeon Huff | Oji PierceArtis Leon Ivey Jr.Cary GilbertKenneth GambleLeon Huff | Oji Pierce | Coolio (Performer) |
| 14 |
Bright As The Sun
|
Oji PierceCoolio | Oji PierceArtis Leon Ivey Jr. | Oji Pierce | Coolio (Performer) |
| 15 |
Recoup This
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Clyde "Spoony" Colen | Coolio (Performer) |
| 16 |
The Revolution
|
Bryan DobbsArtie ButlerCoolioJerry Goldstein | Bryan DobbsArtie ButlerArtis Leon Ivey Jr.Jerry Goldstein | Bryan Dobbs | Coolio (Performer) |
| 17 |
Get Up Get Down
|
Bryan DobbsCoolioBennie MaupinHenry StraughterHerbie HancockJohn AustinLetice PettyMalieek StraughterMarika BradfordPaul JacksonWallace RoneyWilliam Calhoun | Bryan DobbsArtis Leon Ivey Jr.Bennie MaupinHenry StraughterHerbie HancockJohn AustinLetice PettyMalieek StraughterMarika BradfordPaul JacksonWallace RoneyWilliam Calhoun | Bryan Dobbs | Coolio (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 50 contributors
C
Coolio
Writer · Producer · Performer
AL
Artis Leon Ivey Jr.
Writer
BD
Bryan Dobbs
Writer · Producer
DD
Devon Davis
Writer · Producer
OP
Oji Pierce
Writer · Producer
JC
James Carter
Writer · Producer
CH
Christopher Hamabe
Writer · Producer
DA
Dominic Aldridge
Writer · Producer
HS
Henry Straughter
Writer
MS
Malieek Straughter
Writer
MB
Marika Bradford
Writer
DR
Doug Rasheed
Writer · Producer
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Frequently Asked Questions Gangsta's Paradise
Who wrote Gangsta's Paradise?
Coolio is credited on 13 of the 17 tracks. Devon Davis, Bryan Dobbs and Oji Pierce write three each with him.
Who wrote the title track?
Artis Ivey Jr., Larry Sanders, Doug Rasheed and Stevie Wonder. Wonder is there because the song is built on "Pastime Paradise", and Larry Sanders is L.V., who sings the chorus.
Why does the album have no writer column?
Its Wikipedia article lists producers and performers but no writers. The credits here come from the 1995 US CD on Discogs, with the title track taken from the song's own article.
How did the album sell?
It is certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. No sales figure for it is published on the cited pages.
Which singles charted?
"Gangsta's Paradise" reached number one, "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" number five, "Too Hot" number 24 and "It's All the Way Live (Now)" number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who produced it?
Doug Rasheed, Bryan Dobbs, Devon Davis, Christopher Hamabe, Oji Pierce, James Carter, Dominic Aldridge and Coolio himself.
How long is the album?
64:25 across 17 tracks.
Data note: The album article's track listing has no writer column, so the credits come from the Discogs release. That release omits Coolio from the writers of the title track, which the song's own article credits to Artis Ivey Jr., Larry Sanders, Doug Rasheed and Stevie Wonder; the song article is followed here. Genius supplies the writer for the three tracks the Discogs release leaves blank: "That's How It Is", "Fucc Coolio" and "Recoup This".