Coolio talks ahead of Birmingham show

He’s come a long way since the days of 1995 megahit Gangsta’s Paradise and, despite having such huge success with the song, the Compton-born star claims one of his biggest triumphs – in terms of paving him a future – was in fact the theme tune to Nickelodeon kids’ show Kenan and Kel.

“Kenan and Kel, believe it or not, has turned out to be the one of the most important things I’ve done in my career. Just as much as Gangsta’s Paradise,” says the 54-year-old star.

“It introduces me to a whole new generation of fan every year. They’re never going to stop playing Kenan and Kel on Nickelodeon. I feel blessed.”

The musician, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., will play Arena Birmingham tomorrow as part of the I Love The 90s tour. Joining him at the show will be Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa, Color Me Badd, Tone Loc and Young MC.

The tour has so far taken Coolio to places such as Australia and Las Vegas.

“This tour is really great. Everybody knows each other, and have done for so many years; it’s like going on tour with your family,” adds Coolio.

“This is one of the best tours of my career. There’s just non-stop involvement and dancing – the whole scope you could expect from a show.

“Australia’s probably been my favourite place to perform so far.

“I’ve always had a good time in the UK. I can’t think of a bad time I’ve had there.”

The star also said that any fans who have a chance to see the show would be doing themselves a ‘disservice’ by missing it.

“And don’t be afraid to bring your kids; they won’t hear anything at this show they won’t hear at school every day,” he adds.

Just a few weeks ago, on September 17, Coolio was forced to miss a show he had planned to play in Singapore at an F1 after-show party, due to being refused entry to the country.

The star says the security who refused him entry wouldn’t even tell him why.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been not allowed into any country,” he says.

“I flew from Beijing, so I had to go back via there. But when I got to Beijing, they denied me entry there too because they wouldn’t allow me to enter Singapore.

“It was the longest time I had ever spent in airports all my life.”

But Coolio is no stranger to having issues at airports; despite having previously worked in airport security. Back in 2009, the star was arrested after a crack pipe was found in his luggage at Los Angeles International Airport, where he once worked, and again, at the same airport, when a loaded gun was discovered in his bags in 2016.

“All that, which happened at LAX, was very awkward,” says Coolio, referring to the incident last year.

“It was the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened in my life. But it was also quite stupid on my part. I’ve never felt so dumb.”

Coolio’s name was once more in the UK public eye when the star appeared on TV shows Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 – coming third – and Tipping Point: Lucky Stars in 2013. He also starred in Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, but left within the first few days.

And despite having a negative experience on Ultimate Big Brother, when he fell out with fellow housemate Nadia Almada and was asked to leave (though many reports claiming he walked out), Coolio says it’s not put him off appearing on such shows. The star says if someone asks him to do something, and he ‘can make fun of it’, he’ll do it.

One show the star is really keen to appear on is Celebrity MasterChef; having released a cookbook back in 2009 entitled Cookin’ With Coolio.

“Most people weren’t really themselves on Celebrity Big Brother. I tried to make it fun and make great TV, but everyone else was more concerned about winning,” he says.

“The second time I did it it was less enjoyable. There was just that one person. I can’t even remember her name now, but I didn’t like her at all.

“I was asked to leave. They should have made her leave.

“It wouldn’t put me off doing something like that again though.

“Being on Tipping Point was so much fun, I had a great time.

“One thing I’d love to do Celebrity MasterChef. I’m a bonafide chef. I can make anything.

“I’d say music is my first love, but cooking is a close second.”

Being a Grammy Award-winning rap star, Coolio knows his stuff when it comes to hip hop – and the Californian icon says he feels sorry for modern-day kids; believing that in years to come they will look back and be amazed at the poor standard of music they grew up listening to.

“The balance between everything is off. There’s a ying and a yang for all aspects of life,” says Coolio.

“The balance in music especially has been tipped to the left. Everybody is listening to music about nothing.

“It’s all self-consumed music. Especially in hip hop. The music’s all about what they have, rather than something which pertains to everybody.

“I feel sorry for kids right now. The music they are growing up on – it’s a travesty.

“There are three people who I can think of off the top of my head who I really like at the moment: J Cole, Hopsin and Kendrick Lamar. Hopsin’s amazing.

“The worst on the scene? 21 Savage and Lil Yachty.”

Looking ahead to the future, Coolio has a new business venture up his sleeve which he believes could help make the world a better place.

“I’m hoping to turn my hand to a technology business,” explained the star.

“I can’t say too much at the moment, because I’m trying to get a patent on it. It involves DUI; driving under the influence of drink or drugs.”

Looking to help improve the Earth, Coolio is also raising awareness for asthma sufferers; with his son and him both being afflicted with the condition, as well as the environment.

“When I was asked if I would help the group Environmental Justice and Climate Change, it was just one of those things that made sense,” says Coolio.

“You’ve got to pick your fights. When it matters, you can’t just stand back and watch.

“In terms of asthma, they’ve come a long way since I was a child. Most people I know, if they follow the regulations that they are given and take what they give you, can live with it and be fine.

“But at the same time, what they don’t emphasise is the fact you can die from it.

“You know, if you don’t give your kids cows milk, they may never develop asthma at all.”