Coolio's cause of death confirmed by coroner

Coolio's cause of death has been revealed to be related to fentanyl after the rap legend died suddenly at the age of 59 last September.

The musician, who was best known for his 1995 hit 'Gangsta's Paradise' was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend's home in Los Angeles last year.

Coolio's manager Jarez Posey had confirmed the news of his death at the time, saying that the rapper had excused himself to use the bathroom but his friend became concerned when he did not return.

After calling for him, the friend eventually went into the bathroom where he found Coolio - real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr - lying unresponsive on the floor. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead on their arrival.

Reports had initially suspected that Coolio may have experienced a heart attack, and the coroner's report has now deemed that fentanyl was the cause of his death.

Posey told TMZ that the rapper's loved ones had recently received the coroner's report which put his death down to fentanyl, with traces of heroin and methamphetamines also found in his system.

His manager added that the report also stated that Coolio's severe asthma and decades-long cigarette use had also been a factor in his death. No drugs or drug paraphernalia was found at the scene and law enforcement said there were no signs of foul play.

Posey told the outlet that Coolio's children - Brandi, Jackie, Melan, Christopher, Artis III, Darius, and Artisha - want the public to know how much they loved their father and what a great man he was, as well as remembering how he "conquered the world both on the stage and when he wasn't performing."

The family is also planning to honor their father's legacy through his music as well as plans for documentaries and films about his life.

Coolio began making music in the 1980s, achieving international acclaim after the release of 'Gangsta's Paradise', which featured on a number one album of the same name.

He earned a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for the song, as well as an MTV Music Video award for Best Rap Video. It is also listed by Billboard as the 98th 'Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs'.

The track also topped the singles charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, and movie fans may remember the song being featured in 1995's Dangerous Minds, which starred Michelle Pfeiffer.

Featured image credit: PA Images / Alamy