Rapper

February 21, 2000

Hit Rap Artist Coolio discusses in an online interview his music and his new CD, "Coolio.com."

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GRAMMY Awards: We are happy to announce the arrival of Rapper Coolio after his "fantastic voyage" to Staples Center in Los Angeles, site of the 41st GRAMMY Awards! Welcome to Coolio!

Coolio: Yo, I'm Coolio, with the flow.the neighborhood ghetto witch doctor superhero!

Roddey: Coolio, are you a sensitive rapper? Can a rap artist be sensitive?

Coolio: I don't know.I suppose so. Everyone has some sensitivity to them. It's not easy to hurt my feelings though. I don't have any hang-ups.

Big Liz: When did you decide Rap music was for you & who were your mentors?

Coolio: I started rapping in 1980. My mentors were some guys I met that were from New York and they moved across the street from me in Compton.

Terisa: What are you working on right now, Coolio? Do you have a new CD on the way?

Coolio: Yeah, I have a new CD, I'm working on a new album, it's called "Coolio.com," and its a mixture of everything that you like about Coolio. It's a little more .the production is better. Lyrically its a lot more tricky, I think. That might turn some people off.people are used to me being kind of simple. This time I tried to show more skills, for anyone who ever doubted my ability to rap. "Coolio.com," the name, is just catchy. I had another title, it was too dark.it was called "Dead Man Walking.'"

Manolis Varnas: Coolio, did you have heroes when you were a child and did you always want to sing?

Coolio: I was a Jackson 5 fan for sure! I'm sure like every kid who grew up listening to any kind of Jackson 5. I started rapping for the fun, it wasn't about being famous or anything like that, it was just for the fun of it!

Rapfan: Coolio, what do you think of the rap today and what up and coming artists do you admire?

Coolio: Rap today is good. I think people copy too much though.that's my one criticism about it. People copy each other too much. I like Most Def and I like Eve. I like Cisco.

Sussiou: How was it doing a video with Weird Al?

Coolio: I didn't do it.I'm not a Weird Al fan.

Jedi: Coolio, which is your favorite music, or the music that you usually listen to?

Coolio: I listen to everything. I try to keep my mind open. Helps me with my ideas.

Manolis Varnas: Coolio how this sound to your new album different from your previous album?

Coolio: Everything! Everything about it is different because the music has changed again. Rap changes every six months or so.the lyrics are a lot more catchy.

Rapperfan: Coolio will you be doing more music for future movies?

Coolio: Yes, I did a song for a movie called "The Convent." the song is called "Show Me Love." By the way, it's a horror flick.

Terrice: What are you working on now?

Coolio: I just did a few movies.I did a movie called "Submerged" I did a movie called "In Pursuit." Did one called "The Convent." The TV show "18 Wheels Of Justice", a Mickey Mouse commercial, and a Lipton tea commercial.

Oneshoelou: Coolio. What's the one question you've always wanted to be asked?

Coolio: (considers this) Hmm. I'll get back to you.

Eminem 33: Hey Coolio, why did you take the approach to teach kids about violence and drugs and not Gansta rap?

Coolio: I didn't really take the approach. Basically, I was chosen by kids to represent something, and didn't really know what it was, at first. But it ended up being, not necessarily to teach kids not to do anything or to do anything, but to teach them it was all right to be themselves. In closing. Be on the lookout for Mad Sports on Saturdays on BET. The new album, "Coolio.com " by the way, I did the song with CrazyBone, B Real, Kenny Rogers, and James Ingram. a Coolio/Snoop Dogg song is tentative. I'm working with a new group, which I am a part of, called, check this -- The Uniggables. The U.N. for short. That's coming out in the summertime. Until then, everybody.be cool!

GRAMMY Awards: Thanks to Coolio, who is now rushing to another spot in the busy Staples Center GRAMMY backstage area for more interviews.

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