The year is 1995, and the following is inescapable: Coolio, Michelle Pfeiffer, the box office smash Dangerous Minds, and the lead single to that film's soundtrack, "Gangsta's Paradise."

Pfeiffer appeared in the song's music video, which was also adapted into a commercial to promote the album and film. The song's pop-culture ubiquity inspired veteran parody artist Weird Al Yonkovic to produce one his own all-time classics, "Amish Paradise," which Coolio was a big cranky baby about, arguing that the song was too serious to poke fun at. 

While "1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New)," the follow-up to "Gangsta's Paradise," wasn't as big of a hit, we appreciate the jam's classically funky instrumental and Coolio's clear-and-crisp old-school intonation. Dude was dropping feel-good BBQ bangers during the most heated years of '90s gangsta rap!

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So, you know what, Coolio? Even though you were sort of a less-fun Flavor Flav on The Surreal Life, and you not only got an Insane Clown Posse tattoo but are apparently so thoroughly a Juggalo that you don't even know how to spell it, we still love you.

The music of Coolio lives on forever! Happy Birthday, Artis!

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