A 1995 hip-hop single by Coolio featuring L.V., built on a sample of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" and written for the film "Dangerous Minds."
Composition
Gangsta’s Paradise was written by Coolio with Larry Sanders (L.V.), Doug Rasheed, and Stevie Wonder, whose “Pastime Paradise” provides the song’s sample. The chord sequence, choral arrangement, and string lines are drawn from the 1976 original.
Reception
Released as the lead single for the film “Dangerous Minds,” the song reached number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, and over a dozen other countries. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 ceremony.
Legacy
Gangsta’s Paradise became one of the highest-selling singles of 1995 and the year-end best-seller in the United States. The accompanying video, featuring Michelle Pfeiffer from the film, received heavy MTV rotation.
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