Coolio avoids jail time
The rap star, known for his hit single 'Gangsta's Paradise', admitted possessing cocaine at the time of his arrest in March at Los Angeles International Airport. However, an assault charge was dropped in LA court.
His Arrest
Coolio, 45, was arrested on March 6 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on suspicion of possessing drugs. The LAX Police Department at the time claimed to have found cocaine and a smoking device during the search of his luggage.
TMZ.com reported that time that Coolio got into a scuffle with an agent as he passed through a security screening area before boarding a Southwest Airlines flight. Coolio "got physical with the screener at some point during the incident," the website said.
Coolio resisted arrest, but in exchange for his guilty plea to cocaine possession authorities dropped his charges of resisting arrest and battery as well as a charge of possession of the smoking device.
On Friday (June 26), the entertainer, real name Artis Leon Ivey, has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge, as well as misdemeanor counts of battery and possession in a Los Angeles courtroom.
At Friday's hearing, a judge ordered the rapper to enter a drug rehabilitation program for 18 months, known as Deferred Entry of Judgment, said Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Inda. Coolio can request the judge dismiss his case if he successfully completes the program.
Coolio had previously entered a not guilty plea and faced up to three years behind bars if convicted. He is due back in LAX Superior Court on September 28 for a progress check.
Coolio’s brush with the law
This is not Coolio’s first run-in with trouble. On June 10, 2008, he was taken into custody after being pulled over by the police in Hollywood. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant stemming from a 2001 suspended license incident and released on $10,000 bail.
Early this year, the rapper was involved in a nightclub brawl where as reported on HipHopRX.com audience members began throwing plastic bottles, ice cubes and other objects at the rappers as he performed live on stage.
Coolio was reportedly robbed of his jewelry and assaulted by numerous crowd members after he attempted to do a stage dive into the crowd. He was not only robbed of his jewelry, but the club goers also took his glasses, shoes, and other possessions.
About Coolio
Born in August 1963 in Inglewood, California, Coolio is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper-cum-actor, who shot to fame with his mid-1990s hits “Fantastic Voyage” off his debut album “It Takes a Thief” and “Gangsta’s Paradise” off the self-entitled quadruple-platinum album “Gangsta’s Paradise.”
Coolio released his debut album “It Takes a Thief” in 1994. The following year he released his second album “Gangsta's Paradise”, which is his most successful album to date. His third album, “My Soul”, was released in 1997.
The rapper has acted on a number television shows, including "Celebrity Fear Factor" and “Celebrity Bootcamp” in 2002. Last year, he hosted the online cooking show "Cookin With Coolio" and earlier this year he starred in UK program "Celebrity Big Brother."
According to Coolio’s website, he has sold more than 30 million records globally.
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