Most of
Coolio
's hit debut
It Takes a Thief
was fairly upbeat material, but the appearance of the stark single
"Gangsta's Paradise"
in the summer of 1995 signaled a change in the rapper's music. Driven by an ominously deep bassline and slashing strings, the creeping, threatening
funk
of
was the most chilling thing
had recorded to date, but the menace didn't come at the expense of his considerable talent for immediate, catchy hooks. Consequently, the single shot to the top of the charts and hovered in the Top Ten for many weeks. The album followed shortly afterwards, and it didn't fail to deliver on the promise of the single. Not only did
expand his sound, but his songwriting skills improved, as
Gangsta's Paradise
has very few weak moments. Alternating between slow, funky grooves and elastic, party-ready anthems,
is proof that
is one of the most exciting and interesting
hip-hop
artists of the mid-'90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine