Last Friday, Grammy-winning rapper Coolio pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and will report to an 18-month drug rehabilitation program. The 45-year-old artist, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was arrested on March 6 at Los Angeles International Airport when authorities found cocaine and a smoking device in his luggage. When authorities attempted to open the bag, Coolio allegedly grabbed one of the screener’s arms to try to stop the search, which earned him a resisting arrest charge.
Successful completion of the rehab program will prevent the “Gangsta’s Paradise” hitmaker from serving a maximum sentence of three years in jail. As part of the plea deal, the misdemeanor charges of battery and possession of a smoking device were dismissed.
During his 15-year career, Coolio has released 7 albums. His latest album, Steal Hear, was released last October. The rapper was last seen in early 2009 on the UK’s “Celebrity Big Brother” reality series.
Coolio is due back in court on September 28 to report on his progress.
The Stanford neurosurgeon who died in a solo plane crash near Lake Tahoe in August 2008 had a cocktail of drugs in his system, including opiates, cocaine, Prozac, mood stabilizers, and anti-psychotic drugs. The accomplished doctor was known for his work on the neuropharmacology of addiction and had a long history of substance abuse himself.
Cocaine is a very addictive stimulant drug. Cocaine comes in two forms: the powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine is usually snorted or dissolved in water and then injected; the rock crystal form known as crack is heated to produce a vapor or smoke, which is inhaled. The second form is called “crack” because it makes a crackling sound when the rock is heated.