Inside Coolio’s secret funeral and after-party

Details of Coolio’s funeral have been revealed, with family and friends dancing at an afterparty to the late rapper’s greatest hit.

Late rapper Coolio’s family – including all his kids and baby mamas – held a secret funeral and afterparty where they danced to his hit song Gangsta’s Paradise, The US Sun can reveal.

Relatives, close friends and family attended the ceremony held in Pasadena, California, three weeks ago most of them wearing black t-shirts with Coolio’s face on and the words “Coolio Forever”.

Coolio died of a suspected heart attack on September 28 and an official autopsy is underway.

His funeral on October 15 took place at the Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery followed by a party at an unknown location where his kids mixed with Coolio’s buddies from the hip-hop industry.

Some posted photos of groups holding the service booklet, which had a photo of Coolio looking up to “paradise” and the words “Artis Leon Ivey Jr, Coolio, Rest In Gangsta’s Paradise, August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022”.

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Coolio died in September from a suspected heart attack. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Coolio's kids and loved ones danced to Gangsta's Paradise at the funeral. Picture: Instagram / Klara Dykastova Von Steinsberg

Coolio had said he wanted people to have a party to celebrate his life, according to his son. Picture: Instagram / Klara Dykastova Von Steinsberg

Coolio’s son Melan AKA Pharaoh Santana posted photos from Coolio’s funeral. Picture: Instagram / Klara Dykastova Von Steinsberg

The 59-year-old legend’s last partner Mimi Ivey revealed to the Daily Mail after his death that he didn’t want a funeral, saying: “I’m respecting his wishes. He wanted to be cremated. He did not want a funeral, he did not want a memorial service. He didn’t want any of that.”

Yet the family won over and hosted a party to remember him by with his eldest son Artise III – the only family member to speak out so far -telling The US Sun in an exclusive interview: “We’re going to have a personal memorial for family and close friends.

“He wanted a party and for everybody to celebrate his life, play music, just fill up the room and smile, have a good time.”

Mimi posted a photo on Instagram on the day of the funeral posing in a specially made blue “Coolio, Rest in Paradise” T-shirt, designed by Las Vegas’ “Airbrush King” using graffiti paint.

All of Coolio’s family were there with his children all together in a photo that a couple of them posted online.

He also posted this picture with his brothers and sisters. Picture: Instagram / Pharaoh Santana

Coolio’s son Melan AKA Pharaoh Santana posted this photo from Coolio’s funeral. Picture: Instagram / Pharaoh Santana

Melan with his brothers. Picture: Instagram / Pharaoh Santana

It appears that the kids dressed in more formal black attire for the funeral ceremony, while in the evening wore Coolio t-shirts for the party.

Some of his baby mamas were there including “Dimp,” who is the mother of kids Brandi, Artis III and Jackie.

Other children in attendance include Melan – known as the hip hop star Pharaoh Santana, Darius and Artisha.

Coolio’s brother, film director Malieek Straughter, dressed smartly in a black suit and tie, posed for photos with his rap pals such as Teach Tribe.

Coolio's girlfriend Mimi Ivey wearing a memorial T-shirt. Picture: Instagram / Mimi Ivey

Coolio was found unresponsive at a friend’s place. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The rapper was pronounced dead just before 5pm on September 28 after being found unresponsive in a friend’s apartment bathroom in Los Angeles.

After his body was discovered, EMTs desperately attempted CPR, but after 45 minutes, he was declared dead.

It later emerged Coolio had flown from Las Vegas for a double celebration of his son Artis Ivey III’s birthday, who was turning 33, and one of his grandchildren’s first birthday.

Tragically, just hours after seeing the family in the morning, he died suddenly in the afternoon at the age of 59.

He recorded the mega-hit Gangsta’s Paradise for the 1995 film Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer and it went on to become one of the most successful rap songs of all time.

The track topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and won Coolio the Grammy award for best rap solo performance in 1996.

This article originally appeared in The US Sun and was reproduced with permission