Gangstas Paradise

Entertainment Weekly (12/29/95-1/5/96, p.132) - Ranked #4 on EW's Top 10 Albums Of 1995.
The Source (2/96, p.87-88) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...The crazy braided one brings skilled and insightful lyrics that reach and relate to all levels of the Black experience....sets standards that corny lyrics and catchy loops can't compete with....Few artists can straddle the line between commercial and underground hip-hop..."
Rap Pages (12/95, p.30) - 7 (out of 10) - "...maybe because he rapped for a decade with no props, got yanked on record deals...this cool-ass homie from Compton has stayed grounded....Coolio rejoices in the only life he knows..."
Spin (12/95, p.82) - 8 (out of 10) - "...Today's rappers aren't interested in sharing any knowledge with outsiders. Coolio is the great exception....the most stylistically broad mainstream rap album you'll probably hear all year. Even upon first listen, it sounds like a collection of hits..."
Musician (2/96, p.94) - "...Coolio ties his music to a message that's as deep as the groove..."
New Musical Express (11/4/95, p.49) - 7 (out of 10) - "...Instead of playing the role of the Uzi-toting big-shot, he adopts a more reflective view of urban life in Los Angeles....In doing so, Coolio takes a deliberate step forward from last year's light-hearted debut..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/10/95, p.62) - "...the level-headed street philosopher, preaching respect for black women, fatherly responsibility, and safe sex....continuing in the great tradition of Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder....Coolio and his crew make the ghetto seem not just a place of desolation, but of hope." - Rating: B+