Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Celebrates 30th Anniversary in the Metaverse

Back in the ’90s, no one could have predicted that Coolio’s iconic hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” would be celebrated in a digital world three decades later. Yet that’s exactly what’s about to happen, thanks to metaverse project NetVRk, which brings together nostalgia and modern Web3 technology to honor the late rapper’s legacy and introduce him to a new generation of fans.

Gangsta’s Paradise remains popular

Captivating listeners for nearly 30 years, “Gangsta’s Paradise” has now amassed over 1.5 billion views on YouTube and remains a firm part of music history. As the song’s 30th anniversary approaches, NetVRk has announced that it will launch an immersive digital experience dedicated to Coolio.

Before his unexpected passing in 2022, Coolio was already heavily involved in exploring the possibilities of the metaverse. In one of his final interviews on the Crypto Island podcast, he expressed that he was heavily invested in the metaverse, even revealing that he already owned a “nice piece of land” in this digital world. He saw the metaverse as an innovative way to reach his fans in a new way, and even recorded a special song inspired by this digital world.

Collaboration creates hyper-intelligent AI character from Coolio

This collaboration with NetVRk, which was completed shortly before his death, led to a groundbreaking project: the creation of a hyper-intelligent AI character of Coolio within the metaverse. Soon, in the upcoming alpha release of NetVRk, fans will have the chance to explore a digital mansion known as Coolio’s “dream mansion.” Designed to reflect Coolio’s original vision, this virtual space will allow fans to interact with his AI character, hear his voice, and experience his personality and insights in a fully immersive environment.

The theme song that Coolio recorded specifically for this project will be released on his official YouTube channel next week and serves as a teaser of what fans can expect. This project marks just the beginning of a broader celebration of Coolio’s legacy. As the 30th anniversary approaches, fans can look forward to a series of events, special releases, and collaborations taking place within the NetVRk metaverse.

With this project, NetVRk aims to keep Coolio’s influence and legacy alive and relevant in an ever-evolving digital world. The metaverse has been used to revive icons and events from the past before. In early 2023, the original organizers of the legendary Woodstock music festival spoke of their own attempts to reimagine the festival in the digital reality.