KEY POINTS

  • "Futurama" will dedicate an episode to Coolio during its eighth season run in 2023
  • Coolio's last gig was in Cypress, Texas, with Vanilla Ice, a week before his death
  • Vanilla Ice said Coolio's last words to him were, "See you tomorrow, homie."

The late rapper Coolio will star in the show "Futurama" posthumously as the Grammy award-winning star had recorded his lines for the upcoming season before his untimely death Wednesday.

Fans of the rap superstar will enjoy the "Gangsta's Paradise" part in the animated series as he also graciously recorded a few rap lines for the show, David X. Cohen, Executive Producer of "Futurama" told TMZ.

Cohen said he was shocked to hear about Coolio's death especially because he went into recording for episodes of "Futurama" just weeks before the news of his sudden death.

Coolio had appeared in a few episodes of the animated show since 2001. He also lent his voice to the character of Kwanzaabot who first appeared in Season 4 in 2002. Kwanzaabot is the counterpart of the holiday icons of the show – Robot Santa Claus and the Chanukah Zombie.

Cohen told the outlet that the rapper appeared in great shape when he recorded his part for the show.

"Coolio was one of my favorite guests. He was always totally upbeat and genuinely enjoyed coming in to record as his character Kwanzaabot," Cohen said, adding that the rapper even shared that he developed a hobby during the pandemic, sewing.

The showrunner went on to reveal that the "Futurama" team will dedicate an episode to Coolio as a way to give him "the best send-off we can." The tribute will include Coolio rapping over the closing credits of the series.

The eighth season of "Futurama" will be shown on Hulu in 2023.

The 59-year-old rapper, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was found dead on the bathroom floor of his friend's house in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Paramedics tried to revive the musician but to no avail. He was pronounced dead on the same day. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the exact cause of death of the famous hip-hop personality.

Last week, Coolio joined Vanilla Ice on stage for a freestyle rap performance in Cypress, Texas in what would have been the "C U When You Get There" rapper's last gig.

"My heart goes out to all the family. I'm truly devastated. He was a great friend," Vanilla Ice said about the tragic news.

Vanilla Ice, who was "still in shock and freaking out" over the passing of his friend, revealed Coolio's last words to him while they were in the dressing room - "See you tomorrow, homie."

Coolio, shown here in 2015, has died age 59
AFP
Futurama