Coolio, a.k.a. Artis Leon Ivey Jr., learned to whip up tasty dishes from his mom when he was 8 years old, and has decided to add chef to his resume -- he landed his first catering gig in the premiere of 'Coolio's Rules' and has plans for a restaurant and a 'Ghetto Gourmet' cookbook next year.
The performer, who already hosts an Internet cooking show, 'Cookin' With Coolio,' at MyDamnChannel.com and is promoting his newest CD, 'Steal Here,' talked to AOL TV about his hectic household, not sleeping with his ex ... and how Artis Leon Ivey III just may be the most talented member of the family.
1. In 'Coolio Rules,' there's a sort of 'Cosby Show' vibe between you and the kids. You've done other reality shows ... were you hesitant to involve your family in this?
The 'Cosby Show,' plus all the profanity and fighting? Thank you very much, I appreciate that, because we do love each other ... But yes, you know, I was a little worried about whether or not that was going to show when people are fighting or yelling at each other.
2. You're a single dad to four teenagers, trying to make time for romance; you have a new album and an Internet cooking show; you're writing a cookbook, launching a catering business and planning to open a restaurant ... when does Coolio sleep?
I sleep four hours a night, but then I take one whole day off every week and sleep. But really, I've got a lot of good people around me, and they help me generate all this. We just keep our schedule tight, and everybody is on point with the calendar. And, I've had to step it up, because I had gotten a bit lazy there for awhile. I was just letting people do sh- ... excuse me, I was just letting people do stuff for me all the time, and I wasn't really taking care of business. I was slacking. So I just tightened my belt up in the last six months, and here I am now.
3. You call your cooking 'Ghetto Gourmet' ... what are some Ghetto Gourmet dishes?
All feel-good food. Feel-good recipes. We've got Peanut Butter Chicken Love, My Chicken Is Having a Baby, Baby and Karate Meat, which is a beef dish.
4. With the new CD, you'll probably be touring soon, right? Will you leave the kids to run the house?
I trust 'em. Well, with some light supervision. My sister, my dad, my mom, all help out. Artis, Jackie and Brandi have the same mom, and we're cool now, so she'll be looking in on them. She and I are back now to being friends. We're not sleeping together or anything, don't get it twisted, but she's cool, and sometimes when I'm out of town, she'll come over and make sure everything is alright. Because they are at that age when I have to worry about fools trying to climb through the bedroom window and all that, so I gotta keep my eyes open.
5. On the show, Artis has talked about wanting to follow in your footsteps as a rapper. Is he as good as his dad?
Oh, he's better. Where he's at now, with his lyrics, at 19, I wasn't at until I was 25. He raps on a couple of songs on my new album, on 'Boyfriend' and 'Motivation.' He's very witty and quick, and he freestyles at least three times better than I do. He's definitely the next star in the family. Coolio 3.0.
Coolio Photos
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Coolio promotes Oxygen's "Coolio's Rules" at the the NBC Experience store on October 27, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Coolio promotes Oxygen's "Coolio's Rules" at the the NBC Experience store on October 27, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Coolio promotes Oxygen's "Coolio's Rules" at the the NBC Experience store on October 27, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Coolio promotes Oxygen's "Coolio's Rules" at the the NBC Experience store on October 27, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
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Recording Artist Coolio attends Rap and Wrap With Coolio at the NBC Experience Store on October 27, 2008 in New York City..Rap and Wrap With Coolio.NBC Experience Store.New York, NY United States.October 27, 2008.Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (56057308), contact WireImage.com
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 20: Rapper Coolio of "Coolio's Rules"' speaks during day 13 of the NBC Universal 2008 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour held at the Beverly Hilton hotel on July 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 20: Rapper Coolio of "Coolio's Rules" speaks during day 13 of the NBC Universal 2008 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour held at the Beverly Hilton hotel on July 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 20: Rapper Coolio's daughter Artisha Ivey of "Coolio's Rules" speaks during day 13 of the NBC Universal 2008 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour held at the Beverly Hilton hotel on July 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 20: Rapper Coolio (2R) and his family (L-R) Jackie Ivey, Artis Ivey, Brandi Ivey and Artisha Ivey plus executive producer Greg Goldman (R) of "Coolio's Rules" speak during day 13 of the NBC Universal 2008 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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Coolio arrives at the NBC Universal 2008 Press Tour All-Star Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California..NBC Universal 2008 Press Tour All-Star Party.The Beverly Hilton Hotel.Beverly Hills, CA United States.July 20, 2008.Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com..To license this image (15923688), contact WireImage.com
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Posted at 8:31PM on Nov 16th 2008 by Brad