Coolio: Michelle Pfeiffer and Snoop Dogg lead tributes to Gangsta's Paradise rapper - BBC

Stars including Michelle Pfeiffer and Snoop Dogg have been paying tribute to the US rapper Coolio who has died at the age of 59.

"Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist Coolio," she wrote on Instagram, sharing a clip from the famous music video, which sees her sitting across the table from Coolio as he raps.

Snoop Dogg referenced the track while sharing a picture of himself and Coolio posing on the set of the music video for Gangsta Walk, a track they collaborated on in 2006.

Fellow rapper and actor Ice Cube said: "This is sad news.

I witness first hand this man's grind to the top of the industry," while Vanilla Ice tweeted: "I'm freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away".

RIP Coolio," he wrote, sharing a black and white picture of the rapper, and later posting a second picture of the pair together, along with Tupac and Snoop Dogg.

Rapper Flavor Flav said he and Coolio had been due to "perform together this Tuesday", saying his friend was "the West Coast Flavor Flav...

Musician Al Yankovic posted a picture of himself with the late rapper.

His rap name came from a friend who asked him, "Who do you think you are, Coolio Iglesias?", according to The Black Names Project website.

A leading figure in the US West Coast rap music scene in the 90s, Coolio was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in the LA suburb of Compton, where his career flourished.

And he even found an outlet for his love of food with a book and internet series, Cooking with Coolio.

Over a career spanning four decades he recorded eight studio albums and won an American Music Award and three MTV Video Music Awards.

He was active right up until his death - Coolio was in the middle of a tour with other 90s stars including Vanilla Ice and Young MC, and they performed in Texas just a few days ago