Kel Mitchell Reflects on Coolio's 'Kenan & Kel' Theme Song and Their Lasting Friendship (Exclusive)

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Kel Mitchell is looking back on his long friendship with Coolio, just one day after the rapper's unexpected death.ET's Kevin Frazier spoke with Mitchell about Coolio crafting the theme song for his and Kenan Thompson's Nickelodeon show, , and the way he found out about the «Gangsta's Paradise» rapper's death.«I was here at the house with the kids, and I was on social media, and I saw under someone else's page like, 'Oh yeah, RIP Coolio,' and I'm like 'Wait, wait, wait,'» Mitchell explained. «I said, 'Hold on,' and then I started looking around and saw it was true.»He continued, «Then my phone started blowing up, and everybody hit me up about it.»Coolio — who was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. — died in Los Angeles Wednesday at the age of 59.

His longtime manager, Jarez, confirmed the news to Jarez told the outlet that paramedics suspected cardiac arrest was the cause of death, though no official determination has been made.Mitchell's friendship with Coolio was decades long, with the pair first meeting on the set of .«Awesome,» Mitchell said of the first time he met the late rapper. «One thing I say about Coolio and my experience with him all the time, is that he was always a great time.

Always had a smile on his face, always cracking a joke. First time I met him was on , I believe it was our first season, and he was in a Good Burger sketch, and his comedic timing was so amazing.»«Also, a great actor,» he added. «And then after that, he performed on the show.»Mitchell, who used to rap as well, said Coolio once brought him onstage during a performance to freestyle with him.«He brought me up onstage, and you gotta imagine that, like, this is my first show, first season, and then Coolio, who's like an amazing rapper on the radio.