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Kate Hutchison is a freelance journalist. Though it would be an overstatement to claim the вЂGangstaвЂ™s ParadiseвЂ™ edged rap into the mainstream alone, itвЂ™s no secret it played a huge part - and thatвЂ™s why we should celebrate.Д¬oolio plays Timepiece in Exeter in celebration of the venueвЂ™s 25 th birthday on Tuesday October 9. Some of Lauryn HillвЂ™s biggest hits were released in 1996, and Jay-Z's from 1997 onwards. Beyond that, it paved the way for hip hopвЂ™s next stars to breakout. The video went on to scoop MTVвЂ™s Best Rap Video award and the 1996 Grammy for the Best Rap Performance, pushing the track further into the limelight. A new audience of rap was teased: its sound confronted visuals directed at the mass market. But the music video promoted a different story far and wide: a black rapper and a white, Hollywood actress working together, creatively. Hollywood was вЂ“ and still is, of course вЂ“ dominated by white people. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Coolio joked that Pfeiffer seemed nervous around people of colour.She may well have been. Though receiving a mixed reception, the music video forged the union of Pfeiffer and Coolio onscreen. The song was also released as part of the Dangerous Minds film soundtrack, which featured Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer.

Its talk of redemption, self-reflection and despair is phenomena universally experienced - not just by those in the hood. Without, its potential for commercialisation increased, pushing lyrical themes further afield. Initially, Stevie Wonder rejected the sample after hearing the songвЂ™s profanity he didnвЂ™t want his music to be featured on вЂsome hood song.вЂ™ So Coolio compromised. For the time, вЂGangstaвЂ™s ParadiseвЂ™ balanced pop and rap with an innovative sophistication. The balance curates a certain light-heartedness, but protects rapвЂ™s characteristics a revolving beat, a passionate message. While the songвЂ™s verses present a vision of 90s rap, the discernible soul of Wonder teamed with L.VвЂ™s harmonies relieve the associated, murky tension of the genre. Who doesnвЂ™t know вЂ“ or like - Wonder, anyway? To have it featured on вЂGangstaвЂ™s DelightвЂ™ gave many an insight into something alien from a position of revered familiarity. Stevie WonderвЂ™s infectious sway was a mainstream phenomenon itвЂ™s won Grammy after Grammy, it smashed through the charts and secured international acclaim. It simplified a once isolated sound, soft launching it to the masses. It moved hip hop to straddle genre, and opened the door to rapвЂ™s experimentation.

ItвЂ™s these characteristics that gave вЂGangstaвЂ™s ParadiseвЂ™ a new eccentricity. The release of вЂGangstaвЂ™s Paradise,вЂ™ was one.

In 1995, hip hop was clearly on the verge a breakthrough: it just needed an all-encompassing moment of exposure. Its chart reign doesnвЂ™t surprise us like it would have then. Though rap continues to represent these voices today, itвЂ™s received differently. It spoke to marginalised black youth culture, entrenched far from mass legitimisation. Received as a voice for the hood the genre synonymous with violence, crime and social depravity. Though both records dabbled in radio play and acclaim, early 90s rap remained a subculture. 23 years on: weвЂ™re still celebrating.ДЄs the вЂgolden ageвЂ™ of hip hop simmered into the nineties, NasвЂ™ seminal debut вЂIllmaticвЂ™ sent tremors through the East Coast and the hardcore sounds of BiggieвЂ™s вЂReady To DieвЂ™ lurked on the Billboard. But because it fast tracked the essential вЂ“ and forthcoming вЂ“ union between hip hop, rap and the mainstream. Not because it beat Michael Jackson to a number one slot, or because it featured landmark sampling. Not just because itвЂ™s sold at least 6 million copies worldwide, making it one of the genresвЂ™ best-selling singles, or because it topped the 1995 US Billboard. Iconic strings, a lurching beat and lyrical prayers of redemption CoolioвЂ™s вЂGangstaвЂ™s Paradise,вЂ™ is one of rapвЂ™s most treasured creations. The club вЂ“ which is well known to have friends in high places вЂ“ has previously hosted intimate shows from rap royalty like Snoop Dogg and opened at its current site the same year that Coolio released 'Gangsta's Paradise', which means this one will be a night to remember.

To mark the occasion, hip hop titan Coolio will play a very special anniversary party on Tuesday October 9. Exeter's legendary Timepiece venue is celebrating its 25th birthday.

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