Ice-T reflected on the fentanyl epidemic and the personal toll it’s taken, especially after losing Coolio and Michael K. Williams to fatal overdoses ahead of a new documentary on the crisis.
The Hip-Hop pioneer and actor, now executive producer and host of the A&E special Fame and Fentanyl, said the deaths of his two friends made the crisis hit home.
“When it hit Coolio and it hit Mike, that was the nail in the coffin,” he explained. “That’s when you go, ‘Yo, this s###‑‑‑ is real.’ You know what I’m saying? It’s real.”
Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died on September 28, 2022, at age 59, from an accidental overdose involving Fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. He was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend’s Los Angeles home.
Williams, best known for his role on The Wire, died on September 6, 2021, at 54.
His death was caused by a mix of Fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and parafluorofentanyl. He was discovered in his Brooklyn apartment by his nephew. Four men were charged in connection with the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed him. One of them, Irvin Cartagena, pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence.
Reflecting on Coolio’s passing, Ice-T said, “Coolio was healthy. I know he didn’t want to die. He spoke freely about it, but that’s the thing. If you’re doing drugs recreationally, you’re not trying to take your own life. Recreation is a game, but this is no longer a game.”
He also shared his regret over never getting the chance to collaborate with Williams.
“We had never worked together, but we had planned to,” he explained. “I hoped to work with him. When people die of Fentanyl, it’s like they got hit by a car, like they got shot. This is a person who’s healthy, and tomorrow they’re outta there.”
The upcoming documentary Fame and Fentanyl, premiering Friday (August 25), aims to spotlight the growing danger of fentanyl abuse, especially among public figures.
The film includes personal accounts from families affected by the drug, as well as efforts by law enforcement to prosecute those distributing lethal doses.
“I don’t do drugs, but I never expected it,” Ice-T said, acknowledging how widespread and unpredictable the crisis has become. “Everyone has someone in their life who has been affected by Fentanyl. These are the narratives that everyone should be aware of.”
