On this day in 1994, #Coolio released his debut studio album, It Takes a Thief, introducing a fresh, humorous twist to West Coast rap at a time when gangsta rap was largely defined by darker, more violent themes. The album launched Coolio into the mainstream thanks to the breakout single “Fantastic Voyage,” which became a massive hit after receiving heavy MTV rotation. The track climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200. It Takes a Thief went on to sell more than 1 million copies in the U.S. and earned Platinum certification from the RIAA, cementing Coolio as one of hip-hop’s biggest breakout stars of the mid-1990s.