The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Rapper Cool C

Cool C's time in the spotlight was short-lived:

Christopher "Cool C" Roney was once a rising star in the Philadelphia hip-hop scene of the late 1980s. As part of the Hilltop Hustlers crew, Cool C gained attention with his 1987 single "Juice Crew Dis" which took aim at the influential New York-based Juice Crew. This led to a record deal with Atlantic Records, where Cool C released two successful solo albums - "I Gotta Habit" in 1989 and "Life in the Ghetto" in 1990.

Cool C's biggest hit was "Glamorous Life" which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. He was known for his flashy music videos and artwork featuring cars, jewelry and stacks of cash. Cool C was living the dream, having come a long way from rapping in the hallways of Overbrook High School with classmates Will Smith and Steady B.

However, Cool C's time in the spotlight was short-lived. As the West Coast G-Funk sound took over in the early 90s, Cool C's career began to decline. In 1993, he formed the hardcore rap group C.E.B. (Countin' Endless Bank) with Steady B and Ultimate Eaze, but their lone album sold poorly.

Tragically, Cool C's story took a dark turn on January 2, 1996. Along with Steady B and Mark Canty, Cool C attempted to rob a PNC Bank branch in Philadelphia. During the botched robbery, Cool C shot and killed Philadelphia Police Officer Lauretha Vaird, who had responded to the bank's silent alarm. Cool C was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Cool C remains on death row to this day, over 25 years later. His story serves as a cautionary tale of the perils of fame and the consequences of misguided choices. Cool C had the talent to make it big in the rap game, but ultimately his legacy will be forever tarnished by the tragic events of that fateful day in 1996.