The Gangsta's Paradise meme is rooted in the 1995 legendary hit by Coolio, originally recorded for the film Dangerous Minds. In the digital age, the song's haunting choir and somber lyrics have been repurposed as a soundtrack for dramatic irony, often highlighting situations that are far less 'hard' than the music implies. The meme saw a massive resurgence during the initial reveal of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer, where the song choice felt hilariously out of place. It is now commonly used to depict someone entering a challenging environment or to mock-serious moments of reflection with a cinematic flair.