"Kenan & Kel" star Kel Mitchell is remembering all the good times he had with Coolio ... telling us the late rapper was super fun to hang out with because he was always full of good vibes and good stories.
The former Nickelodeon star joined "TMZ Live" Thursday where we asked him about his experiences with Coolio, who famously teamed up with Kel and Kenan Thompson back in the day for their show's theme song.
Kel says folks still ask him about the song, and he says Coolio brought the "magic" to the catchy track.
Coolio Dead at 59
TMZ broke the story ... Coolio died Wednesday at a friend's house in Los Angeles.
Law enforcement sources tell us first responders performed CPR for 45 minutes in a frantic effort to revive him.
Kel says Coolio was like everyone's favorite uncle ... because when he showed up at the function, it was a sure sign of a good time.
It's clear Coolio made a big impression on Kel's life ... and he tells us about the last conversation he had with Coolio, a couple months before his death.