Coi Leray
Biography
Coi Leray Collins, born on May 11, 1997, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an American rapper and singer. She is the daughter of rapper and media proprietor Benzino. Leray was raised in Hackensack, New Jersey, along with her five brothers. After her parents' divorce, she experienced a shift in financial stability, which she has stated humbled her. Inspired by her father, she began rapping at 14 and released a couple of songs on YouTube, but soon stopped. At 16, Leray dropped out of high school and began working in sales before deciding to pursue music professionally.
Career Beginnings
In 2018, Coi Leray quit her job and released her debut single "G.A.N." on SoundCloud. That same year, she released her breakout single, "Huddy," and her first mixtape, "Everythingcoz". Her career gained further traction when she was featured on the soundtrack for the animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" on the track "Save the Day". In 2019, she released her second mixtape, "EC2," through 1801 Records and Republic Records.
Rise to Mainstream Success
Leray's breakthrough came in 2021 with the single "No More Parties," which became a viral hit on TikTok. A remix featuring Lil Durk propelled the song into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and it eventually achieved double-platinum certification. This success led to nominations for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best New Artist at the BET Awards in 2021. That same year, she was named to the XXL Freshman Class. She continued to release successful tracks, including "Big Purr (Prrdd)" with Pooh Shiesty and "Twinnem," which also went viral on TikTok.
Studio Albums
Coi Leray released her debut studio album, "Trendsetter," on April 8, 2022. The album was preceded by the single "Blick Blick," a collaboration with Nicki Minaj that debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. Later in 2022, she released the single "Players," which became her first solo top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. Her second studio album, "Coi," was released on June 23, 2023. The album features a collaboration with David Guetta and Anne-Marie on the track "Baby Don't Hurt Me," which entered the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart. She was also featured on the "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" soundtrack with the song "Self Love" with Metro Boomin.
Musical Style and Influences
Coi Leray is known for her versatile style, which blends hip-hop and pop with melodic sung/rapped verses. She has cited a wide range of musical influences, including Missy Elliott, Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne, and Chief Keef. Her music often features charismatic and tough delivery over heavy beats.