Coi Leray

Coi Leray Collins (born May 11, 1997) is an American rapper and singer. The daughter of rapper and media executive Benzino, she began her musical career in 2018 with the release of her debut mixtape, Everythingcoz. She signed with Republic Records to release her second mixtape EC2 (2019) and her debut extended play, Now or Never (2020). In 2021, the Lil Durk remix of her song "No More Parties" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Her 2022 single, "Blick Blick" (with Nicki Minaj) found similar chart success and preceded the release of her debut studio album, Trendsetter (2022). Later that year, her single "Players" peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, received platinum certification, and led her second studio album, Coi (2023). Her 2023 single, "Baby Don't Hurt Me" (with David Guetta and Anne-Marie) entered the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart.

Early life


Collins was born on May 11, 1997 in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Hackensack, New Jersey. She is the daughter of rapper and media mogul Benzino, and has five brothers. Leray's parents divorced after her father left The Source. She started making music at age 14. In 2011, inspired by her father, she started rapping and released her first songs under the name Coi Leray—"Bow Down", with her brother Taj, and "Rock Back"—via YouTube. However, both Leray and her brother stopped rapping shortly after. At age 16, Leray dropped out of high school and started working in sales.

2018–2020: Career beginnings
After quitting her job, Leray released her debut single, a response to A Boogie wit da Hoodie's song "DTB" titled "G.A.N.", in 2018 through SoundCloud. Her breakout single, "Huddy", and her debut mixtape, Everythingcoz, were both released in 2018.



In December 2018, she was included as a featured artist alongside LouGotCash on the track "Save the Day" by American rapper Ski Mask the Slump God and singer Jacquees from the soundtrack album for the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Her second mixtape, EC2, was released on January 18, 2019 through 1801 Records and Republic Records. She accompanied American rapper Trippie Redd on his Life's a Trip Tour in early 2019, and released the single "Good Days" in March 2019. She appeared as a featured artist on the song "Everything BoZ" by Trippie Redd from his second studio album, !. In April 2020, she released the single "Better Days" with American rapper Fetty Wap, and was featured on the remix of American actress Keke Palmer's single "Sticky" in May 2020. Leray released her debut extended play, Now or Never, in August 2020.

2021–present: Trendsetter and Coi
Leray's single "No More Parties" was released in January 2021, and became her first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 26. A remix of the song featuring American rapper Lil Durk was released in February 2021, for which a music video was directed by Reel Goats and released the following month. "No More Parties" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in May 2021. Leray released the single "Big Purr (Prrdd)" in March 2021, featuring vocals from American rapper Pooh Shiesty, which debuted at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. She starred in the music video for American rapper Mooski's single "Track Star" in April 2021, and is starring in the Whistle series Coi Vs. as of April 2021. Also in April 2021, she made her television debut, performing "No More Parties" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and was featured on the remix of Pressa's song "Attachments".

In May 2021, Leray released the single "Bout Me" and appeared as a featured artist on EarthGang's remix of their song "Options". A clip of her performing to a motionless, silent crowd at H-Town Memorial Day Mayhem in May 2021 went viral. The following month, another clip of her performing to an unresponsive crowd at Rolling Loud Miami went viral. She was featured on Rich the Kid's song "Boss Bitch" and the remix of YN Jay's song "Triple S", and released the song "At the Top", featuring Kodak Black and Mustard, in June 2021. She was included on the XXL Freshman Class of 2021 that same month. Her participation in the 2021 XXL Freshman Cypher was widely mocked across social media and by critics. Leray was nominated for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best New Artist at the BET Awards 2021. She also appeared on the song "Ocean Prime" from Bfb Da Packman's debut album, Fat Niggas Need Love Too, in June 2021.

In July 2021, Leray was featured on the remix of Sleepy Hallow's "2055", and appeared on the single "What U Want" with Lil Xxel and Tyga. She released the single "Okay Yeah!" in August 2021. In September 2021, she released the single "Twinnem" with a music video for the song. The song went viral on TikTok, and a remix of the song featuring DaBaby was released in November 2021. Also in September, she began touring as an opening act for Lil Baby's The Back Outside Tour alongside Lil Durk. She was featured on Lonr's song "Cuffin" from his mixtape Land of Nothing Real 2 in October 2021. At the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards, she was nominated for Best New Hip Hop Artist.

On March 18, 2022, Leray released a collaboration with Nicki Minaj, titled "Blick Blick", which debuted and peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Leray released her debut studio album, Trendsetter, on April 8, 2022. In November 2022, Leray released "Players". It became her first solo song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as her first top-10 hit on the chart when it peaked at number nine in 2023. The song benefited from remixes, including a Jersey club remix by DJ Smallz 732.

In January 2023, Leray was featured on the song "Happy Fools" from Tomorrow X Together's fifth mini album, The Name Chapter: Temptation. Leray's collaborative single with David Guetta and Anne-Marie, "Baby Don't Hurt Me", was released in April 2023. The song peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. She also collaborated on the track "Self Love" with Metro Boomin, which was included on the soundtrack of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. On June 23, 2023, Leray released her second studio album, Coi.

Influences and personal life


Leray has cited Missy Elliott, Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne, Doja Cat, Bon Jovi, Chief Keef, Chris Brown, and Slick Woods as inspirations. In 2021, Leray received an honorary diploma from Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey. As of 2021, she lives in Los Angeles.

Discography

 * Trendsetter (2022)
 * Coi (2023)