Coi Leray
With a viral, minimalist flow and undeniable hooks, she broke out of hip-hop's crowded field to define a new, genre-blending sound for a digital age.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American rapper and singer·Birthday: May 11·Generation Z
Biography
Coi Leray emerged not from obscurity, but from a specific hip-hop lineage—she is the daughter of rapper and media figure Benzino. Yet, her path was self-forged, beginning with a series of mixtapes that blended rap with melodic, trappy production. Her early sound was raw and energetic, but it was the minimalist, TikTok-friendly single 'No More Parties' that changed everything. The Lil Durk remix became a runaway hit, proving her instinct for what resonates in the streaming era. Leray faced intense online scrutiny about her image and style, but she channeled that attention into her work, following up with the playful and confident 'Players,' which sampled Grandmaster Flash and became an even bigger crossover success. Her career is a case study in modern artist development: leveraging viral moments, embracing internet culture, and evolving rapidly to stay ahead of trends.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Coi was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Coi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Coi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her single 'Players' became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, sampling Grandmaster Flash's 'The Message' for a modern anthem.
- The Lil Durk remix of 'No More Parties' earned double platinum certification from the RIAA, marking her first major commercial breakthrough.
- Performed at the 2023 Rolling Loud festival, one of hip-hop's premier stages, solidifying her place in the genre's current landscape.
- Her debut studio album, 'Trendsetter,' showcased her versatility and featured collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj and Fivio Foreign.
Did You Know?
She is named after the French word for 'quiet' ('coi'), though her music and personality are anything but.
Leray has a large butterfly tattoo on her face, which she has said represents transformation and freedom.
Before her music career took off, she worked at a sneaker store in New Jersey.
She is an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about her own struggles with anxiety.
“"I'm a trendsetter, I don't follow trends."”
