Coi Leray's Sophomore Album 'COI': A Deep Dive into Her Evolution and Impact

by nxus Writer, Ashley Mozingo, MBA

“When someone reviews art, who’s in charge of the criteria?” - Unknown

When I’m reviewing music, I evaluate projects based on the artist’s history, previous projects and singles, and the producers & writers they’ve worked with. I check out the labels they’ve worked with and the artist collaborations they’ve had. I deep dive catalogs (not just the artist’s most streamed songs–no baby, I’m going to SoundCloud. Datpiff if they let me).

After I’ve done my homework, the most critical part of my review, especially in music, is considering only the project in front of me. I review the music the artist has presented, not the music I’m used to hearing or would like them to create. That is not for me to decide. Weirdos.

I read a review by a writer from Pitchfork, and that article spoke lowly of Coi’s project three days after its release. Three days. In three days, you determined that the album had “nothing to say”? That’s a big LOL. Opinions should be reserved for people who study, but what do I know? I can’t get a platform to pick me up as a writer, so Kanye Shrug.

Coi Leray's music style can be described as a blend of hip-hop and melodic rap. She incorporates elements of trap and R&B into her music. Her lyrics often touch on themes such as self-confidence, independence, and her personal experiences.

Photo by Dan Garcia, Coi @ Summerfest 2023

Coi has been praised for her personal style and ability to adapt to different musical trends within the hip-hop genre.

She began to gain attention in the music industry around 2017, initially making a name for herself on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram. She released her debut single, "G.A.N." (short for "Get Away Now") in 2017, which helped her gain some recognition in the hip-hop scene.

Her breakthrough came in 2020 with the release of her single "Big Purr (Prrdd)" featuring rapper and songwriter Pooh Shiesty. The song gained viral popularity on TikTok and helped Coi Leray solidify her footing in the music industry. She followed up with more music releases, including singles like "Slide" and "No More Parties."

Coi’s discography now includes two studio albums, two mixtapes, and 47 singles, including features. Give the GWORL her props. She has been workinnnnnnnnng. She also has a new project titled Blue Moon with an expected to release on August 30th, 2023.

Now that you are up to speed let’s get into COI and its trip through the Genreverse. I believe she channels her inner Spider-Man for the COI project. If you don’t know—she was a featured artist on METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER‐MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER‐VERSE: SOUNDTRACK. The breakthrough hot “Self Love” garnered worldwide attention. COI is the sophomore studio album by Leray, and it was released through Uptown and Republic Records in June 2023. Where most heard excessive sampling, I heard an admiration for many genres and a viable salute to all she has learned as a student in the music industry. She provided a roadmap about how all genres lead back to Hip Hop.

Welcome to the Genreverse.

Let’s take a look at the genres of COI:

Hip Hop

(Tracks: Bitch Girls, Bops, Players)

Techno

(Tracks: Make My Day, Phuck It)

Pop

(Track: My Body)

Latin/Jersey

(Track: Get Loud)

House/R&B

(Track: Spend It)

Afro-Beats

(Track: On My Way)

Hip Hop/Electronic

(Track: Don’t Chat Me Up) (The UK Hip Hop scene has electronic origins.)

Trap/Hip Hop

(Tracks: Run It Up, No Angels)

Soul Hop

(Track: Man’s World)

Rock Hop

(Track: Black Rose)

Reggae/ Dancehall

(Track: Radioactive)

Alternative rap

(Track: Come and Go)

From my point of view, Coi’s sophomore album has shown her dynamic music style, her respect for music history, her love for Hip Hop, and her fearlessness for sound experimentation.

Stream COI everywhere!

Coi Leray Enters the Generverse with COI