The cold reception Coi Leray’s album debut Trendsetter received in 2022 hurt after a run of hit songs. The 26-year-old, somewhat estranged daughter of Benzino took great satisfaction in entering the industry on her own. Nevertheless, Trendsetter’s crowded guest list, extensive dependence on autotune, and lack of cohesive artistic vision were criticized by critics. Leray’s attempt to compile every detail of her ascent to fame failed. Fans perceived a nepotistic infant with poorly spent production money rather than a self-made star.A less dedicated artist could have been inspired to pack it up by that kind of hostility. Leray, though, was resolved to view the experience as merely a stage in the process.
Demonstrating that perseverance is worthwhile, Leray triumphs with his sophomore album COI, which eschews over-the-top features and autotune in favor of showcasing his diverse range of inspirations, knack for pop hooks, and sex-positive flow. In the end, COI’s greatest strength is that Leray defied the critics’ wishes for her to set trends rather than follow them. Rather from conforming to the prevailing trends, Leray bases the record on a diverse selection of hit samples spanning multiple decades and genres. Leray’s taste is the only clear connection between the options, which is why it works so effectively. It conveys her musical inspirations authentically in a manner that Trendsetter failed to do. This time, the allusions emphasize Leray’s prominent role rather than taking away from it. Leray follows a more methodical approach on COI than on Trendsetter, which was a disorganized leap from musical fad to guest appearance to guest appearance. The audacious samples reveal a side of her character and preferences.
The spot-on interpretation of the Hall & Oates rock classic “Bitch Girl” portends the wide range of influences to come. The Lesley Gore classic is brought into the twenty-first century with “My Body,” when Leray declares her autonomy over her body. Additionally, “Man’s World,” which is a rendition of the iconic James Brown symphonic performance, provides a lovely setting for her reflections on the males in her family. Leray concentrates on a tight-knit group of dependable supporting players rather than a crowded and ostentatious guest list. This features Jamaican trap sensation Skillibeng, French DJ David Guetta, and fellow viral sensations Saucy Santana and Lola Brooke. Leray’s editing worked effectively; rather of being flittering interests, her experiments with dance-pop, rock, post-punk, and dancehall felt like sincere homages to genres she personally loves, each paired with a fitting partner. Her infectious confidence, nasal drawl, and skill with earwork hooks permeate every song. Even with the modifications, COI is able to maintain all that fans cherished about Leray prior to her label debut. Leray made a chart comeback for the first time since Trendsetter by sampling Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” for the unabashedly retro “Players.” Her hook game is still powerful as evidenced by the synth-infused “Run It up” and the Neptunes-inspired “Bops.”
English