COI LERAY LEARNS FROM HER MISTAKES ON ‘COI’

The frosty receptionCoi Leray’s studio debut Trendsetter got in 2022 hurt after a succession of hit songs went viral. The 26-year-old, partially estranged Benzino daughter took satisfaction in having entered the industry on her own two feet.

However, Trendsetter’s strong guest roster, extensive use of autotune, and lack of artistic cohesiveness were criticized by critics. Leray’s attempt to tie together every aspect of her ascent to fame failed. Fans perceived a nepo baby with a poorly spent production budget instead of a self-made celebrity.

A less dedicated artist could have decided to give up after encountering that kind of hostility. Leray, though, was resolved to make the experience only a preliminary step. Leray’s second album, COI, shows that perseverance pays off; it is a follow-up that removes superfluous elements and autotune and puts the emphasis back on Leray’s diverse range of inspirations, aptitude for pop hooks, and sex-positive flow.

The main advantage of COI is ultimately what the critics wanted Leray to do: establish the trends rather than follow them. Leray constructs the album around a varied mix of hit samples that spans many decades and genres rather than the usual allusions to current trends. Leray’s taste is the only evident connection between the options, which is why it works so effectively. It’s a more accurate representation of her musical inspirations than Trendsetter was. This time, the allusions support Leray’s position in the limelight rather than taking away from it.

Leray chooses a more methodical course on COI as opposed to Trendsetter, which was a wild swing from musical trend to musical trend and guest appearance to guest appearance. The obnoxious samples reveal a side of her character and taste. The obvious rearrangement of the Hall & Oates rock hit in “Bitch Girl” foreshadows the diverse range of influences that would come later. The Lesley Gore classic is brought into the present with “My Body,” in which Leray proclaims her sovereignty over her body. Her reflections on the males in her family are set against the lovely backdrop of “Man’s World,” which has a unique take on the timeless symphonic James Brown song.

Leray concentrates on a small but potent supporting cast rather than a packed and gimmicky array of guests. In addition to French DJ David Guetta and Jamaican trap musician Skillibeng, this group also features other viral sensations Saucy Santana and Lola Brooke. The editing worked well for Leray since her experiments into dance-pop, rock, post-punk, and dancehall all sound like sincere homages to genres she genuinely values, with the right partner. Her nasally drawl, infectious confidence, and talent for earwork hooks permeate every track.

Despite the modifications, COI is still able to keep all the qualities that fans adored about Leray prior to her label debut. Leray’s comeback to the charts after Trendsetter was made possible by sampling Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” on the shamelessly vintage “Players” track. Her hook skills is still powerful as seen by the Neptunes-inspired “Bops” and the synth-heavy “Run It up.”

After Trendsetter’s failure and the accompanying uproar, Hip Hop fans might be reluctant to listen to Leray’s next attempt. But don’t misinterpret Leray’s initial response to the criticism as a continued inability to take advice into account and make creative progress. Leray is improving her craft while clinging to the qualities that made her unique at first, and COI is evidence of this. As a result, there is space for improvement in this enjoyable, humorous demonstration of women’s strength and tenacity on the battlefield.