Coi Leray Is An "Alpha Female" Because Of Her Mother: "She's Dominant"

BY Erika Marie 6.7K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Matt Winkelmeyer / Staff / Getty Images
Coi Leray
YouTube's "Aritst on the Rise" shares her story in a new feature where Leray also talks about bossing up in a male-dominated industry.

All things considered, Coi Leray is making a name for herself when others, including her own kin, have often disrupted her shine. Despite the controversies and criticisms, Leray is a beacon of light in a jaded industry and she regularly chooses the high road when faced with obstacles. After delays, Leray's fans finally received her debut studio album, Trendsetter, this year, allowing YouTube to name the rapper their "Artist on the Rise."

To accompany the recognition, YouTube featured Leray in a mini-documentary where she discusses her career and development as an artist. She told the platform that her entire family is lovers of music and even revealed that her mother "liked trap music from the day I was born."

Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images

"My mom also loved Caribbean music and Jamaican music," Leray added. "My mom used to go in the car just to listen. What I admire is she’s strong, she’s confident, and she don’t let nobody tell her nothing; she’s dominant, she’s an alpha female, so that’s why I’m an alpha female. I’m dominant, I’m confident.”

“As a young female, a Black female artist in this industry...it’s tough. It’s a male-dominant industry and a lot of guys will make you feel like, ‘Girl, you gon’ listen to me.’ No, you gon’ listen to me! When I get up in the morning, I do what I do. So, you not gonna tell me who I am."

Check out more from Coi Leray and her feature with YouTube's "Artist on the Rise" below. 


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.