Coi Leray Speaks On Music Industry Pressure Ahead Of 'Anxiety' Video Premiere
Coi Leray’s new single “Anxiety” is getting the visual treatment. The 2022 HipHopDX Rising Star took to Instagram to show two brief clips from the upcoming video, which she confirmed is set to drop on Thursday (February 10). The Los Angeles-based rapper also used the moment to speak on how she’s using both the single and video to bite back at music industry critics who think she doesn’t belong.
“They tried to knock me down but I always ended up back on top,” Leray wrote in her Instagram caption. “Being a young black female in this industry it’s tough, but I love what I do because I’m able to express myself freely.”
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View this post on Instagram
The “TWINNEM” rapper dropped “Anxiety” on January 28, the first single off her debut album. A release date has yet to be revealed, but on January 23 Leray confirmed via Instagram her forthcoming debut would contain 18 tracks.
“My album gonna have 18 songs,” she wrote in the caption. The photo, a contribution to the viral money challenge instigated by NBA YoungBoy and Lil Durk’s feud, featured dollar bills strewn all over Leray’s hardwood floors spelling out her nickname “Big Trendsetter.”
“Anxiety” is also Leray’s response to all the harassment she’s had to deal with in 2022. Before the single’s release in January, she was compared to fellow female rapper DeJ Loaf on Twitter and quickly pushed back at these comparisons. She also was heavily body shamed in 2021 by online trolls and forced to push back at those attacks as well.
“Get use to my braids because I’m never changing them,” Leray wrote on Twitter. “Get use to my body because I’m never changing anything on it. Lot of y’all do this bullying shit to every celebrity. I get it, y’all human. But a lot of people don’t understand how much it could kill someone. If you tryna kill me, just know I ain’t afraid to die. Im ready for whatever.”
Coi Leray is part of the 2022 HipHopDX Rising Stars, which includes EST Gee, Baby Tate, Nardo Wick and more. Read up on their burgeoning talents here.