If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok or scrolled through Hip-Hop Twitter lately, you’ve definitely seen the name Coi Leray. She’s the "Players" star with the infectious energy and the "Twinnem" vibe that basically took over the internet. But every time her name trends, another name usually follows close behind: Benzino.
So, who is Coi Leray’s dad? Honestly, it’s complicated.
He isn’t just some random guy in the background of her Instagram stories. Raymond Leon Scott, better known as Benzino, is a legacy figure in the rap game who has been a lightning rod for controversy since the 90s. Depending on who you ask, he’s either a media mogul, a reality TV star, or the guy who spent twenty years in a legendary beef with Eminem.
For Coi, he’s simply "dad," but that title comes with a whole lot of baggage that has played out very publicly over the last few years.
The Man Behind the Name: Who is Benzino?
Before he was known as Coi Leray’s father, Benzino was a massive player in the industry. Born in Boston, he started out as a rapper in groups like The Almighty RSO and Made Men. But his real power move happened in the boardroom, not the recording booth.
He became the co-owner of The Source magazine.
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Back in the 90s and early 2000s, The Source was the "Bible" of Hip-Hop. If you didn’t get a five-mic rating in The Source, you hadn’t arrived. Benzino, alongside co-founder David Mays, wielded incredible influence over who was "hot" and who wasn't.
Eventually, that power led to one of the biggest feuds in music history. Benzino used the magazine as a platform to go after Eminem, sparking a war that resulted in diss tracks like "Pull Your Skirt Up" and Slim Shady’s lethal "Nail in the Coffin." That beef didn't just stay in the 2000s; it’s actually still bubbling today, sometimes dragging Coi into the crossfire whether she likes it or not.
Life After The Source
After his tenure at the magazine ended amid legal drama and internal shifting, Benzino didn't just disappear. He pivoted. You might recognize him from:
- Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta: He was a staple for the first three seasons, where fans watched his volatile relationship with Karlie Redd and later Althea Heart.
- Marriage Boot Camp: Where he and Althea tried (and famously struggled) to fix their relationship.
- The Next 15: Another reality stint that kept him in the public eye.
A Family Divided: The Public Fallout
Growing up as the daughter of a mogul sounds glamorous, but Coi has been pretty vocal about the fact that it wasn't all private jets and jewelry. In fact, she’s mentioned that after her dad left The Source, things got tough.
She once told DJ Vlad that she grew up "one of the boys" in a house with five brothers, but also touched on periods of real struggle, mentioning sleeping in cars and even being on food stamps.
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Benzino hasn’t always taken these stories well.
The relationship really started to fracture publicly around 2021. When Coi released "No More Parties," she dropped lyrics that seemed to take a jab at her family life. Benzino went on social media to defend himself, claiming he provided for her and that her narrative of "struggling" wasn't entirely accurate.
It’s been a seesaw of emotions ever since. One month they’re posting "I love you" texts on X (like when they bonded over Latto mentioning Benzino's neck in a song), and the next, Coi is tweeting that she wants "nothing to do" with him after he made comments defending R. Kelly.
The Latest Update: Granddad Benzino?
Things took a wild turn in early 2025. Coi Leray shocked everyone on New Year's Day by announcing she was pregnant with her first child with partner Trippie Redd.
Benzino’s reaction? He found out when the rest of us did—through the internet.
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While he admitted it was "shitty" to not get a personal phone call, he actually took a surprisingly mature stance for a while. He told iHeartRadio that he just wanted his kids to prosper and be healthy. By June 2025, when Coi and Trippie welcomed their daughter, Benzino seemed genuinely hyped to be a grandfather for the first time.
However, by late 2025, the peace seemed fragile. In an interview with Carlos King, he confessed he didn't know where it all "unraveled." He’s a guy from the streets who didn't have a handbook for parenting in the spotlight, and that shows in how they communicate—mostly through viral clips and "sub-tweets."
Where they stand right now
- Estranged but watching: They don't seem to talk daily, but Benzino is clearly keeping tabs on her career and motherhood.
- Mutual Respect (Sometimes): Benzino attended her Rolling Loud set in 2023 and called it "surreal" to see her perform for the first time.
- The DNA Factor: Coi has been firm that "sharing the same DNA doesn't make us family," emphasizing that loyalty and respect are what matter most to her now.
What You Can Learn from the Leray-Benzino Dynamic
Watching this play out is like a masterclass in the "nepotism baby" conversation, but with a twist. Unlike some stars who have their path paved for them, Coi’s connection to her dad has often been a hurdle. She’s had to prove she’s more than just "Benzino’s daughter" while navigating his very loud public persona.
If you’re following their story, the best thing you can do is separate the art from the drama. Coi is carving out a legacy that is entirely her own, and while her dad will always be a part of her history, he isn't the author of her future.
To stay updated on Coi’s journey without getting lost in the tabloid noise, follow her official music releases and verified interviews. Most of the realest things she has to say about her father are buried in her lyrics—you just have to listen closely.