Benzino has 4 kids 2 of Them Followed in His Footsteps

Rapper and music producer Ray Benzino is the father of four children, and one of them is singer and rapper Coi Leray, who released her hit debut album in 2022.

The old saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” seems to apply to Ray Benzino’s kids. The rapper and producer has four very talented children, and two of them have followed in his footsteps in the music industry.

Benzino’s four children are Ray Ray, also known as Chavo, Coi Leray, Taj Collins, and Zino, and they grew up surrounded by music. The two oldest are making their name and on their way to stardom.

Ray Benzino at the Celebrity Boxing at the James L. Knight Center in 2021, in Miami, Florida. | Source: Getty Images

Ray Benzino describes himself as a rapper, an actor, a producer, the creator of Source Magazine, and the father of four children: Rayshaun, Coi Leray, Taj, and Zino.

Of the four, Ray Ray is the oldest, followed by Coi and her full brother Taj, and the family’s baby is Zino. Benzino revealed that none of his children’s mothers are musical, but two have followed in his footsteps into the music business.

Coi has claimed that she suffered hardship in her childhood through Benzino’s neglect.

Ray Ray, known to his fans as Chavo, is also a rapper, but Coi is set to outstrip her dad as the star in the family. She is the one that Benzino feels is the most like him, and it’s with Coi that he has a troubled relationship.

Coi Leray at the 2021 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

Coi Leray’s Achievements in the Music Industry

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 11, 1997, Coi Leray is Benzino’s second child and only daughter, and he has referred to her as his princess. Coi dropped out of school at 14, even though her father wanted her to go to college, and developed an interest in music in her mid-teens.

She told her father she would be a star, and that was when he realized she had inherited his determination. In 2022, before she dropped her debut album, Coi was in XXL Magazine’s “Freshman Class” list, which in previous years included Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion.

Her 2021 single “No More Parties” peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 –proud dad Benzino quickly pointed out that she has yet to supersede his greatest hit, the 2002 “Rock the Party,” which peaked at #20 on the US Hot Rap Songs Billboard.

Coi garnered three prestigious nominations for Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist at the 2021 American Music Awards and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best New Artist at the 2021 BET Awards.

Her debut album, “Trendsetter,” counted guests like Nicki Minaj, Fivio Foreign, and Lil Durk, among many others. Even though the critic’s reviews were mixed, the fans loved the album. Coi shared a series of photos of herself in the studio recording “Trendsetter” and captioned it:

“TAKES A TRENDSETTER TO KNOW ONE 👀 PHARRELL X CL.”

Coi Leray performs at Lil Baby & Friends Father’s Day weekend Concert in 2021, in Biloxi, Mississippi. | Source: Getty Images

Coi Leray’s Childhood Was Not an Easy One

Benzino has been effusive in praising his daughter but admits that there have been difficulties in their relationship due to his leaving her mother when Coi was nine years old.

The rapper confessed that he now realized that seeing her father on reality TV in “Love & Hip-Hop” with another woman after the separation must have been devastating for Coi, who remained with her mother.

She spent holidays and summers with her father, who bought her her first car –but he was strict, and Coi was going through a rebellious phase as a teen. She said:

“One thing my dad taught us was morals and respect. He was strict with me because I was the only girl — that’s why I grew up wearing baggy clothes. He didn’t like me wearing tight jeans (…) we didn’t have that daddy-daughter bond when I was growing up.”

Coi has claimed that she suffered hardship in her childhood through Benzino’s neglect. It didn’t help that in her first major hit, “No More Parties,” Coi took a pot-shot at her father in the lyrics. She sang:

“My daddy let me down, but I promise you, I won’t let up / I wanna say [expletive] that man, but the [expletive] won’t make me better.”

Father and daughter traded bitter comments on social media, but they seem to be improving their relationship and coming to terms with the past.

Taj Collins Is an Athlete

Taj Collins is Benzino’s second child with Coi’s mother. He was born on January 8, 2003, and unlike his sister, he likes to stay out of the limelight, but when Coi started rapping, she made a video with Taj.

Despite showing some youthful promise, Taj has focused his energy on sports and is a talented basketball player. His sister has shown her affection for Taj through social media, sharing photos of her little brother and commenting on his good looks.

Chavo Followed in His Father’s Footsteps

Ray Ray is Benzino’s first child and was born in 1995 in Boston. Like Coi, he has demonstrated he inherited his dad’s talent for music. He took his first steps in the music industry at age 7 when he appeared in Benzino’s music video for “Shine Like My Son,” a song he dedicated to Ray Ray. He sang:

“My lil’ 7-year-old son/ Rayshaun/ This ones for you (be so strong)/ If ever your travels get lonely/ Your troubled and feel all alone/ Remember virtues I share with you/ And let your life shine like the son.”

Ray Ray’s stage name is Chavo, and one of his songs, “Michigan,” has had over 24 million plays on Spotify. Chavo has also rapped with little sister Coi, Jelly, Bermuda Yae, Frazier Trill, Sharc, and J Billz.

Benzino has often posted Chavo’s music on his Twitter accounts and sent the young musician appreciative shoutouts. Chavo has a presence on social media, although not as strong as Coi’s.

Zino Is Benzino’s Best Friend

“Love & HipHop” fans will remember Althea Eaton as Benzino’s girlfriend. The couple welcomed a son, Zino, on November 11, 2015. But the romance between them ended badly.

Eaton was accused of assaulting Benzino, and later on, the rapper was arrested for assaulting her new boyfriend and damaging her car. But whatever the conflict between himself and Eaton, Benzino is devoted to Zino.

The rapper speaks warmly of his little boy and describes Zino as his best friend. He shared a sweet snap of Zino on Twitter is birthday and captioned it:

“Please wish my son, chef, glasses buddy, soccer teammate leggo builder and best friend in the whole wide entire world a Happy 7th birthday!!!!! LOVE U ZINO!!!!!”

It remains to be seen if young Zino will follow in his famous dad’s footsteps into music like his older brother and sister, or prove to be a sportman like his brother Taj.