Coi Leray’s father Benzino broke down in tears in a recent interview over claims that he’s a “deadbeat” father to the burgeoning rap star.
During an appearance on the We In Miami Podcast on Thursday (July 27), the 58-year-old music industry veteran opened up about his rocky relationship with Coi.
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Host Slim Stunta asked Benzino if he felt his daughter owed him an apology, to which he responded by saying: “I got thick skin, man. I’m one of those people like, let’s just forget it and move forward.”
The former Source magazine publisher then became visibly emotional over the discussion about his 26-year-old daughter.
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“I went through a lot, man,” he said while crying. “And it was hard for me to be looked upon — like I’ve been called all kinds of shit, but a deadbeat dad? Come on, man.
“I love my daughter. I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be known as that. I don’t care what people think, but that hurt me. That’s my daughter, I raised her.”
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He added: “When people say I hate on Coi’s career and jealous and all this, that shit is like, man, it’s evil. Because my love is huge for that little girl, man. That’s my little girl, man …
Benzino then admitted that he isn’t “proud” of arguing with Coi Leray on social media, describing their public spat as “one of the worst things I’ve been through in my life. I’ve been through hell.”
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Towards the end of the clip, Benzino teared up again while speaking about watching Coi Leray’s recent performance at Rolling Loud Miami. He described the experience as “surreal” and said the only thing he was looking for was “closure.”
Following her set at the Florida festival last weekend, the “Players” hitmaker was conducting an interview backstage when she signaled her father to come and join her, leading to a touching moment between the pair.
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“I’m just saying, she’s amazing,” Benzino told the interviewer. “Like for real, no bullshit. I love her. Seeing her like that … You can say I’m biased, but honestly, like, I don’t see nobody else doing that. She’s amazing, man.”
Coi Leray revealed it was “the first time he ever, ever seen me perform,” before backing up her father’s lofty praise by confidently asserting she’s “carrying this Hip Hop shit, this legacy shit.”
Things weren’t always so rosy between the daddy-daughter duo, though. In a March 2021 Twitter rant, Coi Leray admitted that she was ashamed to be Benzino’s daughter.
“And this is why I NEVER WANTED ANYBODY TO KNOW!!!” she wrote at the time. “I’M EMBARRASSED TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER. I should have been a boy your right cause I would have knocked you the fuck out already. NUMB TO THE PAIN!! I’m hurting right now but it’s all good. Ima be the one to PUT US RIGHT BACK IN THAT MANSION.”
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She later apologized for the social media tirade, saying: “Forgive me for stepping out of character. I thought I prepared myself for this moment but I’m still not ready. I’m still angry. Don’t hold grudges.
“Let miserable people be miserable and just love from a distance. That was a test and I feel like I failed by responding. Not everything needs a response. It’s cool, I’m learning. Always room for growth.”
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The following year, Benzino mocked his daughter on Instagram after her debut album Trendsetter sold just 11,000 units in its first week.
However, the Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta alumnus pleaded his innocence by claiming he was hacked.
Even so, Leray responded with a tweet that read: “God has been the best father to me. I can’t complain about anything. My debut album is amazing and not one song can you say is bad. It been 5 days. I understand Coi Leray is so viral & works good on blogs headlines but trust me, it’s all part of the game just ride out andstayfocus.”
Then, last May, the pair butted heads again after Benzino criticized the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for inducting his longtime rival Eminem before Black Hip Hop legends like Nas, Rakim and Lauryn Hill, “claiming they “have no respect for our culture, Black or Hip Hop.”
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Coi let it be known that she didn’t share her father’s point of view by tweeting: “I’m about love, equality, respect and forgiveness. I have nothing against Eminem, 25 years of my life all I know is he a very talented artist and actor ! (8 Mile was great). Let’s build bridges and get over them before you burn the bridge and burn with it.”
Benzino didn’t take too kindly to her statement as he fired back with: “As far as the lil [parrot emoji] who keeps talking about love and forgiveness. Well there’s this word called ‘loyalty’ and a commandment that says ‘Honor thy Mother and Father’ As far as burning bridges, there no bridge bigger than the one you burnt with your own blood.”
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He then claimed that he would be taking a step back from her life, writing: “I LOVE & ADORE my only daughter but I will just have to do it from a distance.”
