Singer Cola Boyy attends the “Premier Cri” launch exhibition concert at Galerie Ground Effect on June 21, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo: Foc Kan/WireImage)
Cola Boyy, the rapper and disability activist from Oxnard who forged a music career and collaborated with giants in the independent music industry, has died. He was 34 years old that year.
The musician, whose real name was Matthew Urango, died Sunday, according to his record label.
Ulango was born with spina bifida, kyphosis and scoliosis, disabilities that affect his spine and hinder his movement. He uses his platform as a successful independent musician to raise awareness for other artists with disabilities and advocate for progressive causes.
According to a profile in tmrw magazine, Urango is multiracial, with his mother having Scottish and Portuguese ancestry and his father having Chumash, Mexican and African-American ancestry. He has a twin brother who is not disabled.
The self-taught singer and musician has a unique sound that’s as diverse as his upbringing, with his label describing his musical style as a mix of hip-hop and disco, with “punk with Latin rhythms.” Spirit” as a guide.
The record producer, who released several of his albums, announced his death on social media.
“He is a man of soul, a man without age, a childlike innocence, with the musicality of an old legend,” the label wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “His lyrics, his melodies, his voice: every aspect of his music is unique and timeless…”
He has collaborated with other musicians in the indie scene, including MGMT and seminal electronic band The Avalanches, who said of Urango: “Matthew is the most passionate, talented, passionate person you will ever meet. He is a man of his word. A man of promise.”
His family told TMZ they believe his death was related to the health issues he had been battling since birth.
Tributes to the artist poured in on social media, with fans and collaborators sharing stories about his character and the impact of this one-of-a-kind “disabled disco innovator.”
