Players

Album: Coi (2022)
Charted: 7 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Coi Leray delivers bold and boastful lyrics that exude a playful swagger. She highlights the idea that women like her can also take on traditionally masculine "player" roles like achieving financial success and making independent choices. The lyrics also promote self-assurance and rejection of men who cannot provide a desirable lifestyle. On the unshakeable hook, Leray sums up her straightforward message: "Girls is players, too."
  • Leray wrote the song with producer Johnny Goldstein, alongside WorldWideFresh and Feli Ferraro. Goldstein samples the backing track of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's 1982 classic hip-hop single, "The Message."

    Israeli producer and songwriter Johnny Goldstein produced 12 tracks on Black Eyed Peas' Translation album, including the singles "Mamacita," "Vida Loca" and "Girl Like Me." His other credits include Galantis featuring David Guetta & Little Mix's "Heartbreak Anthem" and Faouzia & John Legend's "Minefields."
  • Coi Leray freestyle rapped her rhymes in one take.
  • Leray released "Players" on November 2022. Two weeks later, she dropped a Jersey club remix created alongside DJ Smallz 732. The new version became a TikTok viral hit and helped the song into the charts.

    Jersey club is a fast-paced and energetic style of club music characterized by high-tempo beats and electronic synth sounds. It originated in Newark, New Jersey in the late 2000s.
  • Leray released a video for the Jersey club remix where the East Coast artist shows love to New Jersey with an impromptu block party.
  • Coi Leray started working with more writers towards the end of 2022. She'd collaborated with writers in the past but was a little stubborn. "Like, 'I don't need nobody to write for me,'" she told Billboard. Now Leray appreciates the value of having a structure for songs and the different perspectives that writers can bring. However, this track came about when she reverted to freestyling.

    When Leray went into her session with Johnny Goldstein alongside WorldWideFresh and Feli Ferraro, the group spent an hour and 20 minutes working on a song that ultimately didn't turn out well. Frustrated, she decided to try something different. "This not sounding right. It's too generic. Let me go in there and try something else and do some straight rap s--t," she told them. "No f---king melodies." Leray hopped on the mic and it just flowed: "Girls is players too."
  • Leray had recently been hanging out with Diddy and credits some of her inspiration to the experiences and energy from those parties and vacations.

    Apple bottom make 'em take a bite
    I just want to have a good night


    "That's me just staying in monotone," explained Leray. "I felt like at this moment, we knew this was it."
  • Soon after the release of "Players" in November 2022, New York DJ Saige created a remix when he switched Johnny Goldstein's production for the beat from Busta Rhymes' "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.