Cola Boyy, whose real name was Matthew Urango, has been confirmed dead, according to a statement from his “Record Makers” label.
The self-described “disabled disco innovator” was just 34 years old but had struggled with multiple spinal conditions throughout his life.
Cola Boyy’s Family Believes His Death Is Related To His Spinal Conditions
The musician’s father, Joseph Urango Jr., recently spoke to a news outlet regarding his cause of death following news of his passing.
According to Urango, Cola Boyy’s twin brother made the unfortunate discovery. He reportedly went to check on his brother when he found that he was not breathing.
Urango shared that paramedics were immediately called to their home, but unfortunately, Cola Boyy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Per the news outlet, Cola Boyy was on oxygen in his home, and he was still connected to the device when his brother found him unresponsive.
Now, amid an investigation into his cause of death, the musician’s family believes it may be linked to his spinal health issues. Throughout his life, Colaboyy struggled with multiple spinal conditions, including spina bifida and scoliosis.
His Record Label Announced His Passing
A statement from Cola Boyy’s music label, Record Makers, confirmed his death. The musician, who famously described himself as the “disabled disco innovator,” died on Sunday at age 34.
According to Stereogum, Cola Boyy was a multi-instrumentalist who had a thriving career in disco and dance music. Although he was still a newbie in the industry, he collaborated with major artists in the genre, such as MGMT and The Avalanches.
Cola Boyy was also well known for his confidence despite battling multiple spinal conditions. The statement from Record Maker read, “He was quite a soul, a man with no age, a childlike spirit with the musicality of an old legend…”
The label expressed appreciation for Cola Boyy’s lyrics, melodies, and vocal abilities, calling his music “unique and timeless.”
They added, “We loved him at Record Makers. We are sending all possible love to Matthew’s family and to his numerous friends. His music and power will remain.”
His Manager Paid Tribute On Social Media
Cola Boyy’s manager, Jack Sills, paid tribute to the late musician on his Instagram page.
His post read, “Rest in peace to my brother @colaboyy. Anyone who knew Matthew knows he had a larger-than-life personality. He was always the life of the party and could chop it up with anyone. He was also one of the most talented and down-to-earth people I’ve ever met.”
Sills further wrote that Cola Boyy “cared enormously for his family, friends and community” and often showed that love in his music. He then revealed that the artist had just finished work on his next album and planned to release new music and projects for fans this summer.
Sills wrapped up his statement by saying, “I will continue to work with his family and @recordmakers to make sure this happens. Love you, homie. Cola Boyy Forever!”
Fans shared their condolences and sent love to Cola Boyy’s family in the comments section of his Instagram posts.
Cola Boyy’s Career Took Off In 2018
Cola Boyy launched his music career in 2018 with the release of his Debut EP, “Black Boogie Neon.”
The singles “Penny Girl” and “Buggy Tip” from that album were very successful and brought Cola Boyy attention from the pop-psychedelic band MGMT. They later brought him as their opening act on their tour.
After that, Nicholas Goudin from the French duo “Air” asked Cola Boyy to write lyrics and provide vocals on “The Foundation,” a successful song from his solo album “Concrete and Glass.”
Cola Boyy also worked with electronic band The Avalanches on their 2020 album, “We Will Always Love You.” The musician co-wrote the song “We Go On” and provided vocals for it along with Mick Jones from “The Clash.”
Cola Boyy Was Also An Activist For Disability Rights
Aside from his music career, Cola Boyy was also a prominent activist for disability rights and the rights of all people of color. He collaborated with organizations like Todo Poder Al Pueblo and APOC (Anarchist People Of Color). With time, the musician started using his lyrics to pass across his social messages and beliefs.
During an interview with TMRW Magazine, Cola Boyy spoke about his beliefs on rights. He said, “Not a lot of people are visibly disabled. Society wants us to stay inside and to be timid and docile, and to not feel confident, or cool, or sexy. They just don’t want us to feel any of that, you know?”
The musician revealed that this societal expectation has “often weighed me down” but has never stopped him from living life and expressing himself. He added, “I’ve always been a very outgoing person but still not the most confident, I’m still very critical of myself.”
