Taj Collins: Benzino’s Son, Coi Leray’s Brother, and His Own Path

Who Is Taj Collins?

Taj Collins doesn’t need a stage name or a viral moment to turn heads — his last name does plenty of heavy lifting on its own. Born on January 8, 2003, in Boston, Massachusetts, Taj grew up at the intersection of hip-hop royalty and media controversy. His father is Benzino, the rapper and former co-owner of The Source magazine who’s spent decades making headlines both for his music and his public feuds. His sister is Coi Leray, the rapper behind the platinum-certified hit “Players” who’s become one of the most streamed female artists of her generation.

But Taj isn’t just someone’s son or someone’s brother. He’s a young man carving out his own identity in a family where the spotlight never really turns off. While he keeps a lower profile than his famous relatives, those who follow the Collins-Scott family closely know that Taj has his own creative ambitions — and a front-row seat to one of hip-hop’s most fascinating family dynamics.

Early Life in Boston

Taj Collins spent his earliest years in Boston, a city with deep roots in East Coast hip-hop culture. Growing up in the Collins household meant that music wasn’t just entertainment — it was the family business. His father Benzino had already established himself as a fixture in the rap world by the time Taj was born, and the sounds of studio sessions, industry conversations, and creative energy were part of everyday life.

Boston in the early 2000s wasn’t the easiest place to grow up with a famous parent. Benzino’s career brought both privilege and scrutiny, and the family navigated public attention from the time Taj was a toddler. Despite the chaos that sometimes surrounded his father’s professional life, Taj’s upbringing included the kind of musical education money can’t buy — direct exposure to the creative process from artists who’d actually lived it.

He grew up alongside his sister Brittany, who’d later adopt the name Coi Leray and launch her own rap career. The siblings shared a bond shaped by their unusual childhood, one where red carpets and recording booths were as normal as schoolwork and Saturday mornings.

His Father: Benzino’s Career, Controversies, and Legacy

To understand Taj Collins, you have to understand Benzino — and Benzino is anything but simple. Born Raymond Leon Scott on July 18, 1965, in Boston, Benzino first gained recognition as a member of the rap groups Almighty RSO and Made Men during the late 1980s and 1990s. But it was his role behind the scenes that made him a power player in hip-hop.

Benzino served as co-owner and chief brand executive of The Source, one of the most influential hip-hop magazines ever published. During its peak, The Source was the definitive voice of rap culture — its “Five Mic” album rating could make or break careers. Benzino’s position gave him enormous influence over which artists got coverage and how the genre was discussed in mainstream media.

That influence came with enemies. Benzino’s most notorious feud was with Eminem, a rivalry that erupted in the early 2000s and played out across diss tracks, magazine pages, and radio airwaves. Benzino accused Eminem of exploiting Black culture for profit and used The Source as a platform to publicly criticize him. Eminem responded with scathing bars, and the beef became one of the defining rap conflicts of the era. The fallout eventually contributed to Benzino’s departure from The Source and damaged the magazine’s credibility.

Benzino later reinvented himself as a reality television personality, appearing on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta starting in 2014. The show gave audiences a look at his personal life, romantic relationships, and ongoing desire to stay relevant in an industry that moves fast. He’s remained a polarizing figure — someone who inspires fierce loyalty in some corners and sharp criticism in others.

More recently, Benzino made headlines for a public feud with rapper Cardi B, exchanging barbs on social media in a conflict that drew millions of views and kept his name in the conversation. For Taj, watching his father navigate decades of public life — the triumphs, the controversies, the reinventions — has been an education in resilience and the cost of fame.

His Sister: Coi Leray’s Rise to Stardom

If Benzino represents old-school hip-hop hustle, Taj’s sister Coi Leray represents the genre’s new wave. Born Brittany Collins on May 11, 1997, in New Jersey, Coi Leray initially struggled to be taken seriously as a rapper — partly because of her father’s reputation and partly because the industry wasn’t sure what to do with her sound.

She proved the doubters wrong. Coi Leray’s breakout single “No More Parties” in 2021 put her on the map, blending melodic rap with unfiltered lyricism that resonated with a younger audience. But it was “Players” in 2022 that made her a household name. The track, which sampled Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message,” went platinum and peaked inside the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. It became one of the most-played songs on TikTok and cemented Coi Leray’s status as a mainstream force.

She signed with Republic Records and has since built a catalog that mixes party anthems with more personal, introspective tracks. Her relationship with her father has been complicated and public — Coi Leray has spoken openly about tension with Benzino, particularly around his social media behavior and his public feuds affecting her career. Despite the friction, the family bond remains, and Taj has navigated the space between his father and sister with the quiet diplomacy that comes from loving both.

For Taj, watching Coi Leray’s ascent from close range has been both inspiring and instructive. He’s seen the grind behind the glamour — the studio hours, the social media strategy, the industry politics — and he’s absorbed those lessons firsthand.

Taj’s Own Creative Path

Growing up with Benzino as a father and Coi Leray as a sister, it’d be surprising if Taj didn’t gravitate toward music. And he has. Taj has collaborated with Coi Leray on early projects, testing his own voice in an environment where the bar is set high and the feedback is honest.

He’s taken a measured approach to building his presence, avoiding the rush to go viral that consumes so many young artists from famous families. Instead of flooding social media with half-finished tracks or leveraging his family name for quick attention, Taj has focused on developing his craft and finding a sound that’s distinctly his own — separate from his father’s boom-bap roots and his sister’s melodic trap style.

It’s a smart strategy. The music industry is littered with celebrity children who rushed into the spotlight before they were ready and burned out just as quickly. Taj seems to understand that his family name opens doors, but it won’t keep them open. The work has to speak for itself.

Personal Life

Taj Collins keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye — a deliberate choice that separates him from the rest of his family. While Benzino regularly makes headlines and Coi Leray maintains an active social media presence with millions of followers, Taj has opted for a more private existence.

At 23 years old, he’s at an age where most young men are figuring out who they are outside their family’s expectations. For Taj, that process plays out against a backdrop few people can relate to: a father whose name still sparks debates in hip-hop circles, a sister whose songs play in arenas, and a family history that’s been documented on reality TV and dissected on social media.

He maintains close ties with both Benzino and Coi Leray, serving as a stabilizing presence in a family that’s often pulled in different directions by public drama. Those who know the family describe Taj as thoughtful, grounded, and genuinely passionate about music — someone who’s inherited his family’s talent without inheriting their appetite for conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Taj Collins related to Coi Leray?

Taj Collins is Coi Leray’s brother. They share the same father, rapper and media figure Benzino (Raymond Leon Scott). Coi Leray’s birth name is Brittany Collins, and the siblings grew up together in a household deeply connected to hip-hop culture.

Who is Taj Collins’ father?

Taj’s father is Benzino, born Raymond Leon Scott. Benzino is a rapper, former co-owner of The Source magazine, and reality TV personality known for his appearances on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. He’s also known for high-profile feuds with Eminem and, more recently, Cardi B.

Does Taj Collins make music?

Yes. Taj has pursued music and collaborated with his sister Coi Leray on early projects. He’s taken a gradual approach to building his career, focusing on developing his own sound rather than rushing to capitalize on his family’s fame.

How old is Taj Collins?

Taj Collins was born on January 8, 2003, making him 23 years old. He was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a Capricorn.

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