{{Short description|American musician and disability activist (1990–2024)}} {{for|the 1990s UK dance act, Cola Boy|Saint Etienne (band)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Cola Boyy | image = Cola Boyy.jpg | caption = Urango in 2021 | birth_name = Matthew Joseph Urango | alias = The Disabled Disco Innovator | birth_date = {{birth date|1990|2|14|mf=y}} | birth_place = Ventura County, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|3|17|1990|2|14|mf=y}} | death_place = Oxnard, California, US | genre = {{hlist|Disco|pop<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/cola-boyy-pop-singer-songwriter-and-disability-activist-dies-at-34/|title=Cola Boyy, Pop Singer-Songwriter and Activist, Dies at 34|date=March 18, 2024|website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/19/cola-boyy-singer-dead-dies-writer-father-react-disability-activist/|title=Singer Cola Boyy Dead at 34, Father Reacts to Disability Activist's Death|date=March 19, 2024|website=TMZ}}</ref>|funk<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/cola-boyy-oxnards-funk-innovator-193836949.html|title=Cola Boyy, Oxnard's funk innovator and disabled activist, dies at 34|date=March 20, 2024}}</ref>}} | occupation = Musician, disability activist | label = Record Makers | website = https://colaboyy.bandcamp.com/ }}
'''Matthew Joseph Urango''' (February 14, 1990 – March 17, 2024), known professionally as '''Cola Boyy''', was an American musician and disability activist based in Oxnard, California. His debut EP, ''Black Boogie Neon'', was released in 2018. His debut album ''Prosthetic Boombox'' was released in 2021. Urango toured and collaborated with MGMT. His music has been described as belonging to the disco genre. ''NME'' compared his sound to "a disco ball melting or the after-effects of some particularly potent hallucinogenics".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|first1=Tom|last1=Skinner|date=April 29, 2021|title=Listen to Cola Boyy and MGMT's dreamy new collaboration, 'Kid Born in Space'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/mgmt-cola-boyy-single-kid-born-in-space-listen-2930663|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=NME|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231455/https://www.nme.com/news/music/mgmt-cola-boyy-single-kid-born-in-space-listen-2930663|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Life and career ==
=== 1990–2018: Early life and education === Matthew Joseph Urango was born in Oxnard, California, on February 14, 1990; from birth, he had spina bifida, kyphosis, and scoliosis, as well as a club foot.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|first1=Samuel|last1=Ribakoff|date=August 24, 2018|title=ICE Raids, Socialism, Beats: How Oxnard's Disco Pop Radical Cola Boyy Is Empowered by His Disability|url=https://www.lataco.com/ice-raids-socialism-beats-how-oxnards-disco-pop-radical-cola-boyy-is-empowered-by-his-disability/|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=L.A. TACO|language=en-US|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231505/https://www.lataco.com/ice-raids-socialism-beats-how-oxnards-disco-pop-radical-cola-boyy-is-empowered-by-his-disability/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He described himself as Afro-Latino.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|first1=A.D.|last1=Amorosi|title=Cola Boyy Is Breaking the Rules of Dance Music|url=https://floodmagazine.com/64538/cola-boyy-is-breaking-the-rules-of-dance-music/|date=July 26, 2019|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=FLOOD|language=en-US|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231457/https://floodmagazine.com/64538/cola-boyy-is-breaking-the-rules-of-dance-music/|url-status=live}}</ref> Urango had a non-disabled twin brother.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first1=Khalila |last1=Douze |title=Cola Boyy is making disco pop for the revolution |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/10/25/cola-boyy-oxnard-black-boogie-neon-interview |date=2018 |access-date=June 28, 2021 |website=The FADER |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231456/https://www.thefader.com/2018/10/25/cola-boyy-oxnard-black-boogie-neon-interview |url-status=live}}</ref>
A native of Ventura County, California, Urango said that he "basically taught [himself]" to play piano at his grandmother's house as a child.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name=":4" /> In high school he played in punk bands, playing his first backyard show aged 17.<ref name=":1" /> After graduating from high school, he searched for work but experienced discrimination due to his disability.<ref name=":4" /> He was employed for a time at Walmart until he was hospitalized with pneumonia due to being pushed to overwork by his employer.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|first1=Elizabeth|last1=Aubrey|date=June 28, 2021|title=Cola Boyy: California disco dude wants you to fight for your rights (and party)|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox-2979797|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=NME|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629011319/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox-2979797|url-status=live}}</ref> Before Cola Boyy, Urango played second guitar for indie pop band Sea Lions.<ref name=":2" />
=== 2018-20: Cola Boyy debut, Black Boogie Neon & Coachella === Cola Boyy released his debut single "Penny Girl" in July 2018. It featured a video by David Luraschi set in Oxnard, on the video Urango spoke to the Fader saying, "This is not just my world, but a part of me that's so vulnerable. All my differences are on the table, and my song plays in the background. Oxnard has so many bright colors and faces, it shows in the video. Isn't it nice?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=10 July 2018 |title=Take an offbeat tour of Oxnard in Cola Boyy’s "Penny Girl" video |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/07/10/cola-boyy-penny-girl-video-premiere |website=The Fader}}</ref>
The track was ranked #72 in ''Fader Magazine''{{'s}} "100 best songs of 2018".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 100 best songs of 2018|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/12/12/best-songs-2018-apple-music-spotify-playlist|date=2018|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=The FADER|language=en|archive-date=February 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218010646/https://www.thefader.com/2018/12/12/best-songs-2018-apple-music-spotify-playlist|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2018, "Buggy Tip" premiered on ''Vice''{{'}}s Noisey.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|first1=Daisy|last1=Jones|title=Cola Boyy is Making Weird Disco That Fits 2018 Like a Glove|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/cola-boyy-is-making-weird-disco-that-fits-2018-like-a-glove/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=vice.com|date=August 15, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629005836/https://www.vice.com/en/article/kzykbn/cola-boyy-is-making-weird-disco-that-fits-2018-like-a-glove|url-status=live}}</ref>
Cola Boyy released his debut EP ''Black Boogie Neon'' in September 2018.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|first1=Steffanee|last1=Wang|title=Enter the world's most inclusive club with Cola Boyy's "Beige 70" video|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/12/11/cola-boy-beige-70-video|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=The FADER|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231452/https://www.thefader.com/2018/12/11/cola-boy-beige-70-video|url-status=live}}</ref> The EP includes earlier releases "Penny Girl" and "Buggy Tip". The name of the EP comes from an early demo track about a fictional club of the same name where disabled people can enjoy themselves.<ref name=":4"/> In the video for "Beige 70", filmed at the real-life Le Peripate club in Paris, Urango is portrayed in this club as a part of a diverse cast of club-goers.<ref name=":5" /> Explaining the song's meaning, Urango said: "It's a love song about a girl at a club whose clothes are shabby and her friends are making fun of her, but it doesn't matter to me because she's a star. It's about being judged and accepted."<ref name=":5" />
In 2019, Cola Boyy performed at Pitchfork Paris.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |first1=Brian |last1=O'Flynn |title=Cola Boyy is putting in the work |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/cola-boyy-is-putting-in-the-work/ |date=March 19, 2022 |website=Crack Magazine |access-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629005824/https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/cola-boyy-is-putting-in-the-work/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He also was invited to perform at Coachella 2019 on the Sonara stage.
=== 2020-21: Work with The Avalanches, MGMT, & Prosthetic Boombox === In 2020, Cola Boyy collaborated with The Avalanches & Mick Jones on "We Go On", a single from The Avalanches' third album ''We Will Always Love You''.
In April 2021, he released the single "Kid Born in Space", featuring MGMT.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=Morris|date=January 14, 2019|title=This is our Culture|url=https://www.tmrwmagazine.com/features/culture/this-is-our-culture-cola-boyy|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=today was so yesterday {{!}} tmrw|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628231456/https://www.tmrwmagazine.com/features/culture/this-is-our-culture-cola-boyy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|first1=Chris|last1=Deville|date=April 28, 2021|title=Cola Boyy – "Kid Born In Space" (Feat. MGMT)|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2145778/cola-boyy-kid-born-in-space-feat-mgmt/music/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=Stereogum|language=en|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629011322/https://www.stereogum.com/2145778/cola-boyy-kid-born-in-space-feat-mgmt/music/|url-status=live}}</ref> Urango explained that the song is about his experience growing up as a disabled person.<ref name=":9" />
The debut Cola Boyy album, ''Prosthetic Boombox'', was released by the French label Record Makers in June 2021. The album features appearances from Nicolas Godin of Air and Andrew VanWyngarden. ''Paste'' gave the album a positive review, describing it as "an electrifying, catchy and colorful debut".<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Jason|last1=Friedman|date=June 23, 2021|title=Cola Boyy's Prosthetic Boombox Is a Radical Ode to the Self, Community and Power of Rhythm|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/cola-boyy/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox/|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=Paste|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628014109/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/cola-boyy/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, describing the record as a "delirious blast of disco, funk, house and psychedelia".<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hutchinson|first1=Kate|date=June 20, 2021|title=Cola Boyy: Prosthetic Boombox review – a joyously defiant sugar rush|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/20/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox-review-avalanches|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628040104/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/20/cola-boyy-prosthetic-boombox-review-avalanches|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 2025: Quit To Play Chess === The second and final Cola Boyy album, ''Quit To Play Chess,'' was released on May 23, 2025 on Record Makers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=17 Mar 2025 |title=First Posthumous Cola Boyy Album Announced: Watch the Video for New Song "Babylon" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/first-posthumous-cola-boyy-album-announced-watch-the-video-for-new-song-babylon/ |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> The album title is a reference to Marcel Duchamp who notably transitioned away from art to chess late in his career.
== Political views == Multiple features about Cola Boyy as a musician have made reference to his left-wing activism, which he became involved in around the time he began making music as Cola Boyy. Urango became politicized after participating in a radical reading group that he was invited to by a friend.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=September 24, 2018|title=Cola Boyy is a disco crooner, songwriter, and Marxist organiser|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/41488/1/cola-boyy-interview|access-date=June 29, 2021|magazine=Dazed|language=en|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629005836/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/41488/1/cola-boyy-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> He organized with Todo Poder Al Pueblo, a collective that advocates for immigrants and workers<ref name=":7" /> in Urango's home city of Oxnard.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenwood|first=Douglas|date=July 16, 2018|title=meet cola boyy, california's immigration activist who's resurrecting disco|url=https://i-d.co/article/meet-cola-boyy-californias-immigration-activist-whos-resurrecting-disco/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=i-D|language=en|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629011339/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/vbjeny/meet-cola-boyy-californias-immigration-activist-whos-resurrecting-disco|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also a member of APOC (Anarchist People of Color), which helps to organize free punk rock concerts accessible to all ages.<ref name=":6" />
Urango eventually distanced himself from these activist groups, after realising that they were detrimental to his mental health and career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Souza |first=Shaad |date=17 April 2025 |title=Remembering Cola Boyy, the disabled disco innovator |url=https://theface.com/music/cola-boyy-quit-to-play-chess-album-interview |website=The Face}}</ref>
==Death== Urango died on March 17, 2024, at his Oxnard home at the age of 34. No cause of death was disclosed. Speculations said that he was suffering from spinal health issues.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/arts/music/cola-boyy-dead.html|title=Cola Boyy, Indie Singer and Disability Activist, Dies at 34|last=Mayorquín|first=Orlando|date=March 20, 2024|accessdate=March 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240320103747/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/arts/music/cola-boyy-dead.html |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="LATimesObit">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=August |title=Cola Boyy, Oxnard's funk innovator and disabled activist, dies at 34 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-03-20/cola-boyy-oxnards-disco-funk-innovator-and-disabled-activist-dies-at-34 |access-date=March 23, 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 20, 2024 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321112738/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-03-20/cola-boyy-oxnards-disco-funk-innovator-and-disabled-activist-dies-at-34 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Strauss 2024">{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |title=Cola Boyy, Pop Singer-Songwriter and Activist, Dies at 34 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/cola-boyy-pop-singer-songwriter-and-disability-activist-dies-at-34/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |work=Pitchfork |date=March 18, 2024 |archive-date=March 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318235313/https://pitchfork.com/news/cola-boyy-pop-singer-songwriter-and-disability-activist-dies-at-34/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Cola Boyy Dead At 34 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2256149/cola-boyy-dead-at-34/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=March 18, 2024 |language=en |date=March 18, 2024 |archive-date=March 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318214811/https://www.stereogum.com/2256149/cola-boyy-dead-at-34/news/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Discography== === Studio albums === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width="42"| Year !width="210"| Album details |- | 2021 |align="left"| '''''Prosthetic Boombox''''' * Released: June 18, 2021 * Label: MGMT records * Format: Vinyl, digital download |}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width="42"| Year !width="210"| Album details |- | 2025 |align="left"| '''''Quit to Play Chess''''' * Released: May 23, 2025 * Label: Record Makers * Format: Vinyl, digital download |}
=== EPs === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width="42"| Year !width="210"| Album details |- | 2019 |align="left"| '''''Black Boogie Neon''''' * Released: September 21, 2018 * Label: Record Makers * Format: Vinyl, digital download |}
===Featured appearances=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! width="42"| Year ! Single ! Album |- | 2018 |align="left"| "Muchas" <small>(Myd featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''Non-Album Single'' |- |rowspan="2"| 2020 |align="left"| "Foundation" <small>(Nicolas Godin featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | "Concrete and Glass" |- |align="left"| "We Go On"<br/><small>(The Avalanches featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''We Will Always Love You'' |- |rowspan="3"| 2021 |align="left"| "Unity"<br><small>(Juan Wauters featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''Real Life Situations'' |- |align="left"| "Beat 100" <small>(Benny Sings featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''Beat Tape II'' |- |align="left"| "Fun Machine" <small>(Frank Leone, Tear Drop Estates Featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''Sundrop'' |- | 2025 |align="left"| "I Need It From You"<br><small>(Blasé featuring Cola Boyy)</small> | ''BLABLABLA'' |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs artist|Cola Boyy}} * {{IMDb name|15141153}}
Category:1990 births Category:2024 deaths Category:21st-century American male singers Category:African-American anarchists Category:American anarchists Category:American activists of Mexican descent Category:American disco musicians Category:Musicians from Oxnard, California Category:People with cerebral palsy Category:People with spina bifida Category:Singers from California Category:21st-century African-American male singers Category:American activists with disabilities Category:American musicians with disabilities Category:21st-century anarchists