Coziboycee* wasn’t born with it all figured out, and he’ll be the first to tell you that. A product of a Caribbean household — Haitian and Jamaican roots — Cozi was raised with structure, but life still shaped him the hard way. Born in Norwich, CT, and moving through Manchester to East Hartford by middle school, his environment molded him — not into a street kid, but into someone determined to be the best to do it.

Early Life and Inspirations, Loss of Zaid

Music found Cozi early. He was freestyling as a kid, rapping for fun before it ever became serious. By 2019, he was locked in. Originally going by the name Cunorthodox, he later rebranded as CoziBoyCee in 2023 — a fresh start after years of melodic experimentation and navigating life’s ups and downs. That same year, he dropped his self-titled debut album CoziBoyCee, signaling a shift away from autotune into raw, authentic rap grounded in lived experience.

But CoziBoy’s story isn’t just about music. It’s about survival. Getting kicked out of his mom’s crib around 17 or 18, he spent a few years in Massachusetts — at times homeless. “I used to make money for fun, but then I understood the importance of financial security,” he says. His message to the youth: save your bread, stay sharp, and don’t be fooled by fast money. He’s seen people lose up to $30K in months. “Have your money working for you.”

The loss of his friend Zaid (Pictured Below) to gun violence was a turning point. 

It crushed him — but also lit the fire. That pain birthed Z, a tape dedicated to his fallen brother, and marked his full embrace of no-autotune, journal-style music. Through it, Cozi solidified his voice. Lyrics like "Thinking bout my Brother Z, Why my niggas had to leave, Only thing that chill me out, When Im smoking on the tree" express the weight of his loss.

 

Additionally, In October of that same year he dropped his critically acclaimed Sophomore Album, A self titled album, "CoziBoy".

 

A Connecticut Pioneer, Cop28Grams, Cozi Eight Studios.

As one of the early architects of Connecticut’s underground SoundCloud wave, CoziBoyCee’s melodic foundation was ahead of its time. Listeners didn’t catch on immediately. “But once it clicked, it clicked.” He once worked closely with MGuapo before their sounds diverged; Aswell as Chicago Native producer J Dolla who now works with the likes of artists like Drake, D Savage, and Lancey Foux. Coziboy says that his experiences working with J Dolla early in his career proves that anyone can make it. Now partners with Cop28Grams in running Cozi Eight Studios — a Hartford-based creative hub where they push “printer music,” their money-minded, motivational lane. It’s not about flexing violence. As Cozi says, “Goodfellas, Sopranos — you don’t see them talking about what they could do.” That quiet power? That’s the blueprint.

Cop28grams pictured above

Stephen (Left), CoziBoyCee (Right)

StephMoneyMedia and CoziBoyCee, Colorized. 2024, "Stripper Musik"

Who is CoziBoy Tapped into?

Coziboycee’s playlist runs deep: from Kid Cudi, who first inspired him, to Jay-Z, Veeze, Babyface Ray, and even underground legends like RXK Nephew and RX Papi. His palette is wide, and his bars reflect that — competition-tested, introspective, and free of gimmicks.

Whats next for CoziBoyCee?

Though he's selective about dropping music, he stays visible through reels on his instagram page, interviews, and tapping in with creatives across New England and Upstate. He’s not here for clout. “I can’t fake it,” he says. “I can’t go into the Stu and talk about something I don’t know about.”

With 2025 in full swing, CoziBoyCee is building toward bigger milestones — from making Cozi Eight Studios a staple in Connecticut to chasing that six-figure goal. “It’s a rack race,” he says. But don’t mistake ambition for ego. Cozi remains grounded, dedicated to uplifting his team and delivering real, lasting impact.

His collective, Cozi, is bigger than one rapper. While he’s the sole artist in the booth, others like JuStayCozi, CoziBoyJosh, T Porter, CoziCertified and StephMoneyMedia play key roles in event promotion and expanding the brand’s reach. Look out for his recent EP Paid in Full, and stay tuned for the upcoming joint project with Cop28Grams.

As Cop28 says, “You can’t hear a tree grow — it just happens.” Coziboycee agrees. “In two years, they’ll look back and realize we did everything we said we would.”

And if you know, you know — Coziboycee isn’t just rapping. He’s writing a blueprint.

(Mad Z - CoziBoyCee)

Author, GetFreeGabos