Cola Boyy (1990–2024), pop musician and disability rights activist
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2 min readMatthew Urango, better known as Cola Boyy, was a disabled pop musician and songwriter whose singles included “Penny Girl” and “Kid Born in Space.”
- Died: March 17, 2024 (Who else died on March 17?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 34.
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Cola Boyy’s legacy
Urango was born with multiple disabilities: spina bifida, kyphosis, and scoliosis. As he grew up in Oxnard, California, he found his way to the skate punk community, and he began playing in punk bands after teaching himself how to play the guitar and piano. He released his debut solo single, “Penny Girl,” in 2018 and drew attention for his infectiously fun music, which reflected influences from disco, funk, house, and more. Further singles included “Buggy Tip,” “Beige 70,” and “Kid Born in Space,” the latter of which featured indie band MGMT.
With an increasingly large audience for his music, Urango spoke out about issues that mattered to him, including the difficulties in navigating the U.S. health system for disability benefits. He shared his own frustrating experiences with applying for benefits after being denied opportunities to work, and he advocated for others with disabilities to fight for their rights. Urango was also a self-described communist and anti-capitalist.
Notable quote
“If you’re disabled or if you’re poor, nothing is ever earned through asking nicely. They’re never going to give us anything when we ask nicely. Reforms and things are won, you have to fight for them and threaten them with, ‘We’re going to keep coming at you. If you take this away, we’re going to come at you harder.’” —from a 2021 interview for NME
Tributes to Cola Boyy
Full obituary: Billboard
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