New Music Reviews

Cola Boyy Celebrated on Vibrant Posthumous Album Quit to Play Chess

  • March 17, 2025
  • 2 min read
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Cola Boyy Celebrated on Vibrant Posthumous Album Quit to Play Chess
Cola Boyy, Quit to Play Chess, Babylon, Joey Frank, disco-funk, hip-hop, R&B, posthumous release, Matthew Urango, MGMT, Marcel Duchamp, Record Makers, Oxnard, social justice, Coachella, album review

Cola Boyy worked passionately on his new album, Quit to Play Chess, finalizing its mastering on the very day of his unexpected passing. Now, the release itself stands as his only posthumous statement. Alongside the announcement, his team has shared the music video for “Babylon,” directed by Joey Frank.

“The video premieres exactly one year after Cola Boyy’s tragic passing,” says Frank. “Everything—from the choreography to the location, props, and casting—was shaped by text conversations we shared weeks and days before his sudden departure. Filming took place in Oxnard on Valentine’s Day, coinciding with what would have been Cola Boyy’s 35th birthday.”

Quit to Play Chess blends hip-hop and R&B elements, featuring samples, scratches, brass, and pitched vocals, evolving Cola Boyy’s sound without sacrificing its groovy essence. While his previous album was steeped in disco-funk, this record breaks new ground, offering deeply immediate songwriting.

Cola Boyy’s music remains a powerful voice against ableism, inequality, and xenophobia—always seeking unity over division. The album was crafted alongside collaborators Lewis Of Man, Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT), Jared Solomon (Remi Wolf, Lola Young, Fousheé), and Nate Fox (Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne).

The album’s title references Marcel Duchamp’s decision to prioritize chess over art—an echo of Cola Boyy’s own artistic journey and abrupt conclusion. Despite the poignancy of its context, Quit to Play Chess is vibrant, creatively fearless, and deeply reflective of his life.

Matthew Urango, known as Cola Boyy, embraced his identity openly as a disabled artist—living with spina bifida and scoliosis and proudly showcasing his prosthetic leg. Raised in Oxnard, California, his music was informed by his working-class background, local punk influences, and advocacy for social justice.

Initially discovered on Soundcloud by French label Record Makers, Cola Boyy gained recognition through singles like “All Power to the People” and “To Be Rich Should Be a Crime,” earning him tours alongside MGMT and a Coachella performance. His debut album, Prosthetic Boombox (2021), featured notable collaborations with Nicolas Godin (AIR), Myd, The Avalanches, and Andrew VanWyngarden.

Forced to remain in Oxnard during the pandemic, Matthew turned inward, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences for this new record, ensuring his revolutionary message continues to resonate.

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc.In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year.In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever.In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization.2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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