Nelly Cottoy: Queen of Zess, Guyanese roots were never too far away.

By GT Music Scene / Hot Picks | August 4th, 2025

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Few artists can light up a room or a TikTok algorithm like Nelly Cottoy. With her magnetic energy, viral anthems, and signature blend of humor and heat, the self-proclaimed Queen of Zess has carved a lane all her own. But behind the BOOPs and the POOFs is a deeper story of heritage, identity, and rediscovery.

🇬🇾 Roots Run Deep

Although raised in Trinidad, Nelly’s Guyanese roots were never too far away.

“It didn’t actually influence my upbringing that much my mom moved to Trinidad as a child. But we stayed in touch with family, and last year I finally got to meet them in person. Now I visit every time I come to Guyana.”

From reconnecting with relatives to discovering cultural staples like pepper-pot, cook-up, and Guyanese Chinese food, her relationship with Guyana has evolved from distant familiarity to deep personal pride.

“Now my cousin Keon Smith and Deejay Alridge are my Guyana road managers. It feels full circle.”

💃 Queen of Zess: The Rise

Nelly didn’t just ride the Zess wave she helped create it.

“My first track ‘Like Man’ was done as a joke, but it blew up. Then came ‘Take People Man’ and ‘Machine Gyal (Shots)’ and the rest is history. Fans gave me the title ‘Queen of Zess.’”

But more importantly, she helped shape the movement itself.

“Everything was under Trinibad before. We started the Zess wave me, Trinidad Ghost, Trinidad Killa, Boidingo, and a couple others. We’re the foundation of Zess.”

From then on, it was hit after hit, with tracks like

FUH SPITE, BOOP, POOF, and now Manless Summer shaking up the Caribbean and stretching far beyond into the UK, Europe, and even Uzbekistan.

“BOOP has the world in a chokehold, and the promo hasn’t even really started yet.”

Homecoming, The Guyana Connection & Heritage

Performing in Guyana feels different for Nelly it feels like home.

“When I perform and hear Guyanese crowds singing along, it feels surreal. Like I finally connected to the part of me I never had a chance to before.”

It’s more than just music it’s legacy. Posters of her line the villages her family calls home. Her connection now moves beyond bloodline it moves culture.

“It feels good that my family can say, ‘that’s my cousin’ and feel proud. Even though I was raised Trinbagonian, Guyana is part of my story too.”

What’s Next for Nelly?

From unreleased international collabs to working with Dwayne Bravo’s 47 Productions, Nelly’s next chapter is already loading.

“I just dropped POOF and Manless Summer, and visuals are coming soon.”

And she’s keeping Guyana close in sound and in sight.

“I’m thinking of shooting a video in Guyana with Guyanese dancers, especially for one of my RuffKut singles. It’s all in motion.”

Nelly Cottoy is more than a viral artist. She’s a culture connector Trinbagonian by upbringing, Guyanese by blood, and Caribbean to the core. With a stage presence as bold as her lyrics, and a journey still unfolding, she’s here to prove that borders may shape us but they don’t define us.