Coely Mbueno was born in Antwerp in 1994 to Congolese parents. Already at a young age, she started singing in a church choir directed by her mother. She started rapping when she was 14 years old, at first covering Nicki Minaj in a local youth club. In 2012, she signed with independent record label Beatville, although she was also still attending school at the time. In September 2012, Coely's first song was released titled: Ain't Chasing Pavements.