Arei grew up speaking both Kriolu and English with her parents, who immigrated from Cape Verde, a small island chain off the coast of West Africa. She started performing at her neighborhood block parties and was asked to open for LL Cool J when she was 12. From that moment on, Arei knew the stage is where she was meant to be. Her family later moved to Orlando and Arei went on to sing in the school choir and eventually became a full-time musician after college. Arei and her husband are holding off on starting a family while she pursues her career as a solo artist.