Navraj Singh Goraya(born November 3, 1989), known professionally asNav,is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He began his career in the mid-2010s as a producer for other artists before shifting to a recording career. He was credited on the 2015 single "Back to Back"by Canadian rapperDrake,which peaked within the top 30 of both theCanadian Hot 100andBillboardHot 100.He signed with Canadian singerthe Weeknd's record label,XO,an imprint ofRepublic Recordsin 2016.

Nav
Nav in 2018
Nav in 2018
Background information
Birth nameNavraj Singh Goraya
Born(1989-11-03)November 3, 1989(age 35)
Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Discography
Years active2015–present
Labels
Management
Websitenavmusic.com

Nav gained mainstream attention for his 2016 single "Myself",and his guest appearance onTravis Scott's single "Beibs in the Trap",both of which receivedtriple platinumcertifications by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA). In 2017, he released hisself-titled debut mixtapeand a collaborative mixtape withMetro BoomintitledPerfect Timing,both of which moderately entered theBillboard200.In 2018, Nav released his debut studio album,Reckless,and was the subject of numerousinternet memeslater in the year for his appearance alongsideGunnaon the single "Yosemite"by Travis Scott, due to a technical error on the song that was later fixed.

His second and third studio albums,Bad Habits(2019) andGood Intentions(2020), both debuted atop theBillboard200.The latter spawned the single "Turks"(with Gunna featuring Travis Scott), which peaked at number 17 on theBillboardHot 100 and remains his highest-charting song as a lead artist. Later that year, Nav appeared onInternet Money's single "Lemonade",which peaked at number six on theBillboardHot 100 and remains his highest-charting song overall. His fourth studio album,Demons Protected by Angels(2022), peaked at number two on theBillboard200, while his fifth,On My Way 2 Rexdale,is slated for release in 2025.

Early life

edit

Navraj Singh Goraya was born on November 3, 1989, inToronto,Ontario,into an immigrantPunjabiSikhfamily, fromPunjab,India.He was raised in theRexdaleneighbourhood. His mother was involved in computer manufacturing and his father operated a forklift.[1]Nav first became interested in music after his mother bought him a boombox in the third grade.[2]His uncle was also apopular Punjabi singerinIndiaand brought him to a studio.[3]He began making mash-ups in high school and producing beats for local underground Toronto artists, and became popular onSoundCloud.Nav first started producing usingSony'sACID Prosoftware.[1]He attended West Humber Junior Middle School and then later attendedThistletown Collegiate Institutefor his high school education and had to spend an additional year to graduate. Following high school, he attended and graduated fromMetalworks InstituteinMississauga, Ontarioin 2010 with a diploma in Audio Production and Engineering.[4]Nav also mentions that he briefly worked as anApprenticein theElectricalIndustry as anElectricianbefore quitting to pursue his music career full time.[5]

Career

edit

2015–2018: Commercial debut,Nav,andPerfect Timing

edit

On July 29, 2015, fellow Canadian rapper and singerDrakereleased the single "Back to Back",which Nav helped co-produce. On September 4, 2015, Nav released one of his earliest singles onSoundCloudandYouTube,"Take Me Simple", which has accumulated over eighteen million listens. He released the single "Ten Toes Down" (abbreviated as "TTD" on streaming services) on SoundCloud and YouTube on December 15, 2015. In 2016, another one of his SoundCloud and YouTube-exclusive singles, "The Man", was played on Drake'sOVO SoundRadio.[6][7]On January 12, 2016, Nav released the single "Myself"on SoundCloud and YouTube, which quickly became his biggest song at the time, earning him numerous cosigns, including one from American model and internet personalityKylie Jenner.On June 4, 2016, he released the single "Up" on SoundCloud and YouTube. Following the popularity of the singles, he was signed toXOandRepublic Records,after being called by his now-managerAmir "Cash" Esmailian.[8]On September 2, 2016, Nav was featured on and solely produced the single "Beibs in the Trap"byTravis Scott,as part of the latter's second studio album,Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight,in which the song reached number 90 on the USBillboardHot 100and was eventually certifieddouble platinumby theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA) after selling over two million copies.[9][10]

Nav atCoachellain 2017

On December 24, 2016, American record producerMetro Boomin,who helped produce "Up", took toTwitterto announce that he and Nav would be releasing a collaborative project in 2017. On February 15, 2017, Nav released his debut single, "Some Way"featuringthe Weeknd,who is his label boss from XO, as the lead single from hisself-titled debut mixtape,which was released exactly nine days later.[11]Exactly, one week after the release of the single, Nav tweeted that his collaborative mixtape with Metro Boomin would be titledPerfect Timing."Myself" was chosen as the second and final single from Nav's self-titled mixtape as it was sent torhythmic contemporary radioon April 11, 2017.[12]On July 14, 2017, Nav and Metro Boomin released "Perfect Timing (Intro)"and"Call Me",the dual lead singles ofPerfect Timing,which was released exactly a week later.[13]

2018–2019:RecklessandBad Habits

edit

On November 7, 2017, Nav was featured on the single "Bali"by Canadianhip hopduo88Glam,which consisted of rappers and now-former XO signeesDerek Wiseand88Caminobefore the duo split in late 2022, as part of the duo'sself-titled debut mixtape.Three days later, he released the single "Wanted You"featuring Lil Uzi Vert, which became his first single as a lead artist, as well as a credited artist, to chart on theBillboardHot 100,reaching number 64.[14]In February 2018, Nav received aJuno Awardnomination forBreakthrough Artist of the Yearat theJuno Awards of 2018.[15]On March 16, 2018, he released the single "Freshman List",which saw him taking aim at the magazineXXLfor not including him in their segment of the same name to highlight up-and-coming artists in 2017.[16]On April 6, 2018, Nav was featured on the single "Maintain"by fellow XO signeeBelly,which later appeared on the latter's second studio album,Immigrant.[17]On April 26, 2018, during his concert for his "Freshman Tour" in Los Angeles, he announced that he would be releasing two projects that year, in which he said that his debut studio album would be titledRecklessand that he would also be releasing another collaborative mixtape with Metro Boomin titledPerfect Timing 2,which is a sequel to their project together that was released in 2017, but the latter project has still not been released as of 2023. The next day, Nav took to social media to announce that Travis Scott, who came out to perform "Beibs in the Trap" with him onstage the previous day, would be featured on a song fromReckless.On May 18, 2018, Nav releasedReckless,with "Wanted You" and "Freshman List" serving as the respective lead and second singles.[18][19]"Champion"featuring Travis Scott was chosen as the third and final single from the album as it was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on June 26, 2018.[20]On August 3, 2018, Nav was featured alongsideGunnaon the single "Yosemite"by Travis Scott, as part of the latter's third studio album,Astroworld,which he received worldwide attention because his voice was initially mixed at a lower volume, but it was fixed and re-released with a better mix at the correct volume eight days later.[21][22][23][24]

On November 2, 2018, Nav released the single "Know Me".[25]He received twoJuno Awardnominations forFan ChoiceandRap Recording of the Yearat theJuno Awards of 2019forReckless.On March 22, 2019, Nav released his second studio album,Bad Habits,with "Know Me" serving as the lead single.[26]Four days later, he released the deluxe edition of the album and "Price on My Head"featuring the Weeknd was chosen as the second single of the album on the same day.[27][28][29]It debuted number one on theUSBillboard200.[30][31]"Tap"featuringMeek Millwas chosen as the third and final single from the album as it was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 7, 2019.[32]On June 28, 2019,Mustardreleased his third studio album,Perfect Ten,with Nav featured alongsidePlayboi CartiandA Boogie wit da Hoodieon the fourth track, "Baguettes in the Face".[33]

2020:Good Intentions,Brown Boy 2,andEmergency Tsunami

edit

On March 27, 2020, Nav released a collaboration with Gunna titled "Turks"featuring Travis Scott.[34][35]The song became his highest-charting song in the United States as it reached number 17 on theBillboardHot 100and served as the lead single from his third studio album,Good Intentions.The album was released on May 8 and debuted at number one on the USBillboard200.[36]Three days later, Nav released its deluxe edition with a reissued album titledBrown Boy 2,which also serves as a sequel to his unofficial EP,Brown Boy,which his manager Cash released exclusively on Audiomack in 2019.[37]Soon after the release of the albums, Nav released a merchandise collaboration withVloneandVirgil Ablohfor the album.[38]On August 14, Nav was featured on the single "Lemonade"by record labelInternet Money,Gunna, andDon Toliver,which later appeared the label's debut studio album,B4 the Storm,and gave Nav his highest-charting song ever as it reached number seven on the Hot 100.[39]On November 6, 2020, Nav released his second commercial mixtape,Emergency Tsunami.[40]Five days later, he released a bonus version of the mixtape.[41]"Young Wheezy",a collaboration with Gunna, was chosen as the lead and only single from the mixtape as it was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on January 12, 2021.[42]

2022–present:Demons Protected by AngelsandOn My Way 2 Rexdale

edit

On June 27, 2022, Nav shared that his fourth studio album would be titledDemons Protected by Angels.On July 29, he released a collaboration with Lil Baby as the album's lead single titled "Never Sleep"featuring Travis Scott.[43]Nav solely produced the second single, "Wrong Decisions", which was released on August 23, 2022.[44]The album was released on September 9, 2022, and a collaboration with Don Toliver, "One Time",featuringFuture,was chosen as the third single four days later.[45]On October 1, 2022, Nav shared that he would be releasing his third commercial mixtape,Nav2,a sequel to his self-titled mixtape, which was released back in 2017.[46]On February 10, 2023, he released the single "Lately",which is expected to serve as the lead single from the mixtape.[47]On May 21, 2023, Metro Boomin joined Nav onstage during the latter's performance at the Metro Metro Festival in Montreal, which was before his own set at the festival, in which the two announced that their collaborative mixtape,Perfect Timing 2,which was originally announced in 2018, would be released soon.[48]Exactly ten days later, Nav released a collaboration with Metro Boomin andSwae Leetitled "Calling"featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie, which later appeared on Metro's firstsoundtrack album,which was for the filmSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.[49]

In April 2024, Nav performed twice at theCoachellafestival in Indio, California, on April 14 and April 21, where he announced the titleOn My Way 2 Rexdaleat the end of his performance on the former date although it was unclear whether it was a single or a project and performed the then-unreleased song from the album titled "Red" on the latter date.[50]On May 14, he released a trailer video for the album, where he confirmed the title of the album and announced that it would be released in the middle of that year, while also hinting atFuture,Don Toliver,andPlayboi Cartibeing some of the potential guest appearances on the album.[51]On July 31, 2024, Nav released the lead single of the album, "Rexdale".[52]Two days later, he released the second single, "6AM Thoughts", which is a collaboration with American rapperBay Swagthat features fellow American rapperCash Cobain.[53]On August 16, 2024, Nav was featured on a new version of Australian singerLithe's single, "Fall Back".[54]

Controversies

edit

In early 2017, Nav had received backlash for saying the word "nigga" in some his songs.[55]In an interview withComplexon July 21, 2017, Nav stated that the neighborhood he grew up in is very "multicultural" with members of the "Chinese to white to black to Jamaican" openly using the word with one another. He admitted that he and his friends constantly used the word with one another, but he saw some backlash once he had gained some popularity. He also stated that he would not say the word in his music anymore, starting from his collaborative mixtape withMetro BoomintitledPerfect Timing,which was released on the same day as the interview.[56]

Nav publicly criticizedXXLthrough a series of tweets andInstagramposts along with releasing the single "Freshman List"on March 16, 2018.[57]His main reason for criticizing the magazine was due to not being selected for the 2018 freshman cover. In his tweets, Nav shared his thoughts that had ranged "from angry and bitter to motivational and inspirational". After his tweets and release of the single, Nav began addressing the outlet's editor-in-chief Vanessa Satten through now deleted Instagram posts and further continued to criticize the outlet.[58]

In March 2019, during an interview withPitchfork,Nav was quoted by an interviewer to say: "Fame is something I want, it's a good problem to have. I'm still not there, because when I walk out of fucking Delilah in L.A. andTMZwill be standing out there with cameras and not even take a picture of me, I get sick. I get in my fucking Lambo truck right in front of them. All my jewelry on and they don't even take one picture ".[59]However, he later clarified that this was taken out of context, as "sick" is in fact a positive term in Toronto slang, and rather than being disgusted for not being recognized, he is grateful to still have anonymity as a celebrity.[60]Nav further stated in thePitchforkinterview that he hoped his latest project,Bad Habitswould help him become more noticed by TMZ along with other paparazzi. A week later, a TMZ interviewer found Nav in New York and did a brief video interview with him, asking him questions about a possible collaborative project withLil Uzi Vert.[61]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

Concert tours

edit
Headlining
Supporting

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Awards Category Work Result
2018 Juno Award Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated
2019 Juno Award Fan Choice Nominated
Rap Recording of the Year Reckless Nominated
2020 Juno Award Fan Choice[62] Nominated
Rap Recording of the Year[62] Bad Habits Nominated

References

edit
  1. ^ab"Nav Is the" First Brown Boy to Get It Popping "and His Meteoric Rise Is Far From Over".Complex.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 14, 2017.RetrievedOctober 14,2017.His parents are from Punjab, India.
  2. ^"Nav: Meet the Toronto Rapper-Producer Opening the Weeknd's Starboy Tour".Rolling Stone.Archivedfrom the original on October 14, 2017.RetrievedOctober 19,2017.
  3. ^Carter, Brooke (August 5, 2017)."Nav Net Worth – How Wealthy is the Rapper Now? – The Gazette Review".The Gazette Review.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2017.RetrievedOctober 19,2017.
  4. ^"Alumni Update: JUNO Award Nominations 2018, Metalworks Institute".Metalworks Institute.February 9, 2018.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  5. ^NAV used to be an electrician😱,January 8, 2023,retrievedNovember 16,2023 Interview with Nav by Our Generation Music
  6. ^"Drake – OVO Sound Radio Episode 13 Tracklist".Genius.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2018.RetrievedAugust 17,2018.
  7. ^"Drake – OVO Sound Radio Episode 16 Tracklist".Genius.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2018.RetrievedAugust 17,2018.
  8. ^Simmons, Ted (February 16, 2017)."Nav Signs Deal With The Weeknd's XO Records".XXL.RetrievedFebruary 26,2017.
  9. ^"Travis Scott Chart History: Hot 100".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2018.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
  10. ^"Travis Scott & Nav's" Biebs In The Trap "Just Went Platinum".HYPEBEAST.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2017.RetrievedOctober 19,2017.
  11. ^Romaine, Jenna (February 15, 2017)."NAV & The Weeknd Release Provocative Collaboration 'Some Way': Listen".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 4,2024.
  12. ^"Rhythmic/Urban Radio Update".April 12, 2017 – via Fashionably.
  13. ^"Nav and Metro Boomin Drop 'Perfect Timing' Project – XXL".XXL Mag.July 21, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 31,2018.
  14. ^Lamarre, Carl (November 10, 2017)."Nav & Lil Uzi Vert Blast Their Past Relationships on 'Wanted You'".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  15. ^"Arcade Fire and Daniel Caesar lead 2018 Juno Award nominations"ArchivedFebruary 8, 2018, at theWayback Machine.CBC Music,February 6, 2018.
  16. ^Mojica, Nick (March 16, 2018)."Nav Wants the Rookie of the Year Crown on New Song" Freshman List "".XXL.RetrievedNovember 30,2022.
  17. ^Zidel, Alex (April 5, 2018)."Belly & Nav Are Out Here Trying To" Maintain "In New Single".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  18. ^Saponara, Michael (May 18, 2018)."Stream NAV's Debut Album 'Reckless,' Feat. Travis Scott, Quavo & Lil Uzi Vert".Billboard.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  19. ^"Nav's Debut Album 'Reckless' Is Here".Complex.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  20. ^"Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases | R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates |..."June 14, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon June 14, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  21. ^Findlay, Mitch (November 12, 2018)."Travis Scott Picks" Yosemite "As Next" Astroworld "Single".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedDecember 5,2018.
  22. ^Arcand, Rob (August 12, 2018)."Travis Scott Updates Final Mix of Astroworld Song 'Yosemite'".Spin.RetrievedDecember 5,2018.
  23. ^"Why Nav's Vocals on" Yosemite "Were Quiet, According to Travis Scott's Engineer".Complex.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  24. ^"Travis Scott's Engineer Explains The Low Volume Of Nav's 'Yosemite' Verse".Uproxx.April 7, 2020.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  25. ^Espinoza, Joshua (November 2, 2018)."Nav Drops New Single" Know Me "".Complex.RetrievedNovember 30,2022.
  26. ^Slingerland, Calum (March 21, 2019)."NAV Gets Meek Mill, Young Thug, the Weeknd for 'Bad Habits' Album".Exclaim!.Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2019.RetrievedMarch 21,2019.
  27. ^Chin, Mallory (March 26, 2019)."Nav Drops Future-Assisted Track on Deluxe Edition of 'Bad Habits'".HYPEBEAST.Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2019.RetrievedApril 16,2019.
  28. ^Saponara, Michael (March 26, 2019)."Nav Connects With Future for 'Amazing,' Releases 'Bad Habits' Deluxe Edition".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2019.RetrievedApril 16,2019.
  29. ^Legaspi, Althea (March 26, 2019)."Nav, the Weeknd's Toronto Hometown Burns in 'Price on My Head' Video".Rolling Stone.RetrievedApril 6,2019.The single appears on Nav's sophomore studio album,Bad Habits.
  30. ^Caulfield, Keith (March 31, 2019)."NAV Nets First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Bad Habits'".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on April 5, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019.
  31. ^Caulfied, Keith (March 29, 2019)."NAV's 'Bad Habits' Set for No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Albums Chart".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019.
  32. ^"Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases".All Access Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2019.RetrievedJuly 4,2019.
  33. ^Devin Ch (June 30, 2019)."Mustard Floods" Baguettes In The Face "Of NAV, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & Playboi Carti".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedOctober 21,2019.
  34. ^"NAV, Gunna & Travis Scott Join Forces Again on 'Turks'".Billboard.March 27, 2020.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
  35. ^"Nav and Shanender share" Turks "featuring Travis Scott".The FADER.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
  36. ^Suarez, Gary (May 8, 2020)."Nav Explains Why He Dropped 'Good Intentions' In The Middle Of A Global Pandemic".Forbes.RetrievedDecember 4,2024.
  37. ^"Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery".
  38. ^"Nav Connects With Virgil Abloh, VLONE, and nWo on 'Good Intentions' Album Merch".Complex.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  39. ^Marke, Erika (August 14, 2020)."Internet Money Taps Gunna, Nav, & Don Toliver For" Lemonade "".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedAugust 23,2020.
  40. ^"NAV Announces New Mixtape 'Emergency Tsunami'".Exclaim!.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  41. ^"NAV Adds Future Collab To 'Emergency Tsunami' For Bonus Version Mixtape".HipHopDX.November 11, 2020.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
  42. ^"Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases".AllAccess.Archived fromthe originalon January 4, 2021.
  43. ^Espinoza, Joshua (July 29, 2022)."Nav Reconnects With Travis Scott and Lil Baby on" Never Sleep "".Complex.RetrievedJuly 29,2022.
  44. ^Shifferaw, Abel (August 23, 2022)."Nav Shares Video for New Track" Wrong Decisions "".Complex.RetrievedSeptember 9,2022.
  45. ^Li, Joyce (September 14, 2022)."NAV Teams up With Future and Don Toliver in New Visuals for" One Time "".Hypebeast.RetrievedSeptember 14,2022.Following the release of his most recent albumDemons Protected By Angels,NAV has dropped new visuals for his single "One Time" featuring Future and Don Toliver.
  46. ^@beatsbynav (October 1, 2022)."Nav announces Nav2"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  47. ^Cowen, Trace William (February 10, 2023)."Nav Teases Upcoming 'Nav 2' Album With New Track" Lately "".Complex.RetrievedFebruary 10,2023.
  48. ^Hynes, Hayley (May 23, 2023)."Metro Boomin Confirms" Perfect Timing 2 "Album With NAV: Video".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedFebruary 10,2024.
  49. ^Fisher, Caroline (May 31, 2023)."Metro Boomin, NAV, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, And Swae Lee Join Forces On" Calling "".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedMay 31,2023.
  50. ^Cowen, Trace William (May 14, 2024)."Nav Confirms Imminent Release of New Album 'On My Way 2 Rexdale,' Shares Trailer".Complex.RetrievedMay 14,2024.
  51. ^Trapp, Malcolm (May 14, 2024)."NAV Shares Trailer For Upcoming Album 'On My Way 2 Rexdale'".Uproxx.RetrievedMay 14,2024.
  52. ^Morton, Devin (August 1, 2024)."NAV Welcomes Listeners To" Rexdale "On Latest Single".HotNewHipHop.RetrievedAugust 1,2024.
  53. ^Price, Joe (August 2, 2024)."Nav Teams Up With Cash Cobain and Bay Swag on" 6AM Thoughts "".Complex.RetrievedAugust 2,2024.
  54. ^"Rising Melbourne Singer/Songwriter & Producer Lithe Links Up with NAV on" Fall Back "".Imprint.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
  55. ^"Why We Can't Give South Asian Artists Who Say The N-Word A Pass".March 5, 2017.RetrievedOctober 22,2020.
  56. ^"NAV Says He's Done Using the N-Word in His Music".Archivedfrom the original on May 24, 2019.RetrievedMay 22,2019.
  57. ^"Nav Debuts" Freshman List "Single Ahead of Tour".HNHH.March 15, 2018.
  58. ^"Nav Blasts XXL's Editor-In-Chief, Says Freshmen List & Website is Trash".March 20, 2018.
  59. ^"Lunch with Nav".Pitchfork.March 27, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2019.RetrievedMay 22,2019.
  60. ^"Nav Talks Working With Lil Uzi Vert," Yosemite "Vocals & Haters".YouTube.May 15, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedMay 20,2020.
  61. ^"Canadian Rapper Nav on TMZ is Finally a Thing".Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2019.RetrievedMay 22,2019.
  62. ^ab"Juno Awards: The Weeknd Scores Leading 6 Nominations".The Hollywood Reporter.March 9, 2021.RetrievedMarch 12,2021.
edit