NAV

Punjabi-Canadian rapper and producer NAV layers his undulating sing-rap delivery over hypnotic trap instrumentals, producing a sound that echoes the atmospheric approaches of Post Malone, Rae Sremmurd, and Drake. Canadian and American charts first registered his presence through the mixtape NAV and the Metro Boomin joint project Perfect Timing, after which he delivered his first official studio album, Reckless, in 2018. The following year Bad Habits entered at the summit of both the Canadian Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, a feat repeated in 2020 by Good Intentions. His fourth studio set, Demons Protected by Angels, surfaced in 2022, while the 2024 singles “Baller” and “Favorite Lady” kept his momentum alive.

Born Navraj Goraya in Toronto, he first attracted widespread notice when reality-television personality Kylie Jenner shared a Snapchat clip of herself performing his track “Myself.” Prior to that moment the elusive artist had quietly cultivated an audience by uploading material to SoundCloud, beginning with the 2015 release “Take Me Simple.” The Jenner boost, combined with several prominent industry links, accelerated his trajectory. In January 2016 the same song aired on Drake’s OVO Sound Radio broadcast on Beats 1, and later that year he both appeared on and featured in the video for Travis Scott’s “Beibs in the Trap.” Rising visibility led to a deal with the Weeknd’s Canadian imprint XO.

Early 2017 brought the self-titled mixtape NAV, whose polished vocals and refined productions had already become signature elements. Lead single “Some Way,” featuring the Weeknd, preceded the project. That year also yielded the collaborative mixtape Perfect Timing with Atlanta producer Metro Boomin. NAV’s “Wanted You,” which included Lil Uzi Vert, registered on Billboard’s Hot 100, and he followed with the standalone “Freshman List” in early 2018. Both tracks appeared on his May 2018 studio debut Reckless, issued via XO and Republic, which reached the U.S. Top Ten and included guest appearances by Quavo, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, and Gunna.

Less than twelve months afterward, sophomore album Bad Habits debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. Gunna returned alongside Meek Mill, Young Thug, Lil Durk, and label founder the Weeknd. Third studio effort Good Intentions arrived in May 2020, again populated by high-profile contributors such as Future, Pop Smoke, and Travis Scott. Shortly thereafter the expanded Good Intentions (Brown Boy 2 Deluxe Edition) added further tracks and restored NAV to the top of both the Canadian and Billboard album rankings. He closed the year with the Wheezy-assisted tape Emergency Tsunami. The 2022 single “Never Sleep,” uniting Lil Baby and Travis Scott, preceded fourth album Demons Protected by Angels, which opened at number two on the Billboard 200. In 2023 NAV issued “Lately” and joined Metro Boomin and Swae Lee on “Calling,” a track recorded for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

The next year he linked with Diany Dior and Cash Cobain for “Favorite Lady” and with Bay Swag and Cash Cobain on “6AM Thoughts.”