NAV

Toronto‑born rapper, singer and producer NAV, born Navraj Singh Goraya in 1989 and of Punjabi origin, established himself from the mid‑2010s on the North American trap scene thanks to a melodic, introspective aesthetic. Initially active as a beatmaker, he came to attention after co‑producing Drake's 2015 track "Back to Back" and by releasing tracks like "Myself" on SoundCloud, before joining the XO collective and label associated with The Weeknd. NAV navigates between sung rap and atmospheric trap sonics, heavily autotuned vocals, slow tempos and lyrics focused on social ascent, isolation, excess and romantic relationships. His career gained new momentum with the mixtape "NAV" (2017) and "Perfect Timing", a joint project with Metro Boomin the same year, placing him within a network of collaborations with leading American rap artists. He followed with studio albums "Reckless" (2018), "Bad Habits" (2019), "Good Intentions" (2020) and "Demons Protected by Angels" (2022), as well as the mixtape "Emergency Tsunami" (2020), confirming his anchoring in a dark, repetitive trap register marked by minimal productions and writing centered on nightlife, fame and its downsides. Originally from the Rexdale neighbourhood of Toronto but largely active on the international circuit, NAV remains associated with the XO environment while cultivating a profile as songwriter and producer within the mainstream rap scene.