NAV
Biography
Navraj Singh Goraya, known professionally as NAV, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer who was born on November 3, 1989, in Toronto, Ontario. Raised in the Rexdale neighborhood, he is of Punjabi Sikh descent, with his parents having immigrated from India. His interest in music began in the third grade when his mother bought him a boombox. In high school, he started creating mash-ups and producing beats for local Toronto artists, gaining popularity on SoundCloud. He later graduated from the Metalworks Institute with a diploma in Audio Production and Engineering in 2010.
Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame
NAV's career began in the early 2010s as a producer. His first significant production credit was for Drake's 2015 diss track "Back to Back". He gained widespread recognition in 2016 after his song "Myself" went viral. This success led to him signing with The Weeknd's record label, XO, and Republic Records in early 2017. A major turning point was his feature on Travis Scott's song "beibs in the trap" in 2016, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Notable Projects and Collaborations
NAV released his self-titled debut mixtape in February 2017, which included the popular track "Some Way" featuring The Weeknd. Later that year, he released a collaborative mixtape with producer Metro Boomin titled "Perfect Timing". His debut studio album, "Reckless," was released in 2018. He achieved significant commercial success with his subsequent albums, "Bad Habits" (2019) and "Good Intentions" (2020), both of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The lead single from "Good Intentions," "Turks" with Gunna and featuring Travis Scott, became his highest-charting song as a lead artist. He was also featured on the 2020 hit single "Lemonade" by Internet Money, Gunna, and Don Toliver, which became his highest-charting song overall.
Musical Style and Themes
NAV's musical style is characterized by a melodic, sing-song flow and the use of Auto-Tune. His production often features moody and spacious trap beats. Lyrically, his songs frequently explore themes of wealth, love, loss, and the challenges of fame. He is known for his introspective and often relatable lyrics that depict his personal experiences.