Naya Ali Pays Tribute to her Community in the Music Video for “CATCH A VIBE”
May 14, 2025 – After releasing the album We Did The Damn Thing in February, Naya Ali today unveils a music video for her track Catch a Vibe (produced by Kevin Figs). The Montreal rapper and singer, who will be hitting the festivals this summer, will also be performing in Toronto, Quebec City, Gatineau and more. See the list below for full details.
We Did The Damn Thing is available on LP and digital format.
A sonic collision between rap and 90s-tinged pop-punk, Catch a Vibe is an immediate and raw track that punches in thanks to its anthemic chorus, catchy guitar riffs, and gritty, rap-driven verses. Honestly, I envisioned stage diving when crafting this, says Ali. That chorus colliding with those percussive rap flows is pure mosh pit fuel. Beneath the intensity, Naya Ali’s uplifting lyrics remind us that life is not about huge accomplishments, but the everyday moments, both mundane and precious, that we experience.
Shot in a barbershop – a place where families intersect, and vital community threads are woven – the video is a visual poem dedicated to these simple moments. It is a sanctuary of exchange and self-care, where stories are shared freely, explains Naya Ali. The care given to hair becomes a symbol of deeper attention and respect. Braids, community – it all ties back to the knots in We Did The Damn Thing.
In addition to spending six weeks at the top of CKUT's charts, the second album by “one of the hottest rappers on the Quebec scene”, as described by Rolling Stone Quebec, garnered praise from CBC Music, La Presse, Le Devoir, ICI Première, The Montreal Gazette, Exclaim! and many others.
Created between Toronto and Montreal, and produced by longtime collaborators Adrian X and Kevin Figs, We Did The Damn Thing is at once a deeply introspective record and a wide-eyed embrace of the world. It is a celebration — not just of everything I’ve achieved, but of everything we’ve achieved together, explains Naya Ali. As a people, as a community, as a culture, we’ve come so far. Our victories are collective, and the strides we’ve made are monumental. This album honours that journey and its title says it all.
On We Did The Damn Thing, Ali leans into a space of creative liberation and embraces her versatility as an artist, letting her punk and trap influences collide. She draws inspiration from country music for "Turning Tables" and infuses "Life" with Afrobeats, while also stepping out of her comfort zone by singing instead of rapping. Despite the classic, 808-heavy beats, this is a gospel-infused album grounded in live instruments, especially the electric guitar. On top of that, Ali stepped into a production role by leading the choir and working on the vocal production for several of her songs.
Ali is joined by the legendary Kim Richardson, her longtime friend Zibz, and the incredibly talented Dominique Fils-Aimé. Each collaboration is intentional and works as a way to honour those who are also doing “the damn thing”.
About Naya Ali
Ethiopian-born, Canadian-raised rapper Naya Ali is a rap & hip-hop artist who burst onto the scene in 2018 with her debut EP Higher Self. Her assertive, raspy deliveries and exceptional skillful flow got her quickly noticed. In 2022, Godspeed: Elevated, the second part of a two-album project, earned her the English Album of the Year award at ADISQ and the Rap Album of the Year award at GAMIQ.
Today, Naya Ali no longer needs to prove she’s a great rapper—she’s embracing the freedom to evolve as a multifaceted artist. In the process of creating her bold second album, We Did The Damn Thing (February 2025), Ali has leaned into a space of creative liberation by making music that connects with a wide spectrum of listeners.
Tour Dates
13/06/2025 - Saint-Georges, QC - Festival Solstice
18/07/2025 - Val-d'Or, QC - Cité de l'Or
07/08/2025 - Drummondville, QC - Festival de la Poutine
10/10/2025 - Quebec City, QC - L’Anti
11/10/2025 - Rimouski, QC - Bains Publics
16/10/2025 - Toronto, ON - The Dance Cave
24/10/2025 - Gatineau, QC - Le Minotaure
We Did The Damn Thing is available on all streaming platforms.
Naya Ali’s live show tickets are on sale now.
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