Just a few weeks after announcing her singing to Bonsound, Montreal rapper Naya Ali now unveils the single Life. Blending rhythmic afrobeat elements and pop influences, this standout song is a vibrant and uplifting reminder to make the most of our limited time here and to live in the present moment.
Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Figs (Jeremih, Moneybagg Yo, Charlie Puth), Life is a crossover track that showcases Naya's versatility and evolving pen game. With a vocal delivery that leans more towards singing than rapping, the artist ensures a heartfelt and cohesive performance that resonates deeply.
Life is available on all music services.
Driven by the organic feel of live instruments and backed by the soulful harmonies of a small choir, the Montreal-based artist reminds us that amidst our ambitions and daily pursuits, the most significant blessings are often the simplest ones — being healthy, alive, and able to share love and appreciation with those around us.
I found myself being blinded by ambition, forgetting about my blessings, she explains. I wrote this song when I saw how fleeting time is; one day my parents won’t be with me anymore, and I’ll ask myself how does any of this external stuff even matter.
Watch and share the visualizer for Life via YouTube.
The song Life is accompanied by a visualizer in which Naya Ali returns to her roots. Shot in her hometown of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the footage was captured by Senegalese director Chérif Tall.
About Naya Ali
Naya Ali is an award-winning rap and hip-hop artist who burst onto the scene in 2017 with her first EP Higher Self. Assertive in her raspy deliveries, she is quickly noticed for her unique vocal tone and ability to move in and out of flow pockets skillfully. In March 2020, she released the first part of a two-album project, Godspeed: Baptism (Prelude), where she broke the ice and proved her potential to contend within the American and international hip-hop markets.
In 2021, she released the sequel to this opus, Godspeed: Elevated, an earnest body of work showcasing her journey from her baptism into the rap game to her imminent elevation. This latest project earned her the prestigious English Album of the Year award at the 44th ADISQ Gala in 2022 and the Rap Album of the Year award at the GAMIQ that same year.
Since the release of her latest project, Naya Ali has toured internationally acclaimed festivals such as SXSW (USA), Great Escape (UK), Printemps de Bourges (France), Dour Festival (Belgium), Les Georges Festival (Switzerland), All That Matters (Singapore), FEQ (Canada), Reeperbahn (Germany) and many more.
Naya Ali is an artist who does not hide her international ambitions; her current success on a national scale bodes a bright future for this Montreal rapper.