After announcing the details of her upcoming album We Did The Damn Thing earlier this fall, Montreal-based rapper Naya Ali returns with Turning Tables, a country-tinged anthem for the underdogs and truth-tellers. We Did The Damn Thing is due out February 7th, 2025 on vinyl and digital via Bonsound.
This winter, Naya Ali will celebrate the release of her new album with a concert at Le Ministère in Montreal on February 15th. This hometown launch will be followed by a show at L'Anti in Quebec City on February 28th, and one in Gatineau at Le Minotaure on March 15th. Tickets are available here.
Turning Tables is available on all music services.
We Did The Damn Thing is available for pre-order/pre-save now.
Recorded by Grammy-winning producer Adrian X (Burna Boy, Drake, The Weeknd), Turning Tables blends electric guitars and hard-hitting 808s. Co-written by Naya Ali and Curtis Richardson, and co-produced by Montreal’s Gary Wide, this song is as audacious as it is personal: You judge cuz it gives you some redemption / But I’m here to challenge everything you know, raps Ali in the second verse of the song.
This raw track is about standing your ground, challenging conformity, and staying true to yourself in a world where loyalty is rare and rules are broken – despite the shifting tides, explains the artist. It’s about reclaiming your power and rewriting your own story, knowing that the truth will always come to light.
The video for Turning Tables delves into themes of freedom and resilience, using the image of a black horse as a symbol of strength and untamed spirit. Once wild and powerful, horses were controlled and commodified, echoing the historical suppression of Black and Brown people within power systems, explains the artist. Through striking imagery, Naya Ali, like the black horse, resists restraints and stands firm, representing the collective journey toward freedom.
Watch and share the video for Turning Tables via YouTube.
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 : “We Did The Damn Thing”.
From punk and trap influences colliding, to the country-inspired Turning Tables, and the Afrobeats-infused Life, on which she stepped out of her comfort zone by singing instead of rapping, Ali leans into a space of creative liberation and embraces her versatility as an artist on We Did The Damn Thing.
Beyond the classic, 808-heavy beats, this is a gospel-infused album grounded in live instruments, especially the electric guitar. The singer and rapper took on a larger role in production, leading the choirs and working on vocal production for three songs on the album. Although the collaborations are few, each one is intentional and works as a way to honour those who are also doing “the damn thing”. Bringing together a range of diverse creators, she’s joined by the legendary Kim Richardson, her longtime friend Zibz, and the incredibly talented Dominique Fils-Aimé.
About Naya Ali
Ethiopian-born, Canadian-raised rapper Naya Ali is an award-winning hip-hop artist who exploded onto the scene in 2018 with her debut EP Higher Self. Known for her assertive, raspy delivery and exceptional flow, Ali quickly captured attention with her distinctive vocal tone and ability to move in and out of flow pockets skillfully.
But Naya Ali is no longer just proving 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, Ali has leaned into a space of creative liberation, making music that can connect with a wider spectrum of listeners. Widening her artistic scope, she combines hard-earned wisdom with a message of gratitude and perseverance. The album title honours her shared experiences as an immigrant and as a Black woman.
Naya Ali emigrated to Canada with her mother as a child. Although she dabbled in rap as a teen, she chose to follow the expected path of a first-generation immigrant: going to university in order to get a good job. A few years later, she quit her job in marketing to pursue a music career. That decision changed everything and allowed her to learn that truly living means embracing the unknown. She doesn’t claim all her choices were perfect, but perfection isn’t the goal. As she prepares to drop an album on which she lets her artistry run free, Ali is ready for whatever comes next—fully welcoming the possibilities ahead. Something new is emerging, and she’s all in.
Tour Dates
15/02/2025 - Montréal - Le Ministère (Album launch show)
28/02/2025 - Québec - L'Anti
15/03/2025 - Gatineau - Le Minotaure