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Musicians

Nav (rapper) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 November 1989

Age35 Years

BirthplaceToronto, Ontario, Canada

ProfessionRapper, Songwriter, Singer, Record Producer

NationalityCanadian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyYoungest of three siblings; parents worked in Canadian factories

Nav (rapper) Biography

Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Navraj Singh Goraya rose from Toronto’s underground scene to international recognition after his 2016 song

Early life and background
Navraj Singh Goraya, known professionally as Nav, was born on November 3, 1989, and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He is the youngest of three children in an immigrant Indian Sikh family. His parents worked in Canadian factories; his father drove a forklift and his mother worked in computer manufacturing. Music entered his life early: a boom box his mother bought him in third grade sparked a lasting interest, and an uncle who was a singer in India exposed him to studio work and creative possibilities.

Nav completed his education in the Toronto area, attending West Humber Junior Middle School and Thistledown Collegiate Institute. He later earned a diploma in Audio Production and Engineering from Metalworks Institute in Mississauga in 2010. While still in high school he began producing beats and making mash-ups for local underground artists, building the technical foundation that would underpin his later career.

Career
Nav began appearing on records as a featured artist in 2015, and he co-produced Drake’s single “Back to Back” that same year. He released his mixtape The Introduction in 2016 and broke through to a wider audience when his song “Myself” went viral later that year. That momentum helped him transition from producer and beatmaker into a recording artist in his own right.

His official debut single as a lead artist, “Some Way,” arrived in February 2017 and featured The Weeknd. Nav’s self-titled debut studio album followed in 2017. He continued to release projects across formats: the EP 1 Night in 2018, the studio album Reckless in 2018, and later releases that include the deluxe Brown Boy 2 (2020). Singles and collaborations have played an important role in his catalog; notable entries include the 2020 lead single “Turks,” a collaboration credited to Nav and Gunna that features Travis Scott and became his highest-selling song as a lead artist.

Nav has also worked behind the scenes for other artists. In 2016 he co-wrote and solely produced Travis Scott’s “Beibs in the Trap,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-platinum RIAA certification. Over time he has collaborated with high-profile acts such as The Weeknd, Meek Mill, Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Durk and Travis Scott.

Public profile
Nav’s public profile has been shaped by both his music and a series of controversies. He attracted criticism in 2017 for repeated use of a racial slur in some of his tracks. In 2018 he publicly criticized XXL magazine after not being selected for a cover. A 2019 interview with Pitchfork drew attention for blunt comments about fame. Musically, he earned recognition at the Juno Awards with multiple nominations, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2018), Fan Choice (2019, 2020) and Rap Recording of the Year (2019, 2020).

Personal details
Nav stands approximately 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall. He has dark brown eyes and black hair. He follows Sikhism and holds Canadian nationality. He is unmarried and has not publicly confirmed any long-term romantic relationships.

Latest updates
Nav’s later projects include the deluxe release Brown Boy 2 (2020) and the single “Turks,” which appeared as the lead track from his third studio album Good Intentions. He continues to work as a recording artist, songwriter and producer, maintaining a presence in contemporary hip-hop through collaborations and releases.

Other notes
Before his solo breakthrough, Nav’s production work and early SoundCloud presence built his audience; his 2015 track “Take Me Simple” reached millions of plays on the platform. He has been open about lifestyle choices that appear in his public persona, including smoking and drinking.
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Recent Work

Brown Boy 2 (Deluxe)

Deluxe album release continuing Nav’s catalog of studio and collaborative projects.

2020
Turks (single)

Lead single credited to Nav and Gunna featuring Travis Scott; became his highest-selling song as a lead artist.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Co-produced Drake’s single “Back to Back” (2015)
  2. Viral breakthrough with the song “Myself” (2016)
  3. Produced Travis Scott’s “Beibs in the Trap,” later certified multi-platinum
  4. Multiple Juno Award nominations including Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2018)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nav (rapper) born?

3 November 1989

What is Nav (rapper) known for?

Rapper, Songwriter, Singer, Record Producer

What is Nav (rapper)’s marital status?

Unmarried