We Did The Damn Thing, Naya Ali's new album, is now available digitally and on vinyl!
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.
From punk and trap influences colliding, to the country-inspired Turning Tables and the Afrobeat-infused Life (on which she steps out of her comfort zone and sings instead of raps), 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.