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.
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.
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.
Tour Dates
15/02/2025 - Montréal - Le Ministère (Album launch show)
28/02/2025 - Québec - L'Anti
15/03/2025 - Gatineau - Le Minotaure