Alternative Hip Hop from Naviyah

Naviyah’s sound is profoundly shaped by heritage, environment and a steadfast determination to create with conviction. A British Jamaican Nigerian rapper and singer-songwriter, she takes cues from hip hop, rap and pop while exploring other styles such as reggae, dancehall and Afrobeats, allowing her Caribbean and African origins to echo through her sound. Her music forms a space to express faith, personal history and a message that leans toward positivity while still delivering engrossing sonic impact.

Music wasn’t something she arrived at by chance; it was already in the room. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Naviyah grew up around the industry, with her father working as a UK-based record producer and engineer alongside artists including Liberty X, Blue, Mis-Teeq, S Club 7, So Solid Crew, Alexandra Burke, Big Brovaz, Damage, Des’ree and Leona Lewis. That background helps explain the balance in her work between technical awareness and artistic expression.

Capturing her sound in the studio, her first EP, Change, landed in July 2018, marking the starting point of her recorded output. Early responses to her voice and tone drew comparisons to UK rapper Giggs, particularly in the flair of her delivery, positioning her within a wider context of UK rap while still leaving space for her to stretch beyond it. Live performance has also played a key role in shaping her journey with appearences across a wide range of venues in the UK.

More recently, her return with new material has introduced another shift and her latest single titled “Sippin On Dat” leans into a more intense UK rap sound. The track arrived out of a transformative period in her life, shaped by a decision to give up smoking and drinking and a renewed focus on her Christian faith following baptism. Staying sober for a year, the process became about direction, feeding into the music to capture the sphere between past habits and future ambition and choosing discipline over distraction.

Set up by the sweep of moody synth lines, the taps of hi hat ushers in deep low end energy before the rattle of percussion sets up a driving alternative hip hop scene. Led by Naviyah’s razor sharp rapped delivery, her vocals roll over the brooding arrangement to form a thoroughly gripping soundscape brimming with the crisp snap of punching beats and stacks of immersive synth textures. Cut with memorable vocal hooks, Naviyah injects catchy moments while her commanding verses maintain an enthralling energy from start to finish.

Wrapped up in enveloping sound design, the track was produced by 1995 (Anthony Cruz), providing a framework that allows her vocals to slice through cleanly, basing the track in a distinctly UK street aesthetic. The response has been immediate, with countless listeners gravitating toward the track’s engaging aesthetic, deservedly earning more comparisons to leading figures like Giggs and Tinie Tempah. Marking her return in spectacular fashion, “Sippin On Dat” sees Naviyah resume her thrilling musical adventure and we can’t wait to see what else she’s got in store.

Listen to Sippin On Dat below

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