Navy Blue – Biography, Career and Discography

Navy Blue whose real name is Sage Gabriel Carlos Atreyu Elsesser, is a multi-talented American figure known for his prowess in skateboarding, songwriting, rapping, record producing, visual artistry, and modeling. His enduring friendship with Earl Sweatshirt dates back to their early school years, forming a bond that has endured over time.

Elsesser’s skateboarding talents have earned him sponsorships from esteemed fashion brands like Converse and Supreme, culminating in his professional status as a skater in 2014 through the collective and clothing outlet, Fucking Awesome. Beyond his achievements in skateboarding and music, he has also made a mark as a model for various apparel brands and as an artist, notably contributing to the artistic direction of Earl Sweatshirt’s album, I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, released in 2015.

Throughout his journey, Elsesser has openly expressed his admiration for Ka, a revered figure who serves as a full-time captain with the FDNY and dabbles in rap. Ka’s profound lyrics and soulful production have deeply influenced Elsesser, who vividly recalls the day when Earl Sweatshirt introduced him to Ka at the firehouse.

Early Life

Navy Blue, born on January 31, 1997, originates from Los Angeles, California, but his roots lie in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. Raised in Los Angeles by his parents, his mother, a Black American vocalist, and his father, a Chilean multi-instrumentalist deeply immersed in Santería mysticism, Navy Blue was immersed in a rich musical environment from a young age. Together, his parents formed a band called Spirit Level.

Growing up, Navy Blue’s older sister exposed him to foundational hip-hop artists such as Tupac and the Wu-Tang Clan, shaping his early musical tastes. At the age of 8, his father gifted him an Akai XR20 beat machine, igniting Navy Blue’s passion for music production. With his father’s guidance, he chopped his first sample from Nina Simone’s poignant Civil Rights-era anthem “Four Women.” Additionally, Navy Blue discovered the groundbreaking work of J Dilla, which profoundly influenced his musical sensibilities.

During his time at UCLA’s private elementary school, Navy Blue struck up a friendship with another Black student, Thebe Kgositsile, who would later gain fame as Earl Sweatshirt. Earl introduced Navy Blue to the music of MF DOOM.

Career

During his freshman year at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute in 2015, Sage Gabriel Carlos Atreyu Elsesser, while juggling his burgeoning career as a professional skateboarder and navigating art classes that didn’t quite meet his expectations, began sharing his music on SoundCloud.

In the same year, under his stage name Navy Blue, Elsesser commenced his musical journey by releasing several EPs, collaborating with prominent artists like Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, Armand Hammer, and Wiki. As he continued to hone his craft as both a rapper and producer, he found synergy with fellow underground rap luminaries from New York City, such as MIKE, and maintained his creative partnership with Earl Sweatshirt.

On February 4, 2020, Elsesser took a significant step in his career by founding the independent record label Freedom Sounds, coinciding with the release of his debut studio album, Àdá Irin. This marked the beginning of a prolific period for Elsesser, with subsequent releases including his sophomore album, Song of Sage: Post Panic!, which delved into themes of depression, grief, and trauma.

In 2022, Elsesser unveiled a unique quadrilogy vinyl box set comprising Song of Sage: Post Panic!, Gift of Gabriel: Rain’s Reign!, Crypt of Carlos: Onward!, and Arc of Atreyu: Neverending!, with the latter three available exclusively in physical format. Notably, each album title incorporates one of Elsesser’s four names, adding a personal touch to the collection.

In 2023, Elsesser inked a deal with Def Jam Recordings and debuted his lead single “Chosen” on March 10th. Shortly after, on March 23rd, he released his seventh studio album, Ways of Knowing, under his label Freedom Sounds, in collaboration with Def Jam Recordings. The album featured an array of talented artists such as Zeroh, J Rocc, Kelly Moonstone, Liv.e, Venna, and was entirely produced by Budgie.

Discography

Studio Albums

Àdá Irin (2020)

Song of Sage: Post Panic! (2020)

Navy’s Reprise (2021)

Gift of Gabriel: Rain’s Reign! (2022)

Crypt of Carlos: Onward! (2022)

Arc of Atreyu: Neverending! (2022)

Ways of Knowing (2023)

EPs

According to the Waterbearer (2015)

Lately (2016)

April Blue (2017)

Soul Golden (2017)

Guilt & Sincerity (2017)

Navy in Rage (2017)

Yvan Wen (2018)

Forest Green (2018)

From the Heart… (2018)

Gangway for Navy (2019)

Singles

Higher Self (2019)

Simultaneously Bleeding (2020)

1491 (2020)

Chosen (2023)

Dolla (2023)