Liyah Katana - STR8

What this video is

Released March 2023 as Liyah Katana's introductory major-label single, 'STR8' positions a 19-year-old Mississauga-born artist as part of a new generation of Canadian R&B talent signed to the storied Def Jam label via No I.D.'s ARTium Records imprint. The video arrives during a broader post-pandemic moment of Toronto R&B visibility, with the city producing a wave of vocally-driven, introspective artists recalling…

Why it matters

Represents the 2020s neo-soul and contemporary R&B revival, particularly the Canadian wing, drawing lineage from artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and early Brandy. The song's piano-driven production and raw breakup narrative place it squarely in the post-SZA introspective R&B tradition,…