Lil TJAY - Rapper
Age: 24
Country: United States Occupations:
Rapper
Lil Tjay (born Tione Jayden Merritt) is a prominent American rapper, singer, and songwriter from the Bronx, New York. He is widely recognized as a leading figure in the "melodic rap" scene, blending hip-hop grit with R&B-influenced vocal flows.
Career Origins & Breakthrough
Early Life: Growing up in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx, Tjay began writing music at age 15 while serving a year in a youth detention center. He credits this period as the turning point where he focused his energy on his craft.
Rise to Fame: He gained viral traction on SoundCloud in 2017 with his first song, "Resume." His career exploded shortly after with the triple-platinum single "Brothers" and his high-profile feature on Polo G's hit "Pop Out."
Musical Style & Key Works
Lil Tjay is known for his "Bronx Justin Bieber" nickname (a nod to his melodic style and early use of Justin Bieber samples) and his ability to pivot between raw drill music and vulnerable, auto-tuned ballads.
Top Hits:
"Calling My Phone" (feat. 6LACK): His highest-charting single, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"F.N": A breakout solo hit that cemented his status as a mainstream star.
"Mood Swings": A massive collaboration with the late Pop Smoke.
Major Albums:
True 2 Myself (2019)
Destined 2 Win (2021)
222 (2023) – An introspective project released after he survived a near-fatal shooting incident in 2022.
Current Status (2026)
As of early 2026, Lil Tjay has transitioned into a new era as an independent artist. Following the release of his final project with Columbia Records, the mixtape Farewell (late 2024), he has been touring globally, including major festival appearances like Rolling Loud. He remains a heavy-hitter in the streaming world, with over 15 billion global streams across his catalog.