credit @liltjay
Thanks to technological advances over the last 20 years, making and releasing music is now easier than ever. As a result, there has been an influx of new artists recently, and Lil Tjay is one of them. Known for being a drill rapper, Lil Tjay hit the scene in 2016 and has been working hard to make a name for himself along the way. He released his debut album, True 2 Myself, in 2019 and followed up with his sophomore project, Destined 2 Win, two years later. However, despite his growing popularity, many listeners still feel like they don’t know much about the artist. If you’re one of the many people who have been wanting to learn more about Lil Tjay, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn all about the up-and-coming rap star.
Where is Lil Tjay From?
Born Tione Jayden Merritt, Lil Tjay is originally from New York City – the Bronx, specifically. Although there aren’t a lot of specific details about his upbringing, we do know that he is the oldest of three, and a single mother raised him. Unfortunately, Lil Tjay didn’t have the easiest childhood because he started getting in trouble at an early age after getting involved in fighting and stealing. When he was 15 years old, he was arrested for his involvement in a robbery. This led to him being sentenced to a year in a juvenile detention center.
How Old is Lil Tjay?
Since Lil Tjay hit the scene, many people have been curious about how old he is. Although the music industry is full of people of all ages, hip-hop is often considered a younger genre. Lil Tjay was born on April 30, 2001, which makes him 21 years old as of August 2022.
credit @liltjay
How Did Lil Tjay Get Started with Music?
Like lots of people, Lil Tjay was exposed to music at an early age. Not only did he love listening to it, but he knew it was something he wanted to be a part of. According to an article from Complex, Lil Tjay said, “I knew I wanted to make music since I was young. I used to watch Justin Bieber videos and be like, ‘Damn, this is going to be me. I never thought about how I would get there, but I knew it would happen.”
Little did he know, he would have to go through rough patches before seeing his dream come true. Sometimes the worst things that happen in a person’s life can lead to something beautiful in the long run. That’s exactly what happened with Lil Tjay and his music career. While serving his time in the juvenile detention center, Lil Tjay started writing raps. Although it may have started as a hobby, it quickly became clear that Lil Tjay was very talented. However, he didn’t start taking music seriously until 2018.
One of the songs he wrote during his sentence was “Resume,” which got him lots of attention after it blew up on SoundCloud. The song’s success eventually led to him signing by Columbia Records in 2018. Unlike many rappers who release at least one mixtape before getting signed, that’s not how things played out for Lil Tjay. His first project was his debut alum.
Did Lil TJay Start the Drill Movement in The Bronx?
If you’re a fan of hip-hop music, you know that it’s pretty common for artists to make bold claims. However, Lil Tjay ruffled a lot of feathers early in 2022 when he claimed to be the founder of the drill music movement in the Bronx. Although his statement got much attention, many people refuted the claim. In fact, some even took it as an opportunity to question Lil Tjay’s artistry altogether. While it’s true that he is considered a rapper, many feel that his style makes him more of a singer.
credit @liltjay
What Were the Circumstances of Lil Tjay’s Shooting?
Most of Lil Tjay’s time in the spotlight has been positive, but the summer of 2022 has been rough for him. In June, he was shot several times during an attempted robbery. He had to undergo emergency surgery, and some questioned if he would make a full recovery. Fortunately, he “was awake and speaking” about a week after the incident. The alleged shooter, Mohamed Konate, has been arrested. We couldn’t determine whether Lil Tjay was the intended target in the shooting.