Lil Tjay Biography (2026): His Real Name, Age, Bronx Story, Shooting Survival, Songs, Albums, Net Worth and Latest Music
Lil Tjay: His Life, Music, Albums, Songs, Survival Story and Everything Fans Want to Know
Some artists make songs you enjoy for a few weeks. Others make music that stays with you. Lil Tjay belongs to the second group. He went from putting music online as a teenager in the Bronx to making hits heard around the world. Along the way came a major record deal, close collaborations, a life-threatening shooting and a second chance at life.
His biggest songs include Calling My Phone, F.N, Brothers, Leaked, Pop Out and Beat the Odds. If you want the full story behind those songs, plus every major album, where to find tickets and merch, and what he is making now, you’re in the right place.
In May 2026, he released They Just Ain’t You and its expanded Big One Edition. His Apple Music catalogue later listed Nameless II with Lil Zay Osama on September 14, 2026.
Jump in: His story Albums Tour Questions
Who is Lil Tjay? Quick facts
Lil Tjay is the stage name of Tione Jayden Merritt, an American rapper and singer born on April 30, 2001, in the Bronx, New York City. His mix of emotional lyrics, smooth melodies and street-minded storytelling made him one of the most recognisable young voices in rap.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tione Jayden Merritt |
| Stage name | Lil Tjay |
| Born | April 30, 2001 |
| Age | 25 as of October 2026 |
| From | The Bronx, New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Music styles | Melodic rap, hip-hop, trap, drill and R&B influences |
| Career beginning | Around 2017–2018 |
| Earlier record label | Columbia Records |
| 2026 album imprint | TrenchKid Records |
| First studio album | True 2 Myself (2019) |
| Newest principal album | They Just Ain’t You (2026) |
| Popular songs | Calling My Phone; F.N; Pop Out; Mood Swings; Brothers |
| @liltjay |
Growing up in the Bronx: Before the fame
Before the concerts and big streaming numbers, Tjay was a kid growing up in the South Bronx. His mother raised him with two younger siblings. Music was part of everyday life, and he listened to artists whose sounds did not all fit in the same box — from Lil Wayne to Justin Bieber. That mixture makes more sense when you hear how naturally he can rap and sing.
His teen years were not easy. He spent time in juvenile detention after a robbery conviction. During that period he wrote lyrics about his own experiences, family, friends and where he wanted life to take him. When he came home, he focused more seriously on recording songs.
The early music was not as polished as the hits you hear today, but it had the thing listeners still recognise: a voice that sounds like it means what it says.
How Lil Tjay became famous
Resume: A song that started the buzz
In 2018, Resume began attracting attention online. The music travelled through SoundCloud and social sharing, showing people that New York had another new voice worth hearing.
Brothers: The big early turning point
Brothers brought more listeners and helped bring Tjay to the attention of major labels. He signed with Columbia Records in 2018, and songs including Leaked, Goat, F.N and Ruthless kept the attention coming.
Pop Out: His breakout feature with Polo G
His appearance on Polo G’s Pop Out in 2019 was another huge moment. The two artists blended their different backgrounds and melodic styles on a record that reached fans well beyond New York and Chicago.
The shooting, survival and Beat the Odds comeback
On June 22, 2022, Lil Tjay was shot multiple times during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey. Reports said he suffered seven gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery. Many fans were seriously worried about whether he would survive.
He did survive and slowly returned to music. That August, he released Beat the Odds, a song and video that drew on his recovery. He also returned to the stage, including a Rolling Loud New York appearance in September 2022.
The experience later shaped the album 222, a title drawn from the June 22 shooting date. The project offers a more personal look at how it feels to get another chance at life.
For his own perspective, read the Los Angeles Times report on his recovery or watch Beat the Odds videos on his YouTube channel.
Lil Tjay’s albums and complete discography
Four principal studio albums are central to Lil Tjay’s catalogue, along with EPs, remixes and an expanded 2026 edition. Here is the music in release order, with the full published song lists where available.
1. No Comparison
A raw early project made before Tjay’s major commercial breakthrough. Hear where his melodic sound began.
Complete tracklist
- PA$TO
- Ready for War
- Bad to the Bone
- Never Outside
- New Year’s Resolution
2. F.N
A short, memorable collection that includes some of the songs which made Tjay a rising name.
Complete tracklist
- F.N
- Laneswitch
- Brothers
- Ruthless — featuring Jay Critch
- Leaked
- Goat
3. True 2 Myself
His first studio album reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The 17-song edition includes collaborations with Lil Durk and Lil Wayne, and a collection of his strongest early solo songs.
Complete tracklist
- One Take
- Hold On
- F.N
- Dream That I Had
- Post To Be
- Ruthless — featuring Jay Critch
- Mixed Emotions
- Decline — featuring Lil Baby
- Sex Sounds
- Leaked
- Laneswitch
- Brothers
- Goat
- Top of My Game
- No Escape
- Brothers (Remix) — featuring Lil Durk
- Leaked (Remix) — featuring Lil Wayne
For recording details and the full release history, see Apple Music and the full track listing at OTOTOY.
4. State of Emergency
An energetic New York drill-focused release featuring Brooklyn collaborators and the late Pop Smoke.
Complete tracklist
- Ice Cold
- Zoo York — featuring Fivio Foreign and Pop Smoke
- Shoot for the Stars — featuring Fivio Foreign
- Wet Em Up Pt. 2 — featuring Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow
- City on My Back — featuring Jay Critch
- My City — featuring J.I the Prince of N.Y
- Gettin Lit — featuring Jay Gwuapo
5. Destined 2 Win
A polished, wide-ranging album featuring his huge single Calling My Phone and collaborations with Polo G, 6LACK, Offset, Moneybagg Yo, Toosii and more.
Complete tracklist
- Destined 2 Win
- Born 2 Be Great
- Calling My Phone — with 6LACK
- What You Wanna Do
- Hood Rich
- Oh Well
- Headshot — featuring Polo G and Fivio Foreign
- Gang Gang
- Go Crazy
- Irregular Love
- Move — with Tyga and Saweetie
- Slow Down
- Love Hurts — featuring Toosii
- Run It Up — featuring Offset and Moneybagg Yo
- Part of the Plan
- No Cap
- Life Changed
- Nuf Said
- Losses
- Move On
- None of Your Love
6. 222
The album inspired by his survival story. Songs look at anxiety, relationships, gratitude and the pressure that follows a major life change.
Complete tracklist
- Nightshift
- June 22nd
- Nobody
- Scared 2 Be Lonely
- Stressed — featuring Summer Walker
- 2 Grown — featuring The Kid LAROI
- Heart Felt Soul
- Bla Bla — featuring Fivio Foreign
- Someone Who Cares
- Forgot I Was The 1?
- Hole in My Heart — featuring Jadakiss
- Project Walls — featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again
- Beat the Odds Pt. 2 — featuring Polo G
- Foster Baby
- Grateful — featuring Coco Jones
7. Farewell
A compact project bringing together reflective songs and collaborations with Polo G, NLE Choppa, Rich the Kid and G Herbo.
Complete tracklist
- Let It Go Baby
- Told Ya
- Good Life
- Long Way From the Block
- Why — featuring NLE Choppa
- Back to the Wall — with Polo G
- Upset — with Rich the Kid
- Built Like a Soldier — featuring G Herbo
8. They Just Ain’t You / Big One Edition
Released independently under TrenchKid Records. The expanded Big One Edition adds Go Tati to the original 13-song album.
Complete tracklist
- Life on Edge
- Letter to My Block
- Free the Bros
- Ain’t Too Many Hit
- Used 2 Love
- Never Leave — with NoCap
- Can’t Change
- Bad Wrist
- Took Off
- First Time
- Gone
- Drive Me Crazy
- Do What I Can
- Go Tati — bonus track
Want to hear what changed since his Columbia years? Start with Life on Edge and Can’t Change. The production sounds different, but the same personal storytelling is still there.
Lil Tjay’s latest music and news
2026 brought new material from Tjay’s independent era. Apple Music lists Nameless II with Lil Zay Osama as its latest release as of October 27, 2026. His album arrived in May, and the expanded version followed days later.
| Date | Release | Details |
|---|---|---|
| January 16, 2026 | Sexy | With Fivio Foreign and Tory Lanez |
| January 30, 2026 | Can’t Change | Single |
| March 20, 2026 | First Time | Single |
| April 21, 2026 | Life on Edge | Lead album-era song |
| April 30, 2026 | Never Leave | With NoCap |
| May 1, 2026 | They Just Ain’t You | Album |
| May 6, 2026 | Big One Edition | Expanded album |
| September 14, 2026 | Nameless II | With Lil Zay Osama |
For his reflections on being independent, misunderstandings and the newer music, read XXL’s 2026 Lil Tjay interview.
Lil Tjay’s biggest songs and streaming records
The best introduction depends on your mood. If you want a heartbroken melodic hit, play Calling My Phone. For early raw energy, play F.N. For a massive crossover feature, choose Pop Out. And for the survival story, go straight to Beat the Odds.
| Song | Why fans know it |
|---|---|
| Calling My Phone — with 6LACK | His biggest Hot 100 hit as a lead artist, peaking at No. 3 |
| F.N | One of his defining early records |
| Pop Out — Polo G featuring Lil Tjay | Major 2019 crossover hit |
| Mood Swings — Pop Smoke featuring Lil Tjay | Popular posthumous Pop Smoke collaboration |
| Brothers | Early breakthrough song |
| Leaked | An early favourite, later remixed with Lil Wayne |
| Beat the Odds | Comeback recording after the 2022 shooting |
| Headshot | Collaboration with Polo G and Fivio Foreign |
| Run It Up | Collaboration with Offset and Moneybagg Yo |
The October 19, 2026 streaming snapshot used for the original article reported approximately 11.78 billion Spotify streams across credited tracks, including featured appearances, and about 7.87 billion as lead artist. Those are historical figures, not live counts. You can see more recent track totals through Kworb’s Lil Tjay rankings.
Collaborations and featured appearances
| Song | Artists |
|---|---|
| Pop Out | Polo G |
| Mood Swings | Pop Smoke |
| Calling My Phone | 6LACK |
| Headshot | Polo G and Fivio Foreign |
| Run It Up | Offset and Moneybagg Yo |
| Zoo York | Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign |
| Brothers (Remix) | Lil Durk |
| Leaked (Remix) | Lil Wayne |
| Ruthless | Jay Critch |
| Move | Tyga and Saweetie |
| Love Hurts | Toosii |
| Stressed | Summer Walker |
| 2 Grown | The Kid LAROI |
| Hole in My Heart | Jadakiss |
| Project Walls | YoungBoy Never Broke Again |
| Grateful | Coco Jones |
| Back to the Wall | Polo G |
| Why | NLE Choppa |
| Upset | Rich the Kid |
| Built Like a Soldier | G Herbo |
| Never Leave | NoCap |
| Nameless II | Lil Zay Osama |
Music videos, live recordings and interviews
His videos offer different windows into his story — early music, huge mainstream releases and his recovery years. Explore the clips below, or browse the complete official YouTube channel.
- Calling My Phone music video
- Beat the Odds music video
- F.N music video
- Brothers music video
- Mood Swings with Pop Smoke
- Life on Edge official video
- Bad Wrist official video
- Go Tati
- XXL artist interview
Lil Tjay photo gallery and album artwork
From dramatic studio portraits to cover art tied to the biggest moments of his career, these images show different sides of Tjay. The linked sources identify the image publishers; individual pictures should not be assumed to come from new Instagram posts.
For current pictures and posts, visit his Instagram @liltjay and the official Spotify artist profile. The original photographer’s or label’s permission may be needed to republish professional images.
Lil Tjay tours, concerts and tickets
Lil Tjay has played major festivals, club shows and international concert dates. His touring history includes New York, London, Los Angeles and other cities. In 2026, Songkick lists appearances at Rolling Loud Sydney on March 7, Rolling Loud Melbourne on March 8, and LIV in Miami Beach on April 3.
Follow Songkick concert alerts, Live Nation or the official artist website for announcements. The Concert Archives site also offers a history of past appearances.
Where can fans find Lil Tjay merchandise?
Looking for a Lil Tjay hoodie, shirt, album-themed item or poster? Start with the Merch section linked from his official website. That is the safest starting point for artist-endorsed releases and merchandise announcements.
Other websites also advertise Lil Tjay-themed clothing and accessories. For example, Lil Tjay Shop lists T-shirts, hoodies and other fan items, but its official connection to the artist is not independently confirmed. Treat it as a third-party seller unless the artist verifies the shop.
Before buying, check current stock, product descriptions, shipping fees and return terms directly with the seller.
Lil Tjay on Instagram, TikTok and streaming apps
| Platform | Profile link |
|---|---|
| Open Instagram | |
| TikTok | Open TikTok |
| YouTube | Open YouTube |
| X / Twitter | Open X / Twitter |
| Threads | Open Threads |
| SoundCloud | Open SoundCloud |
| Spotify | Open Spotify |
| Apple Music | Open Apple Music |
| TIDAL | Open TIDAL |
| Official website | Open Official website |
| TrenchKid link hub | Open TrenchKid link hub |
If you want photos, new-song teasers and announcements, Instagram and his artist-linked pages are useful places to start. For verified release dates, Apple Music is especially helpful.
Girlfriend, family and net worth
Does Lil Tjay have a girlfriend?
Tjay has been the subject of dating rumours, but his current relationship status is not established by reliable recent public statements. His songs about love and heartbreak are personal art, not proof of a specific current relationship.
What do we know about his family?
He has spoken about growing up with his mother and two younger siblings in the Bronx. He has kept many private family details out of the public spotlight.
How much is Lil Tjay worth?
His exact personal net worth is not confirmed. Online estimates differ widely because his contracts, expenses, royalty shares and assets are not public. His career generates potential income from music, performances and other commercial activity, but no precise figure can be verified here.
Charts, certifications and recognition
True 2 Myself and Destined 2 Win each reached No. 5 on the US Billboard 200. Calling My Phone reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tjay was also named to the 2020 XXL Freshman Class.
His catalogue includes multi-platinum and other certified recordings. The official RIAA Gold & Platinum database is the place to check currently registered US certifications.
Frequently asked questions about Lil Tjay
What is Lil Tjay’s real name?
Tione Jayden Merritt.
How old is Lil Tjay?
He is 25 as of October 2026. His birthday is April 30, 2001.
Where is Lil Tjay from?
The Bronx, New York City, United States.
How did he become famous?
His early songs Resume and Brothers helped him build an audience, and Pop Out with Polo G brought wider attention.
What happened to Lil Tjay in 2022?
He survived a serious shooting in New Jersey on June 22, 2022, and later released Beat the Odds.
Is Lil Tjay alive?
Yes. He survived the 2022 attack and remained active in music in 2026.
How many studio albums does he have?
Four principal studio albums: True 2 Myself, Destined 2 Win, 222 and They Just Ain’t You.
What is his latest album?
They Just Ain’t You, issued May 1, 2026, with a Big One Edition on May 6.
What is his latest listed song?
Apple Music lists Nameless II with Lil Zay Osama on September 14, 2026.
Which song is his biggest hit as a lead artist?
Calling My Phone with 6LACK reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who has Lil Tjay collaborated with?
Polo G, Pop Smoke, 6LACK, Fivio Foreign, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, The Kid LAROI and several others.
Are there 2026 Lil Tjay tour dates?
He performed earlier in 2026, but Songkick and Live Nation currently list no future confirmed shows.
Where can I buy Lil Tjay merchandise?
Use the Merch section of his official website first; check other sellers independently.
Does he have a girlfriend?
His current relationship status is not reliably established.
What is his Instagram?
@liltjay.
What is his exact net worth?
There is no publicly verified figure.
Explore more Lil Tjay music, interviews and news
Want to keep exploring? These are helpful sources for album credits, recent releases, streaming history and the story behind the music.
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official website | Visit |
| Spotify | Visit |
| Apple Music | Visit |
| YouTube | Visit |
| Visit | |
| TrenchKid links | Visit |
| AllMusic | Visit |
| MusicBrainz | Visit |
| Qobuz | Visit |
| Album of the Year | Visit |
| Kworb Spotify stats | Visit |
| XXL interview | Visit |
| Complex early career feature | Visit |
| Los Angeles Times recovery coverage | Visit |
| Sony Music album news | Visit |
| Songkick | Visit |
| Live Nation | Visit |
| Official site merch | Visit |
| Third-party clothing listings | Visit |
| RIAA | Visit |
Why Lil Tjay’s story still connects with listeners
There is more to Lil Tjay than one viral hit. His music tells the story of a teenager who grew up in the Bronx, found an audience through his own voice, survived an experience that could have ended everything and kept creating afterward.
Start with Brothers and F.N if you want to hear the early hunger. Play Calling My Phone for the huge melodic hit, Beat the Odds for the comeback, and They Just Ain’t You for the newest chapter.
Whatever stage of his career you enjoy most, there is plenty in the catalogue to keep coming back to.