Lil Tjay Biography: Age, Real Name, Height, Net Worth, Songs

Lil Tjay is one of the most compelling voices to emerge from the Bronx in the new era of New York hip-hop.

With a style that fuses melodic rap, emotional storytelling, and raw street authenticity, he captured the attention of millions almost overnight.

From writing rhymes in a youth detention centre to debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 and scoring Top 5 hits across the US and Canada, Tjay’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience.

Shot seven times in 2022 and yet refusing to quit, he has become a symbol of survival as much as musical talent. This is the complete biography of Lil Tjay.

Profile

Who Is Lil Tjay?

Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from the South Bronx, New York City. He is widely recognised for his melodic approach to hip-hop, blending trap, drill, and R&B influences into an emotionally resonant sound that has earned him a devoted global following. His debut album True 2 Myself (2019) debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, and his smash single Calling My Phone with 6LACK peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite a near-fatal shooting in June 2022 that saw him hospitalised after being shot seven times, Tjay returned to music with renewed conviction and has continued to release music and build his legacy.

Early Life

Tione Jayden Merritt was born on April 30, 2001, in the Fordham neighbourhood of the Bronx, New York City, and raised on 183rd Street. He was brought up by a single mother of Ghanaian ethnicity, alongside two younger siblings, Melvoni and Tione. Life in the Bronx was challenging, the neighbourhood’s vibrant hip-hop culture coexisted with poverty, crime, and limited opportunity. Tjay was not immune to those pressures, frequently getting into fights at school and engaging in petty theft.

At the age of 15, he was arrested for robbery and sentenced to spend a year in a youth detention centre. It was during this period of confinement, away from the streets and with time to reflect, that Tjay began writing rap music. Inspired by artists such as Drake, Meek Mill, and Usher, he discovered that music was not just an escape but a calling. By the time he was released, he had a body of lyrics and a clear vision for his future.

Education

Specific details about Lil Tjay’s formal schooling are scarce, as his turbulent early life and early career trajectory meant that his educational journey was interrupted. He attended schools in the Bronx but did not complete a traditional educational path, choosing to focus fully on his music career after his release from the youth detention centre.

Career

Lil Tjay began uploading music to SoundCloud in 2017 after his release from detention. His track Resume quickly gained traction online, drawing attention for his distinctive melodic delivery and relatable street narratives. Within the first ten months of his career, five of his songs collectively received over one million plays on SoundCloud, including Brothers, Resume, Goat, and Leaked.

In 2018, Tjay won the Coast 2 Coast LIVE talent competition, which helped amplify his profile further. The breakout single Brothers accumulated millions of streams and was eventually certified triple platinum by the RIAA. This success led directly to a record deal with Columbia Records and the release of his single None of Your Love, produced in collaboration with French record producer Cash Money AP. He also released his debut EP No Comparison toward the end of 2018.

In January 2019, he appeared as a featured artist on Polo G’s single Pop Out, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, his first Hot 100 entry. Later that year, his solo single F.N debuted at number 56 on the chart. On October 11, 2019, he released his debut album True 2 Myself, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, cementing his place in mainstream hip-hop.

In 2020, he appeared on Pop Smoke’s hit Mood Swings and released his third EP, State of Emergency, which peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200. The biggest moment of his career to date came in early 2021 with Calling My Phone featuring 6LACK, which debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted internationally. His second studio album, Destined 2 Win, followed in spring 2021 and peaked in the Top 5 in both the US and Canada.

In 2022, he scored additional success with the singles Not in the Mood, In My Head, and Beat the Odds. However, on June 22, 2022, Tjay was shot seven times during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey. He was airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery. The incident was life-threatening but he survived, and a 27-year-old man named Mohamed Konate was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder and multiple weapons offences. Tjay’s remarkable recovery became a source of inspiration, and he documented his journey back with renewed determination. He released his third studio album, 222, in 2023, followed by his fourth studio album, They Just Ain’t You. In late 2024, he released the EP Farewell, marking his departure from Columbia Records, signalling a new independent chapter in his career.

Awards & Nominations

• RIAA Triple Platinum Certification – Brothers
• RIAA Platinum Certification – Multiple singles including Calling My Phone and F.N
• Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 – Calling My Phone (peaked at #3, 2021)
• Billboard 200 Top 5 – Destined 2 Win and True 2 Myself

Social Media

Lil Tjay has a strong social media presence across multiple platforms. On Instagram, he goes by @liltjay, where he shares personal updates, music announcements, and behind-the-scenes content to millions of followers. He is also active on X (formerly Twitter) as @liltjay and maintains a YouTube channel where his music videos and live performances are streamed by millions. His digital footprint has been an essential driver of his rapid rise to fame and continues to expand with each release.

Personal Life

Lil Tjay is unmarried and does not publicly have any children. He has stated a desire to become a father in the future. Over the years, he has been romantically linked to several women including rapper Chinese Kitty, rapper Rubi Rose, and YouTube influencer Lala Baptiste, though none of these relationships have been formally confirmed. In early 2023, rumours circulated about a connection with fellow Bronx rapper Ice Spice, but she publicly clarified that the two were just good friends, they have collaborated musically on the track Gangsta Boo.

Lil Tjay’s personal life has been significantly shaped by legal trouble. In January 2023, he was arrested in the Bronx following a traffic stop in which police found a handgun in his vehicle. In June 2023, he and a film crew were arrested in connection with a firearm used during the shooting of a music video. In April 2026, he was charged with disorderly conduct following an altercation at the Seminole Hard Rock venue involving rapper Offset’s group.

Net Worth

As of 2026, Lil Tjay’s estimated net worth is approximately $6 million. His wealth is derived from multiple revenue streams including music sales, streaming royalties from platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, concert tours and live performances, brand endorsements, merchandise, and real estate investments. His catalogue of platinum-certified singles and successful albums continues to generate significant passive income. Despite his relatively young age, he has demonstrated financial savvy in diversifying his income beyond music alone.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• True 2 Myself (2019) – Debuted at #5 on Billboard 200
• Destined 2 Win (2021) – Top 5 US and Canada
• 222 (2023)
• They Just Ain’t You (2024)

EPs:

• No Comparison (2018)
• F.N (2019)
• State of Emergency (2020) – Peaked at #31 Billboard 200
• Farewell (2024)

Notable Singles:

• Resume (2017)
• Brothers (2018) – RIAA Triple Platinum
• None of Your Love (2018)
• Pop Out (with Polo G, 2019) – #11 Billboard Hot 100
• F.N (2019) – #56 Billboard Hot 100
• Mood Swings (Pop Smoke ft. Lil Tjay, 2020)
• Calling My Phone (ft. 6LACK, 2021) – #3 Billboard Hot 100
• Losses (2021)
• Not in the Mood (2022)
• Beat the Odds (2022)
• Gangsta Boo (ft. Ice Spice, 2023)

FAQs

What is Lil Tjay’s real name?
His real name is Tione Jayden Merritt. His stage name Lil Tjay is derived from the first letter of his first name (Tione) and his middle name (Jayden).

How old is Lil Tjay?
He is 25 years old as of 2026, born April 30, 2001.

Was Lil Tjay shot?
Yes. On June 22, 2022, he was shot seven times during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey. He survived after emergency surgery.

What is Lil Tjay’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is approximately $6 million as of 2026.

What record label is Lil Tjay signed to?
He was signed to Columbia Records. In late 2024, he released the EP Farewell, marking his departure from the label, suggesting he may be pursuing an independent path.

What are Lil Tjay’s biggest songs?
His biggest songs include Calling My Phone (ft. 6LACK), Brothers, Pop Out (with Polo G), F.N, and Beat the Odds.

Conclusion

Lil Tjay’s story is one of the most compelling in contemporary hip-hop. A child of the Bronx who found his voice in a detention centre, built a career from zero plays to millions of streams, survived a near-fatal shooting, and continues to create music on his own terms, his resilience is as much a part of his identity as his melodies. At just 25, he has already achieved more than most artists twice his age. Whatever path he takes next, independent or otherwise, there is no doubt that Tione Jayden Merritt still has a great deal left to say to the world.