Lil Tecca

Lil Tecca is an American rapper and singer who exploded onto the hip-hop scene as a teenager with his viral hit ‘Ransom’ in 2019. Born Tyler-Justin Anthony Sharpe in Queens, New York, and raised in Springfield Gardens, he grew up in a Jamaican-American household and began making music in his early teens, inspired by artists like Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, and Chief Keef. He started uploading tracks to SoundCloud while still in high school, quickly building a following with his melodic rap style.

His breakthrough single ‘Ransom’ was released in May 2019, when Tecca was just 16 years old. The track went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, eventually peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning platinum certification multiple times over. The accompanying music video amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, making Tecca one of the youngest rappers to achieve such mainstream success. He signed with Galactic Records and Republic Records following the song’s success.

Tecca capitalized on his momentum with the release of his debut mixtape ‘We Love You Tecca’ in 2019, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The project showcased his melodic approach to rap and featured tracks like ‘Ransom,’ ‘Love Me,’ and ‘Did It Again.’ He followed up with ‘Virgo World’ in 2020 and ‘We Love You Tecca 2’ in 2021, continuing to build his catalog and fanbase. While subsequent releases did not match the viral explosion of ‘Ransom,’ Tecca maintained a strong streaming presence and loyal audience.

By 2026, Lil Tecca’s net worth is estimated at $4 million, driven by streaming royalties from billions of cumulative plays, touring revenue, merchandise sales, and his record deal advances. Still in his early twenties, he continues to evolve his sound and release music regularly. His story represents the power of the streaming era, where a teenager with a SoundCloud account can become a chart-topping artist virtually overnight.