Lil Tjay

Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, is a rapper and singer from the Bronx, New York who rose to prominence through the SoundCloud rap scene. Growing up in the South Bronx, Tjay faced significant hardships including time in juvenile detention. He began releasing music on SoundCloud in 2017, and his melodic approach to rap quickly gained traction. His breakout single Resume, released in 2018, accumulated millions of streams and caught the attention of Columbia Records, who signed him to a major deal.

Tjay’s debut mixtape No Comparison was released in 2018, followed by his debut studio album True 2 Myself in 2019, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. The album featured the hit single F.N, which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified multi-Platinum. His melodic style, blending singing and rapping over emotional beats, drew comparisons to artists like Polo G and A Boogie wit da Hoodie, establishing him as a leading voice in the melodic rap subgenre.

His second album Destined 2 Win was released in 2021 and featured the massive hit Calling My Phone, a collaboration with 6lack that reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the biggest songs of the year. The track demonstrated Tjay’s crossover appeal and cemented his status as a mainstream artist. He has accumulated billions of streams across platforms and built a dedicated global fanbase.

In June 2022, Tjay survived a shooting in Edgewater, New Jersey that left him critically injured. His recovery was long and challenging, but he returned to music, demonstrating remarkable resilience. The incident and his comeback generated significant public sympathy and media attention. Through his music career, streaming royalties, touring income, and brand partnerships, Lil Tjay has accumulated an estimated net worth of $6 million.