Who is Lil Tjay?
Lil Tjay is a rising talent in the American rap space. His real name is Tione Merritt. He was born on April 30, 2001, making him a Gen Z superstar. Lil, whose real name is Tione Merritt, was born in New York City, United States.
Tjay is 25 years old. He has worked with labels like Columbia and Trenchkid. In April 2026, he was taken behind bars by the police in connection with the shooting of Offset.
From being raised by a single mother to becoming a major hit, Lil Tjay’s life has taken several 360-degree turns.
| Profile Image |  |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Tione Merritt |
| Professional Name | Lil Tjay |
| Born | April 30, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years |
| Birth Place | New York City, US |
| Ethincity | African-American |
| Nationality | American |
| Active Since | 2017 |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Faith | Christian |
| Height | 5 feet and 10 inches |
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Shoe Size | 10 (US) |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegitaraian |
| Fitness | Naturally Lean |
Lil Tjay’s Early Life
Lil Tjay is from the Bronx, New York City, born and bred. Back then, he was known as Tione Jayden Merritt.
Tjay grew up in a small space with his mother and siblings. He was raised by a single parent (mother) in a tough environment, where love for hip-hop was a way of living.
He adapted to street life very early. It led him to serve at a youth detention centre. Back then, Lil was just 15 years old. Instead of killing time at the detention centre, Lil chose to explore the world of writing lyrics and freestyling. Meek Mill and Usher’s rap style inspired him the most.
He studied at public schools in the Bronx. However, going to a youth detention centre at the age of 15 led him to break his educational background. After coming out, he chose to rap rather than get a higher education.
Lil Tjay Death Rumours Explained
- Lil Tjay is alive. Hence, the “death rumours” are totally false. In June 2022, he was shot 7 times as he battled a robbery attempt. It was then rumours hit the internet about Tjay being dead. However, he managed to recover well.
- In April 2026, Offset, who was a rapper, was shot in Florida. Sevreal handles on social media claimed that Lil Tjay was also shot dead. But he was taken behind bars instead. While the lawyer of Lil Tjay denied any direct link to his client, the Seminole Police Department had a different take. On April 7, 2026, he came out of jail.
Lil Tjay’s Other Major Controversies
- Getting involved in a traffic stop led the police to arrest Merritt in the Bronx. The police found an illegal gun in the car, but the lawyer of Lil Tjay provided that the gun did not belong to him.
Lil’s Dating History
- In the 2021-22 season, Lala Baptiste was in a relationship with Lil Tjay. It was a volatile relationship in a nutshell.
- Tjay had been linked to dating Rubi Rose and Chinese Kitty.
- In 2022, there were rumours about Tjay and Ice Spice being in a situationship.
Lil Tjay’s Rise in Career
- Lil Tjay’s career as a rapper began in 2017.
- In the 2017-18 season, songs like ‘Resume and Brothers’ became global hits.
- As a result, he signed a deal with Columbia Records.
- “True 2 Myself” was his first album. It came out in 2019, and the song “F.N” became the most popular on the album.
- In the 2020-21 season, Lil came with a truly major hit, “Calling My Phone”. Hence, his collaboration with 6lack became famous.
- In 2021, he dropped his second album named Destined 2 Win.
- The year 2022 came as a major setback for Lil Tjay as he served a lot of time in the hospital due to gunshot wounds.
- In 2023, he made a comeback with an album “222 (2023)” and a tour named “Beat The Odds”.
- He then took three years to lunch a album, coming up with “They Just Ain’t You” in 2026.
Lil Tjay Concert Tours
Despite having a career filled with controversies, Tjay keeps himself busy with rap, albums and tours.
| Year | Tours |
|---|---|
| 2019 | No Escape |
| 2020 | True 2 Myself |
| 2021 | Destined 2 Win |
| 2023 | Born 2 Be Great, Beat The Odds |
| 2024 | The Good Life, Past 2 Present |
Top Lil Tjay Albuma
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2019 | True 2 Myself |
| 2021 | Destined 2 Win |
| 2023 | 222 |
| 2026 | They Just Ain’t You |
Future Goals of Tjay
Lil Tjay, like a typical rapper, has been giving hits since 2017. But going to jail several times has impacted his overall image. While people have no question over his rapping/music skills, having an undisciplined life makes it hard for him to shine at the very highest levels for years to come. However, Tjay has said about giving 100 per cent to become a legendary rapper than find reasons to go behind bars.
Social Media and Lifestyle
Lil Tjay is a popular face on social media, with 17 million-plus followers on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Having more than 6.49M subscribers on YouTube gives a professional validation of his career. He likes keeping his social media handles aesthetically pleasing.
| Platform | IDs |
|---|---|
| @liltjay | |
| TikTok | @liltjay |
| @LilTjay | |
| YouTube | @liltjay |
| Sportify | @liltjay |
| Soundcloud | @liltjay |
- Lil Tjay likes living a high-end lifestyle.
- Tjay’s net worth is USD 15 million as of 2026.
- He makes a major income from music, streaming ( Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), tours, and brand deals.
- From brand deals, he earns $100K+ a year.
- He loves diamond chains, watches and designer outfits.
- He has been seen driving Luxury SUVs and high-end sports cars.
Final Take
Lil Tjay entered the hip-hop culture as a kid. It led him to become a multi-millionaire rapper. However, the street life has been exposed to several high-end controversies in the 2020s. While he is not dead, he came very close to leaving this world in 2022.
FAQs
Q1: What happened to Lil Tjay?
Lil Tjay is alive, having a career of (mix) rise and controversies.
Q2: How many times was Lil Tjay shot?
In 2022, Tjay was shot seven times. But he managed to survive.
Q3: Why is Lil Tjay’s voice so high?
Tjay likes using falsetto. The style of singing makes you hit high notes.
Q4: Did Lil Tjay get shot?
In 2022, Lil Tjay got shot heavily. But he managed to survive.
Facts and Trivia Related to Tjay
- Lil Tjay’s hobbies are playing games, chilling out with friends, watching NBA games and having a luxury lifestyle aesthetic.
- Tjay names from his real name’s initials TJ (Tione Jayden).
- At the age of 15, he set an aim to become a musician.
- Tjay is the first millionaire from the family.
- He is known for real-life storytelling.
- Tjay does not fancy going to the gym much.
- He gets hit on social media for carrying guns for fun on social media.
- He backs the New York Knicks in the NBA.
- Tjay likes watching thriller movies.
- He gets compared to Polo G a lot on social media.
- Tjay helps kids in Africa with donations from time to time.
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