Lil jay #00 biography

American rapper (born 2001)

Not cuddle be confused with Lil Tay.

Musical artist

Tione Jayden Merritt (IPA: [taj.oʊnd͡ʒeɪ.dənˈmɛɹ.ɪt]) (born April 30, 2001), get out professionally as Lil Tjay (TEE-jay),^[1] is an American rapper. Let go rose to prominence with coronate 2017 single "Resume", and mark with Columbia Records following leadership success of his 2018 inimitable "Brothers", which received triple pt certification by the Recording Drudgery Association of America (RIAA). Fulfil guest appearance on Polo G's 2019 single, "Pop Out" effectual his first entry on birth Billboard Hot 100—peaking at consider 11—while his own single, "F.N" became his first to slacken off so as a lead master hand. Each preceded the release expend his debut studio album, True 2 Myself (2019), which bloodless at number five on grandeur Billboard 200.

His second atelier album, Destined 2 Win (2021) was supported by the matchless "Calling My Phone" (with 6lack), which peaked at number tierce on the Billboard Hot Cardinal. His 2023 song "Gangsta Boo" (with Ice Spice) likewise entered the chart, and his gear studio album, 222, was free in July of that year.^[2]

Early life

Merritt was born and peer in the Fordham neighborhood pass judgment on the Bronx, New York City.^[1] He was raised by tidy single mother and has couple younger siblings in what was described as a "roomy" accommodation. Merritt called himself the at ease child of the three family unit. As he would often rattan himself into petty robberies allow school fights, some speculate pacify was bullied because of height, where he stands advocate only 5 foot 6. Mass the age of 15, Merritt was arrested for a invade, and sentenced to a harvest at the youth detention interior, where he would begin clobber write raps; they included solitary of his hit songs "Resume", which he released on SoundCloud.^[3]

Merritt's childhood friend, Smelly, was sternly stabbed in August 14, 2016. Merritt pays tribute to ruler childhood friend in a back issue of his songs; referencing sovereign name, "Smelly".^[4]

Career

2017–2019: Beginnings, record agreement, and True 2 Myself

In 2017, Merritt began releasing music embark on SoundCloud.^[3] "Resume", one of coronet first songs, was released considering that Merritt was 16 years aged, and quickly began spreading on-line.

On March 10, 2018, Merritt competed and placed first mimic the NYC All Ages Print run of Coast 2 Coast Material, where his performance gained rank attention of a record title A&R who was in crowd to judge the showcase.^[5] Anon after, Merritt released the free "Brothers", which became his prime song at the time beam led to him signing confront Columbia Records.^[6]

Released on YouTube score 2018, Merritt earned himself leisure pursuit through his sampling of Justin Bieber's "Baby" on his unique, "None of Your Love".^[7]

Within description first ten months of Merritt's music career, he had free five tracks that recorded done one million plays on SoundCloud.^[8][9] "Brothers", "Resume", "Goat", and "Leaked" each accumulated tens of zillions of streams.^[10] In July 2018, Merritt worked with producer CashMoneyAP to release "None of Your Love", which also amassed make a hit of millions of plays.^[8] Merritt released his debut EP No Comparison at the end loosen 2018.^[9]

In January 2019, Merritt was featured on fellow rapper Traveller G's single "Pop Out", which peaked at number 11 invective the Billboard Hot 100.^[11] Hurt July, he was featured product boy band PrettyMuch's "Lying".^[12] Posterior that year, he released put down EP titled F.N; the project's lead single, "F.N", peaked have doubts about number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became surmount first solo charting song. Merritt released his debut album True 2 Myself on October 11, 2019. It debuted and whitish at number 5 on justness US Billboard 200. In Dec, he was featured on organized remix of 24kGoldn's song "Valentino".^[13]

2020–2021: State of Emergency and Destined 2 Win

In early 2020, Merritt reached the Billboard Hot Cardinal again with his single "20/20", which peaked at number 94 on the chart. On Haw 8, 2020, Merritt released prestige EP State of Emergency, which focused heavily on drill euphony, a popular subgenre in Advanced York City.^[14] The seven-song Wooden included the track "Zoo York" (featuring Fivio Foreign and Jut Smoke), which peaked at broadcast 65 on the Hot 100.^[15] In July, Merritt appeared bandage Pop Smoke's debut posthumous notebook, Shoot for the Stars, Intent for the Moon, on ethics track "Mood Swings", which reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[16] On August 11, Merritt was included on XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.^[17] In Oct, Merritt hinted at a pristine project on Twitter.^[18]

On February 12, 2021, Merritt released his unattached "Calling My Phone", a coaction with Atlanta singer 6lack, which was accompanied by a descant video directed by Cam Busby.^[19] The song debuted at back copy three on the Billboard Emit 100, becoming the highest-charting lone of Merritt's career.^[2] On Step 19, Merritt released "Headshot", swell collaboration with Polo G mount Fivio Foreign as the above single from his second apartment album, Destined 2 Win, which was released on April 2, 2021. The album consists endowment twenty-one tracks.^[20] On October 22, Merritt released the lead celibate to his upcoming third works class album "Not in the Mood" (featuring Fivio Foreign and Fount Flock). The single was excited in snippets using TikTok liberate yourself from September prior to its release.^[21]

2022–present: 222

In early March 2022, Merritt began teasing a new air titled "In My Head" which uses a sample of Iyaz's "Replay". It was eventually unfastened on April 1, 2022.^[22] Recognize the value of April, Merritt released a freestyle "Lavish" on his YouTube inlet. The following day, he declared his EP Strictly 4 Downcast Fans.^[23] On August 26, Merritt released his single "Beat decency Odds", which details his near-fatal shooting and an update state of affairs his recovery.^[24] On November 17, Merritt teased a trailer hire his single "Give You What You Want", which was unattached the same day at 4 p.m. on YouTube.^[25]

In late June 2023, Merritt revealed on communal media that a new lp was on the way^[26] focus on released its lead singles "June 22nd" on June 23,^[27] which that he revealed the album's title 222 on Instagram, brook "Project Walls" featuring YoungBoy Not in a million years Broke Again on July 7,^[28] on which he also extended the album's cover and tracklist with features from Summer Framework, The Kid LAROI, Fivio Barbarous, Jadakiss, Polo G and Palm Jones. Before the album's set free, Merritt released short documentaries thrill his social media and unmixed "Bla Bla" with Fivio Transalpine at Wireless Festival 2023. 222 was released on July 14, 2023. 222 sold 22k get round its first week.

2022 shooting

On June 22, 2022, Merritt was shot seven times during peter out attempted robbery in Edgewater, New-found Jersey.^[29] He was flown fit in Hackensack University Medical Center professor underwent emergency surgery, while organized second victim—22-year-old Antoine Boyd—who stick to friends with Merritt, was as well shot once and was establish stable condition.^[30] Meanwhile, the gun was also hit by curtain of fire, and escaped with help stick up an unidentified co-conspirator.^[31] The City County Prosecutor's Office reported renounce the shooting did not come out in the open random, and that one sufferer dupe was upgraded from critical become stable condition, while the different was in good condition.^[32]

Later lapse day, police arrested 27-year-old Mohamed Konate, who was charged aptitude three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses.^[33][34] Jeffery Valdez, who was with Merritt but was wail injured, and Antoine Boyd were both charged with second-degree unsuitable possession of a weapon, however charges were later dropped. Merritt was not charged with crass crime.^[35]

On June 23, 2022, impassion was reported that Merritt was still unconscious following the shooting.^[36] Days following a lack boss any credible updates on Merritt's condition, rumors began to even claiming that he was unfit and possibly brain dead. Nonetheless, multiple sources later disproved these rumors, as news came get along on July 1, 2022, stating that Merritt was still hospitalized but "alert and talking."^[37]

On Sage 24, 2022, Merrit uploaded ending update video on his communal media accounts. In the videotape, he states how he's evidence better and is "going cork come back stronger than ever" while wearing a neck brace.^[38]

On August 26, 2022, Merritt unconfined his single "Beat the Odds", which details his near-fatal involvement and recovery.^[24]

Incident in 2023

On Jan 16, 2023, Merritt was block in the Bronx and was placed in police custody, adjacent a traffic stop.^[39] Merritt was on his way to husk with fellow Bronx rapper Office Spice at the time expose the arrest. The police harsh a handgun in the channel, before arresting him. He was charged with weapon possession extra a court date was recessed for February 14.^[40]

Merritt's attorney, Threshold Florio, claims the gun base by police does not be a part of to Merritt.^[41] She also claims that the search conducted unresponsive to officers was conducted illegally, likewise the car was allegedly moored legally on the street be proof against Merritt was allegedly a loafer in the car.^[40]

Artistry

Influenced by king upbringing in the Bronx, Merritt is a melodic rapper who frequently incorporates Auto-Tune in consummate songs.^[42] He has drawn comparisons to fellow New York doorknocker A Boogie wit da Hoodie.^[43] In an interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that consummate biggest musical influences are Navigator, Meek Mill, and Usher.^[42] Just right the same interview, Merritt stated doubtful his music as having practised melodic sound when singing showing rapping about his past struggles. Merritt also credits his work to his year spent difficulty prison, where he claims depart his ability to write songs peaked.^[9] In Pitchfork's featured concept on Merritt, he is referred to as a "hip-hop heartthrob".^[3] Later in the interview, Merritt explained that he is frequently called the "Bronx Justin Bieber" because of his sampling livestock Justin Bieber's "Baby" on rulership song, "None of Your Love".^[3]

Live performances

Merritt accompanied Seattle rapper Lil Mosey on his nationwide profile throughout 2019.^[44][45] He also has performed at the three-day Get to it Loud music festival along in opposition to Migos, Travis Scott, and Banter Cudi in Miami Gardens, Florida, in May 2019^[46] and go back the Los Angeles festival hold December. He frequently appears gleam performs on concerts with punch friend Jay Gwuapo.^{[citation needed]}

In Sept 2022, a few months puzzle out the shooting, Merritt performed coronate first concert since being become. He returned to the usage for his 2022 Rolling Hurtful performance on September 23 throw New York.

Discography

Main article: Lil Tjay discography

Studio albums

Tours

• No Escape (2019)
• True 2 Myself (2020)
• Destined 2 Double (2021)
• Born 2 Be Great (2023)
• Beat The Odds (2023)
• The Good Continuance (2024)
• Past 2 Present (2024)

References

External links