Lil Tjay: Age, Birthday, Height, Weight & Family – Full Bio and Personal Life Revealed

Lil Tjay is one of the most recognized young talents in today’s hip-hop scene, known for his emotional storytelling and melodic rap flow. Rising from the streets of the Bronx, this East Coast hip-hop artist turned personal struggles into powerful music that connects with millions of listeners worldwide. His journey reflects determination, raw talent, and the ability to transform life experiences into chart-topping hits.

As his popularity continues to grow, fans are increasingly curious about his personal life — especially details like his age, birthday, height, weight, and family background. Beyond the music, Lil Tjay’s life story offers insight into the man behind the fame, making him not just a rapper and songwriter but an inspiration for many aspiring musicians from tough neighborhoods.

Profile Summary

Lil Tjay has quickly risen as one of the most influential young voices in modern hip-hop. Known for his melodic style and emotionally driven rap lyrics, the Bronx rapper captured attention with breakout hits that resonated with millions of fans worldwide. His journey from a challenging upbringing in the Fordham neighborhood to global recognition reflects both talent and determination.

With a strong presence on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music and across social media, Lil Tjay continues to expand his reach and impact. His music often blends raw street-life storytelling with catchy hooks, making him a standout figure among his generation. Today, he is not only an artist but also a brand shaping contemporary trap and drill culture.

Did Lil Tjay Attend High School?

Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, was raised in New York City and attended high school, though his time there was frequently disrupted by trouble, including school fights and robberies that ultimately caused his detention in a youth detention center. His school years in the Bronx were anything but smooth. Growing up in one of New York’s toughest neighborhoods, this future SoundCloud rapper was constantly pulled between academic life and the harsh realities of street culture, making it very difficult to stay focused on formal education.

According to Tjay himself, he was the most problematic child in his family. While studying in school, he was involved in robberies and fights with schoolmates — classic street-life experiences that shaped his rap lyrics later. When he was 15, he was arrested by local police in a robbery case and sent to the youth detention center, where he started writing rap songs. It was during this time behind bars that he discovered his passion for music, using confinement as a creative space to process emotions and life experiences through lyrics.

After his time in the detention center, he went to Bronx Dance Academy and polished his skills in performing arts. Though his traditional high school experience was cut short by his legal troubles, his time at Bronx Dance Academy helped redirect his energy toward artistic expression. This pivot proved transformative — rather than returning to the streets, the emerging Bronx rapper channeled everything into music, setting the foundation for an extraordinary career that would launch on SoundCloud.

How Old Is Lil Tjay?

Tione Jayden Merritt, known professionally as Lil Tjay, was born on April 30, 2001. That makes him 25 years old as of 2026, having just celebrated his birthday. Despite his young age, this hip-hop artist has already lived a life full of extraordinary highs and dramatic lows that would take most artists decades to experience.

Lil Tjay is a young hip-hop artist who not only writes his own songs but also performs them with elegant melodic rap skills. His zodiac sign is Taurus, and his ethnicity is African-American with Ghanaian roots. Born at the very start of the 21st century, he belongs to a generation of artists who grew up with the internet as a launching pad — uploading music to SoundCloud as a teenager and watching it go viral before finishing his teens. His ability to connect emotionally through his rap lyrics far beyond his years has been one of his defining qualities.

By the age of 18, Lil Tjay had signed a record deal with Columbia Records and landed a major feature on Polo G’s chart-topping hit “Pop Out.” His verse helped catapult the song onto the Billboard Hot 100 and set the stage for his solo debut. Later that year, he released “F.N,” a breakout single that became a street anthem. His debut album True 2 Myself followed in 2019 and debuted in the top 5 on the Billboard 200, achieving all of this before turning 20.

Career

Lil Tjay began his music journey by releasing tracks on SoundCloud, where his unique voice and emotional storytelling quickly gained attention. His early singles went viral, helping him secure a Columbia Records deal and paving the way for mainstream success in trap and melodic hip-hop.

As his career progressed, he collaborated with top artists including Polo G, 6LACK, and Pop Smoke, and released chart-topping studio albums that showcased his growth. His ability to blend emotional depth with commercial appeal has allowed him to remain relevant in a highly competitive industry.

How Tall Is Lil Tjay?

Lil Tjay stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and weighs approximately 139 pounds (63 kilograms). He has dark brown eyes and black hair that define his signature look. For a rapper who commands stages across the world, his lean, slim frame and understated physical presence are offset by an enormous stage personality that fills arenas and Rolling Loud festival stages alike.

Lil Tjay has a slim but attractive physique, particularly appealing to his genre. He has black dreadlocked hair and dark eyes. He weighs 148 pounds and his shoe size is 11.5. His physical appearance, combined with his melodic vocal style and emotional delivery, has earned him the nickname “hip-hop heartthrob” in the music press — a label that reflects how his look and sound attract fans across gender and age groups far beyond the typical East Coast hip-hop audience.

Despite modest stature by some standards, Lil Tjay’s stage presence on and off stage is anything but small. His energy, charisma, and confidence have made him a recognizable figure not just in music but in pop culture more broadly. Whether performing at Rolling Loud or appearing in music videos, his distinctive style — dreadlocks, relaxed streetwear, and an effortlessly cool demeanor — has become a brand resonating with millions of fans worldwide.

Is Lil Tjay in a Relationship?

Lil Tjay is currently single and not in a relationship as of 2025. He prefers to keep his personal life private and focus on his music career and continued recovery. For someone who rose to fame as a teenager and has been surrounded by celebrity culture since his late teens, this discretion is notable and reflects his determination to let his chart-topping hits speak louder than his personal life. His social media presence revolves around his artistry rather than his romantic affairs.

Lil Tjay has been linked to several famous women over the years through ongoing relationship rumors. He was rumored to be dating Ice Spice, Princess Diana (the rapper), and the late Gangsta Boo. He was also connected to Chinese Kitty, Rubi Rose, and YouTube star Lala Baptiste. In February 2023, there were reports about an incident involving an expensive watch during relationship drama. None of these rumored relationships were ever publicly confirmed by Tjay himself, as reports remained largely speculation fueled by social media gossip and mutual collaborations.

Lil Tjay has overtly claimed that he has not been in any kind of public romantic relationship. The artist has reportedly disclosed that he is attracted to a local girl with a non-celebrity background but has made no public attempts to pursue the relationship. It appears that after surviving a near-fatal shooting in 2022 and dealing with multiple legal issues, including his weapon possession arrest, his priorities have shifted, and he has become even more guarded about his personal life. Fans continue to speculate, but as of 2026, the Bronx rapper remains focused on music above all else.

What Happened to Lil Tjay?

On June 22, 2022, a man named Mohamed Konate attempted a robbery on Lil Tjay at The Promenade in Edgewater, New Jersey. In the attempt, Tjay was shot multiple times, and two other people — Antoine Boyd and Jeffrey Valdez — who were accompanying Tjay were also shot by the robber. Lil Tjay and one of his friends were immediately rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center. Local police later arrested the shooter with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses.

The shooting survivor released “Beat the Odds” on August 26, 2022, which peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video featured footage of Tjay in Hackensack University Medical Center recovering from his gunshot wounds following emergency surgery. The song became a powerful artistic statement — a declaration of resilience from a man who had just barely survived. Fans and fellow artists rallied around him, and the record became one of his most emotionally resonant releases.

In September 2022, a few months after the shooting, Merritt performed his first concert since being shot. His return to the stage was seen as a defining moment in his career and personal journey, demonstrating courage and dedication that deepened his fan base connection. Beyond the 2022 shooting, on January 16, 2023, Merritt faced a gun possession arrest in the Bronx following a traffic stop. Police found a handgun in the vehicle and charged him with weapon possession. His attorney claimed the gun did not belong to Merritt and that the search was conducted illegally.

Lil Tjay Fans Also Viewed

Fans of Lil Tjay tend to gravitate toward artists who share similar melodic, emotionally driven styles rooted in New York street culture and East Coast hip-hop. Names like Polo G, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Lil Durk, Pop Smoke, and NLE Choppa frequently appear alongside Tjay in fan playlists and streaming platform recommendation algorithms. These artists all blend the raw storytelling of trap music with melodic hooks that cross over into mainstream pop sensibility — a formula that Tjay helped pioneer alongside his contemporaries.

Lil Tjay has drawn comparisons to fellow New York rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and in an interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that his biggest musical influences are Drake, Meek Mill, and Usher. Fans who admire the polished emotional depth of Drake, the street-smart lyricism of Meek Mill, and the smooth R&B energy of Usher will find all three qualities woven into Tjay’s discography. It’s this cross-genre appeal that keeps his fan base diverse and growing across streaming platforms.

Beyond music, Lil Tjay fans also tend to follow the careers of artists he has collaborated with, including 6LACK, French Montana, Sleepy Hallow, Kaash Paige, Rich The Kid, and Ice Spice. Concert data shows that Lil Tjay most frequently shares stages or appears alongside Playboi Carti, Lil Mosey, and Ski Mask The Slump God. These associations give fans a broader circle of artists to explore, ensuring that a fan introduced to this Bronx rapper will quickly find themselves deep in the world of modern melodic rap and drill music.

Lil Tjay Is A Member Of

Lil Tjay is a signed member of Columbia Records, one of the most prestigious record labels in the music industry. He signed with Columbia Records following the success of his 2018 single “Brothers,” which received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Being part of the Columbia Records family placed him in elite company alongside some of the biggest names in music history, giving him access to world-class production, marketing, and distribution resources.

As a proud representative of the Bronx rap scene, Lil Tjay is also a de facto member of a broader creative community of New York hip-hop artists who have helped revitalize the city’s identity in the 2010s and 2020s. The artist born Tione Jayden Merritt, of African-American and Ghanaian ethnicity, emerged from hip-hop’s place of origin, the South Bronx, absorbing the music of Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Usher played by his mother, and further inspired by the rap lyrics of Drake, Rick Ross and Meek Mill. This dual musical upbringing positioned him as a key voice in a new generation of Bronx storytellers.

In terms of his social circle and artistic community, Lil Tjay maintains close ties with fellow Bronx rapper Jay Gwuapo, with whom he frequently performs on concert tours. Merritt accompanied Seattle rapper Lil Mosey on his nationwide tour throughout 2019 and also performed at the Rolling Loud music festival along with Migos, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi in Miami Gardens, Florida, in May 2019. His membership in this broader hip-hop community of touring artists and festival performers has helped solidify his status as one of the defining young voices of his era.

Lil Tjay Age, Real Name, and Early Life Story

Tione Jayden Merritt, born on April 30, 2001, is known professionally as Lil Tjay. This African-American rapper with Ghanaian ethnicity was born and raised in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City. He was raised by a single mother and has two younger siblings in what was described as a “roomy” apartment. Merritt called himself the problematic child of the three children, as he would often get himself into petty robberies and school fights. His childhood was defined by the duality of warmth at home and chaos on the streets — a tension that later became the core emotional engine of his rap lyrics.

At the age of 15, Merritt was arrested for a robbery and sentenced to a year at the youth detention center, where he would begin to write raps. These included one of his hit songs “Resume,” which he released on SoundCloud. Merritt’s childhood friend, Smelly, was fatally stabbed on August 14, 2016. Merritt pays tribute to his childhood friend in a number of his songs, referencing his name throughout his discography. The loss of his friend was a formative tragedy that gave his music a layer of grief and genuine pain that audiences connect with deeply.

In 2017, this emerging Bronx rapper began releasing music on SoundCloud. “Resume,” one of his first songs, was released when Merritt was 16 years old and quickly began spreading online. Within just a year of posting his first tracks, he had accumulated millions of streaming plays and caught the attention of major label scouts. His story — from detention center rapper to Columbia Records signee by 17 — is one of the most remarkable origin stories in modern hip-hop, continuing to inspire young artists who come from similarly difficult backgrounds.

Lil Tjay Net Worth, Income Sources, and Career Growth

Lil Tjay has built a strong financial portfolio through his successful music career as a rapper, singer, and songwriter. His consistent chart performance on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, combined with his growing fan base, have significantly contributed to his rising net worth.

Beyond music sales and streaming revenue, his income streams include live performances, brand partnerships, and digital monetization across platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. His career growth reflects both financial success and artistic evolution from SoundCloud rapper to international hip-hop star.

Lil Tjay Songs List That Made Him Famous Worldwide

Lil Tjay rose to prominence with his 2017 single “Resume,” and signed with Columbia Records following the success of his 2018 single “Brothers,” which received triple platinum certification by the RIAA. His guest appearance on Polo G’s 2019 single “Pop Out” marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 — peaking at number 11 — while his own single “F.N” became his first chart-topping hit as a lead artist. These three records — “Resume,” “Brothers,” and “F.N” — form the foundational trilogy of his early fame and remain among his most streamed tracks on Spotify and Apple Music today.

His second studio album, Destined 2 Win (2021), was supported by the single “Calling My Phone” (with 6LACK), which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. “Calling My Phone” represented a massive commercial breakthrough, proving that this melodic rapper could compete at the very top of the charts. Its blend of melodic yearning and emotional vulnerability struck a chord with listeners far beyond the hip-hop and drill music fanbase, crossing into pop and R&B territory and earning him a new generation of fans worldwide.

“Beat the Odds” was released on August 26, 2022, and peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video featured footage of Tjay in the hospital recovering from his gunshot wounds. Other globally recognized titles include “Love Hurts,” “Goat,” “Leaked,” “Hold On,” and “Mood Swings” with Pop Smoke. More recently, releases such as “Stressed” featuring Summer Walker, “Farewell” (2024), and his 2025–2026 singles including “Used 2 Love,” “Letter To My Block,” “Life on Edge,” and “First Time” have kept him consistently active on streaming platforms worldwide.

Lil Tjay Girlfriend, Relationships, and Personal Life

The Beats the Odds singer does not appear to have a confirmed romantic relationship, as he has not mentioned anything publicly about his love life. He is, however, rumored to have dated fellow rapper Ice Spice, as he gifted her an expensive watch on her birthday in February 2023. The Princess Diana rapper dismissed those relationship rumors, saying they were just good friends. The two rappers collaborated on the song “Gangsta Boo.” Despite the public interest in their friendship, neither party has ever officially confirmed a romantic connection, leaving fans to draw their own conclusions.

In previous years, Lil Tjay has been linked to rappers Chinese Kitty, Rubi Rose, and YouTube star Lala Baptiste. Each of these rumored relationships generated significant buzz on social media, though Tjay consistently avoided confirming or denying them in interviews. His tendency to keep his romantic life tightly guarded is a deliberate choice — one that stands in contrast to many of his peers who openly share relationship details with their fan base as a form of personal branding.

On a more personal level, Lil Tjay has spoken about how his upbringing by a single mother shaped his understanding of resilience and self-reliance. The experiences of losing close friends to street violence, spending time in a youth detention center, and surviving a gunshot attack have all contributed to a deeply introspective personality. In an interview while talking about his detention years, he said he learned how to be true to himself, how to be disciplined, and how to think independently. These values appear to extend into his approach to relationships — cautious, private, and grounded in self-awareness.

Lil Tjay Height, Weight, and Complete Bio Profile

Lil Tjay is not only known for his melodic rap music but also for his distinct personality and appearance. His physical traits and streetwear style contribute to his strong stage presence in the East Coast hip-hop scene.

Fans are always curious about his personal life and lifestyle details. From his height and weight to his fashion sense, every aspect of his bio as a rapper, singer, and songwriter adds to his overall public image.

Legal Issues

On June 22, 2022, a man named Mohamed Konate attempted a robbery on Lil Tjay at The Promenade in Edgewater, New Jersey. In the attempt, Tjay was shot multiple times, and two other people accompanying Tjay were also shot. Local police later arrested the shooter with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses. Lil Tjay’s friends were also arrested for unlawful weapon possession. This violent incident brought the Bronx rapper’s name into legal headlines not as a perpetrator, but as a shooting survivor whose near-fatal experience fundamentally altered the trajectory of his music career.

On January 16, 2023, Merritt faced a gun possession arrest in the Bronx and was placed in police custody following a traffic stop. Merritt was on his way to film with fellow Bronx rapper Ice Spice at the time of the arrest. Police found a handgun in the vehicle and charged him with weapon possession, with a court date set for February 14. Merritt’s attorney, Dawn Florio, claimed that the gun did not belong to Merritt and that the search conducted by officers was conducted illegally, as the car was allegedly parked legally on the street and Merritt was allegedly a passenger.

Most recently, on April 6, 2026, Merritt was arrested in connection with a shooting involving rapper Offset outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. He was charged with disorderly conduct. Police confirmed that one of the males associated with Lil Tjay pulled a firearm and discharged it, wounding one individual. Though Merritt did not directly fire the weapon, he was acknowledged to have been present and recording the altercation on his phone. He was released from jail on April 7. These recurring legal entanglements continue to shadow an otherwise remarkable musical career.

Artistry

Influenced by his upbringing in the Bronx, Lil Tjay is a melodic rapper who frequently incorporates auto-tune in his songs, blending trap music and R&B into a signature East Coast hip-hop sound. He has drawn comparisons to fellow New York rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that his biggest musical influences are Drake, Meek Mill, and Usher. He described his music as having a melodic sound when singing or rapping about his past struggles. This combination of raw lyrical content and smooth melodic delivery is what sets him apart from many of his contemporaries who lean entirely into either singing or rapping.

His style has enough room for giddy pop and somber reflection, infectious songcraft and harsh street-life realities. In turn, Tjay landed multiple songs on the Billboard Hot 100 before he left his teens. The artist emerged from the South Bronx, absorbing the Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Usher songs played by his mother, and further inspired by the rap lyrics of Drake, Rick Ross and Meek Mill. This eclectic upbringing is audible throughout his discography — a warmth and vulnerability borrowed from R&B legends sitting comfortably alongside drill music narratives shaped by his environment.

Apple Music describes Lil Tjay’s sound as a blend of emotive melodies, street raps, and love songs. He exists between two worlds — the South Bronx tradition of hustlers turned rappers and the deep streaming culture obsession of his generation. His two favourite artists are Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne, and this duality — often earning him the nickname “Bronx Justin Bieber” — is his greatest strength. Whether he’s crafting an aching love song or a declaration of survival, Lil Tjay brings an authenticity and emotional transparency that defines the very best of modern melodic hip-hop.

Live Performances

New York’s Lil Tjay is a rapper-singer with street-level rap lyrics but pop star energy. Naturally, his live shows have no shortage of hand-waving, crowd singalongs, and a cappella breaks that highlight the depth and intricacy of his bars. Though his lyrics can be intense and personal, Lil Tjay’s live shows explode with energy and stage presence. Hits like “Leaked,” “Brothers,” and the top 20 smash “Pop Out” with Polo G have rocketed him to multiple editions of the Rolling Loud Festival. His No Escape tour took him across America in 2019, and was followed by the True 2 Myself tour in 2020.

Merritt accompanied Seattle rapper Lil Mosey on his nationwide tour throughout 2019. He also performed at the three-day Rolling Loud music festival along with Migos, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi in Miami Gardens, Florida, in May 2019, and at the Los Angeles festival in December. He frequently appears and performs at concerts with close friend Jay Gwuapo. His festival appearances have been instrumental in building his reputation as a live performer capable of holding his own alongside the biggest names in rap and drill music on major stages.

Concert records show that Lil Tjay has performed most frequently in New York City, London, Newark, Los Angeles, and Bridgeport. He has appeared alongside Playboi Carti, Lil Mosey, and Ski Mask The Slump God most frequently on concert bills. Fan reviews of his shows are largely enthusiastic, praising his crowd engagement and his ability to get entire arenas singing along. In September 2022, a few months after the shooting, this shooting survivor performed his first concert since being shot — a powerful moment that his fan base celebrated as a triumphant return to the stage.

Discography

American rapper Lil Tjay has released three studio albums, four extended plays, and 68 singles (including twenty-eight as a featured artist). His debut studio album, True 2 Myself (2019), peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and was preceded by his breakthrough collaborations with Polo G on “Pop Out” and his solo single “F.N.” The album featured guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk, establishing him immediately as a major figure in the new generation of East Coast hip-hop artists.

His extended plays include “F.N” (2019), “State of Emergency” (2020), and “Strictly4MyFans” (2022). He has also been featured on tracks by major artists including “Pop Out” (2019) by Polo G, “Slide” (2019) by French Montana, “Mood Swings” (2020) by Pop Smoke, and “Elegance” (2022) by Nafe Smallz. His second studio album, Destined 2 Win (2021), included the massive chart-topping hit “Calling My Phone” with 6LACK, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. 

His third studio album, 222 (2023), contained the shooting survivor’s anthem “Beat the Odds” and further cemented his artistic evolution. His most recent discography includes the 2024 single “Farewell,” the 2025 releases “Used 2 Love,” “Letter To My Block,” and “Focus on the Music,” and 2026 singles “Life on Edge,” “First Time,” “Can’t Change,” and a collaboration with Fivio Foreign.

Across this entire body of work, this Bronx rapper and songwriter has proven himself to be a consistent, evolving melodic rapper who continues to push his sound forward while staying true to the emotional honesty that first made him famous. His catalog is a living document of a young man’s journey from the streets of the Bronx to the top of the global music charts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Lil Tjay in 2026?

Lil Tjay is 25 years old in 2026. He was born on April 30, 2001.

What is Lil Tjay’s real name?

His real name is Tione Jayden Merritt. He uses “Lil Tjay” as his stage name in music.

How tall is Lil Tjay?

Lil Tjay is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall. His height adds to his confident stage presence.

What is Lil Tjay’s weight?

He weighs around 65 kg (143 lbs) approximately. He maintains a slim and fit physique.

Where is Lil Tjay from, and who is in his family?

He is from the Bronx, New York, USA. He grew up with his mother and siblings.

Conclusion

Lil Tjay has built a strong reputation not only through his music but also through his inspiring life story. From his early beginnings to becoming a global hip-hop star, every detail—from his age and height to his family background—adds depth to his public image. As his career continues to rise, fans remain eager to learn more about both his personal life and future achievements.

Hammad Rind

Abeera Blogger is a passionate content creator sharing insightful and engaging blogs.She writes about lifestyle, trends, and everyday tips to inspire readers.Her content is simple, helpful, and designed to add value to your daily life.