Lil Tjay's real name and the shooting that nearly ended his career before it fully took off
Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, is a New York-based rapper, singer, and songwriter whose rising career was nearly cut short by a violent shooting in 2022. At just 21 years old, he was shot multiple times during an attempted robbery in New Jersey, an incident that left him critically injured and fighting for his life. Despite the severity of the attack, he survived and later made a powerful comeback with music that reflects on his experience and resilience.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Lil Tjay started singing in 2016.
- His popularity began to rise after he released his debut song, Resume.
- In his music career, he has collaborated with some of the best US rappers and released several songs.
- He is best known for hit songs such as Calling My Phone, Beat the Odds, and Love Hurts.
Profile summary
Full name | Tione Jayden Merritt |
Nickname | Lil Tjay |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 30 April 2001 |
Age | 25 years old (as of 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Place of birth | The Bronx, New York, United States |
Current residence | New York City, New York, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet | 5'9" |
Height in centimetres | 175 |
Weight in pounds | 139 |
Weight in kilograms | 63 |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Dark brown |
Siblings | 2 |
Relationship status | Single |
School | Bronx Dance Academy |
Profession | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
X (Twitter) | |
TikTok | |
Lil Tjay's bio
Lil Tjay's real name is Tione Jayden Merritt. He was reportedly raised by a single mother of Ghanaian ethnicity. He was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, United States.
He has two younger siblings, Melvoni and Tione. He is an American national of African-American ethnicity. Lil Tjay's family resides in New York City, New York, United States.
Did Lil Tjay attend high school?
He went to high school but frequently got into trouble, such as school fights and robberies that led to his detention at a youth detention centre. He later joined Bronx Dance Academy, where he honed his skills in performing arts.
What is Lil Tjay's age?
The US rapper is 25 years old as of 2026. Lil Tjay's birthday is 30 April 2001. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, United States.
Source: Original
Career
The rapper's music career reportedly started in 2016 when he was in a youth detention centre, where he began writing song lyrics. The song Resume is among his first releases, and his popularity began to grow.
He participated in multiple music competitions, and his talent attracted much attention. Lil Tjay's record label is Columbia Records, which signed him in 2018.
He sings multiple music genres, including hip-hop, trap, drill, and R&B. So far, he has released four studio albums: True 2 Myself, Destined 2 Win, 222, and They Just Ain't You.
The rapper has also worked with musicians such as Sleepy Hallow, Rich The Kid, and Kaash Paige. Here is a list of some of Lil Tjay's songs.
- Calling My Phone
- Beat the Odds
- Love Hurts
- Give You What You Want
- Heart Felt Soul
- Same Friends
- Zoo York
- One Take
- Foster Baby
- Leaked
- Ruthless
Does Lil Tjay have a wife?
No, Lil Tjay does not have a wife. The 25-year-old New York rapper is unmarried. He does not seem to be dating anyone, as he has not revealed anything about his love life. However, he started dating rumours with fellow rapper Ice Spice in February 2023 after gifting her an expensive watch on her birthday.
The Princess Diana singer dismissed the speculations, saying they were only good friends. The two rappers collaborated on the song Gangsta Boo.
Lil Tjay has been romantically linked to a few women in the past. The rapper reportedly dated rappers Chinese Kitty and Rubi Rose, as well as YouTube star Lala Baptiste.
Source: Getty Images
Does Lil Tjay have a kid?
No, Lil Tjay does not publicly have any children. While he has occasionally expressed his desire to become a father, he has not confirmed that he has any kids. He once shared on X:
I swear Ima be the best father 2 my kids, cause I hate the way them people did me when I was young
He has also spoken openly about his upbringing in foster care and being adopted, which has shaped how he views family and fatherhood.
What happened to Lil Tjay when he was shot?
The Lil Tjay shooting incident occurred on 22 June 2022 in Edgewater, New Jersey, during an attempted robbery. He was critically injured and required emergency surgery after sustaining multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Centre, where doctors performed urgent treatment that helped save his life. After a difficult recovery process, he eventually survived the incident and later returned to making music.
In another incident on 16 January 2023, he was arrested in The Bronx, New York, United States. He was going to shoot a music video when he was allegedly found in possession of a weapon.
Does Lil Tjay believe in God?
Yes, Lil Tjay has openly expressed his belief in God, often crediting a higher power for his survival and success, especially after surviving a near-fatal shooting in 2022. In a 2023 TikTok post announcing new music, he wrote:
A year ago today, I almost lost my life but God got other plans 🙏🏽 “June 22nd” out now and new album ‘222’ July 14th! I appreciate y’all for all the support this past year 🫶🏾
Where is Lil Tjay now?
Lil Tjay has been moving between Los Angeles and South Florida since his release from the Broward County Jail in early April 2026. He is currently focused on promoting his latest independent music release across his social media platforms.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- What is Lil Tjay's date of birth? The US rapper was born on 30 April 2001.
- How old is Lil Tjay? He is 25 years old as of 2026.
- Who are Lil Tjay's parents? Not much is known about his parents. However, he and his two younger siblings were raised by a single mother.
- Where is Lil Tjay's mother from? The singer's mother is from Ghana.
- What is Lil Tjay's background? He was born in The Bronx, New York, United States, where he grew up before rising to fame as a rapper and singer.
- What is Lil Tjay's height? He is 5 feet 9 inches (175 centimetres) tall.
Lil Tjay has achieved a lot worth admiring despite being young. The rapper has been in the US music industry since 2016 and has released three studio albums with several songs. He lives in New York City, New York, United States.
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Mercy Mbuthia (Lifestyle writer) Mercy Mbuthia is a content writer with five years of experience writing on various topics, including biographies, entertainment, and lifestyle. She joined the Legit team in 2019. Mercy earned a Master of Science (Food, Nutrition & Dietetics) from Dedan Kimathi University in 2022. Her articles have appeared on several media sites such as The Health Channel, The Nation, Tekrati, ValiantCEO and Celebrity Leader. In 2023, Mercy finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: mercymmbuthia18@gmail.com
John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a print journalist with seven years of newsroom experience, known for sharply argued think pieces at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College in January 2021. Between 2018 and 2022, he worked as an opinion columnist for The Standard and Nation Africa. He is currently writing his debut literary-historical fiction novel and will enrol in a B.A. in film production at EICAR in France in the fall of 2026. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com
