Lil Tjay Net Worth

What is Lil Tjay's net worth?

Lil Tjay is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who has a net worth of $6 million. Tione Jayden Merritt, better known as Lil Tjay, emerged as one of hip-hop's most promising young voices in the late 2010s. The Bronx-born rapper gained widespread recognition for his melodic approach to street narratives and emotional vulnerability in his lyrics.

Rising to prominence through SoundCloud releases, Tjay's breakthrough came with his 2018 song "Resume," followed by the platinum-certified "Brothers." His debut album "True 2 Myself" (2019) solidified his position in mainstream hip-hop, debuting at number 5 on the Billboard 200.

Despite facing a near-fatal shooting incident in 2022, Tjay demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to music with renewed purpose and perspective. His blend of raw storytelling, auto-tuned melodies, and authentic street experiences has earned him comparisons to fellow New York artist A Boogie wit da Hoodie and established him as a leading voice of his generation.

Early Life

Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, was born on April 30, 2001 in the Bronx borough of New York City. He was raised with his two younger siblings by a single mother. Growing up, Merritt got into trouble for school fights and petty robberies, and he was arrested for a robbery at the age of 15. During the year he spent at a youth detention center, he began writing rap music.

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Recording Career

Merritt began uploading his music to the audio streaming platform SoundCloud in 2017. His first song to gain significant recognition was called "Resume." In 2018, after winning the Coast 2 Coast LIVE talent competition, Merritt released his breakout single, "Brothers." The song racked up millions of streams on SoundCloud and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Merritt subsequently signed with Columbia Records and released the single "None of Your Love." At the end of 2018, he released his debut EP, "No Comparison." Kicking off 2019, Merritt had a major hit as a featured artist on Polo G's single "Pop Out," which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later in the year, Merritt released his second EP, "F.N," which launched the lead single of the same name. That song, as well as "Brothers," were included on Merritt's debut studio album "True 2 Myself," released in October of 2019. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and was later certified double platinum by the RIAA.

On New Year's Day, 2020, Merritt released the single "20/20." That spring, he released his third EP, "State of Emergency," which peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200. Merritt went on to appear as a featured artist on Pop Smoke's hit song "Mood Swings," released in the summer. In early 2021, Merritt had his biggest hit song yet with "Calling My Phone," featuring singer 6lack. It debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in several other countries. The song was included on Merritt's second studio album, "Destined 2 Win," which came out in the spring of 2021. A top-five hit in the United States and Canada, the album included such other singles as "Losses," "Move On," and "Headshot." In 2022, Merritt had success with the non-album singles "Not in the Mood," "In My Head," and "Beat the Odds." The next year, he released his third studio album, "222." In late 2024, Merritt released the EP "Farewell," marking his departure from Columbia Records.

Musical Influences

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Merritt mentioned that his musical influences include rappers Meek Mill and Drake and singer Usher. He has also inspired comparisons to fellow Bronx rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie.

(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Shooting Incident

In mid-2022, Merritt was shot seven times when a man tried to rob him and his friend in Edgewater, New Jersey. Merritt underwent emergency surgery while his friend, Antoine, was in stable condition after being shot just once. Later in the day, a suspect named Mohamed Konate was arrested and charged on multiple counts. Merritt was in a coma following the shooting, but was conscious and talking by the beginning of July. In late August, he uploaded a video on social media saying he was doing better.

Weapon Possession Arrest

In early 2023, Merritt was arrested in the Bronx after police found a handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop. He was charged with weapon possession and given a court date. Merritt's lawyer Dawn Florio claimed the gun did not belong to Merritt, and, moreover, that the police search of Merritt's car was done illegally.

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