From a youth detention cell to the top of the Billboard charts
In short: Lil Tjay's rise from Bronx street life to global stardom is defined by a dramatic pivot: he began writing his biggest hits while serving time in a youth detention center at age 15. His journey from petty crime to platinum records offers a stark look at artistic survival.
Born Tione Jayden Merritt in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx, Merritt's early life was marked by what he described as being a 'problematic child.' He frequently engaged in school fights and petty robberies, leading to his arrest at age 15 for robbery. This resulted in a one-year sentence at a youth detention center—a period he credits as the catalyst for his musical peak. It was within those walls that he began writing the raps that would eventually become his signature sound.
His breakthrough came via SoundCloud, where his 2017 single 'Resume' went viral. By early 2019, Merritt had already amassed over one million plays on five different tracks within just ten months. This momentum secured him a deal with Columbia Records and led to his debut studio album, True 2 Myself, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200 in October 2019. His commercial reach expanded further in 2021 when his collaboration 'Calling My Phone' with 6lack peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, Merritt’s career has been punctuated by extreme physical and legal peril. In June 2022, he survived a near-fatal shooting in New Jersey where he was struck seven times during an attempted robbery. Despite rumors of paralysis or brain death following the incident, he returned to the stage in September 2022. More recently, his career has faced further scrutiny; in April 2026, he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in connection with a shooting involving rapper Offset in Florida, an event that sparked significant public debate regarding his involvement.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lil Tjay
- Also: Wikidata — Lil Tjay · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Lil Tjay discography · CC0
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