Lil Tjay’s rise from the gritty Fordham neighborhood of The Bronx to the Billboard Hot 100 and performing at the O2 Arena across the pond is being turned into a documentary.
Per Variety, Hangtime and Standard Projects are collaborating to bring the doc to life while detailing Tjay’s turbulent upbringing and career.
Producers on the project include Hangtime co-CEOs Frank Murray and Frida Torresblanco as well as Clayton Barmore, Deon Douglas and Heather L. Boucher.
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Before the fame, Tjay’s life was never the same following the fatal stabbing of his childhood friend, Smelly. As a teenager, Tjay went all-in on a rap career while spending a year in a detention center after being arrested for robbery.
Two years later, Tjay (born Tione Jayden Merritt) broke through with his multiplatinum hit “Brothers” in 2018, which led to him inking a lucrative deal with Columbia Records.
He cracked the Hot 100 top 15 when teaming up with Polo G for their “Pop Out” anthem, which peaked at No. 11 on the chart in 2019. Later that year, Tjay was stamped as one of the leaders of the new school in NYC’s rap scene with the release of his True 2 Myself album, featuring hits like “F.N.”
“Witnessing a young man transform pain into purpose is what moved me to begin the journey to tell Lil Tjay’s story,” Torresblanco said in a statement. “He is a wounded poet whose resilience speaks to an entire generation.”
She continued: “This documentary is about more than music; it’s about strength, growth and the quiet wisdom that can only come from living through what most of us will never have to experience. His voice shows young people that beauty can arise from hardship, and his legacy reminds us that even the most difficult struggles can inspire hope.”
Lil Tjay nearly lost his life in 2022 when the rapper was shot seven times in a botched armed robbery attempt in New Jersey.
The 24-year-old returned to release his 222 album in 2023 and then followed up with the arrival of Farewell in 2024 featuring NLE Choppa, Polo G and G Herbo. Earlier in May, Tjay returned to unite with Detroit rapper 42 Dugg for his “Different” single.
The untitled documentary will be introduced later this month at the Cannes Film Festival, while a director is set to reportedly be announced at a later date.
