Trauma stories are often accompanied by a certain banality, the everyday incidents and random mishaps that lead up to the ultimate tragedy. These specifics are revealed for Lil Tjay in “June 22,” which is a comprehensive account of the day he was shot seven times. He tells a story about lean-induced studio nap sessions and an upcoming vacation to Paris while coasting over pensive piano. Eventually, he devolves into creepy paranoia, which turns out to be terrifyingly warranted. Paralyzing tension is created by Tjay’s false back-and-forth with his friends over whether an enemy is pursuing him; “I looked, I saw the car, and then I immediately fell back asleep. Then I heard, ‘That’s that car again?'”Never, it’s beef now. I take out my Glock and say, “I’m going to flip ’em on this street now.”Brother is saying, “You wildin’, Tjay? All I do is suck my teeth.”
The standout track from Tjay’s debut album, 222, released a little over a year ago, is “June 22nd,” which combines a strong dose of op navigation logistics with a lighthearted and urgent feel. Even if 222 is hindered by conservative production and a general lack of innovation from the person who published it, Tjay is still able to make powerful warrior theme songs, even though few of the project’s tracks are quite as engaging. Tjay’s abilities are still what they are: he can create melancholic street ballads, delicate R&B songs (“Stressed” with Summer Walker), or drill anthems (“Bla Bla” with Fivio Foreign) that soar with melody and danger. His lithe, expressive tone reaches into the nooks and crannies of every emotion. In addition, he tells stories fairly well, and when the mood strikes, he can be both endearing and convincingly vicious. It everything comes together most of the time to create something worthwhile. Tjay delves into a Bobby Glenn sample, popularized by JAY-Z, on “Nobody,” bemoaning unfaithful friends and a way of life that necessitates a Glock. The lyrics, delivered in his sobbing voice, fall from his lips like a drop of rain: “Yeah, one of those n*ggas is the reason they despise me, and it’s also one of the reasons I can’t carry it safely.” He displays the same vulnerability on “Heart Felt Soul,” but this time, to the listener’s dismay, there’s a bounce that keeps it from becoming monotonous—something Tjay doesn’t do too frequently on this CD. The beats themselves sound like boring copies of each other, however songs like “Bla Bla” and “Project Walls” featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again provide the project energizing flows and stand strong on their own. “Scared 2 Be Lonely,” on the other hand, functions more like a depressing cover of Toosii’s “Favorite Song.”
The Kid Laroi-assisted “2 Grown” and the previously mentioned “Stressed” seem like just passable slow jams; their monochromatic production and vocal performances don’t make much of an impact. Even though Tjay has a silky voice and some rapping skill, many of his hooks seem bland and lack the phonetic fun, swerving melodies, meaning, or flavor that would make them memorable. There’s no “Calling My Phone” or “Zoo York” to be found, and he doesn’t exhibit the kind of originality you would think someone with his level of talent would.
English