Lil Tjay is looking to take over 2026 using a sound he’s been using for the past five years.

I remember having a conversation with my boy Uche about Lil Tjay’s popularity in the hip-hop game. At the time, he told me Tjay was more popular than Meek Mill. That sounded insane to me at first, but as time passed, I actually started to agree. I felt like Tjay had a slightly better ear for the streets, which made him feel more relevant in that moment.

However, since recovering from being shot, his momentum has faded quite a bit, and he’s never really reclaimed that up-and-coming spark he once had. Still, it looks like he’s gearing up for a new run heading into 2026. He just dropped a new single fittingly titled “2026.”

On the track, Tjay floats over a melancholy instrumental with a nice little knock, using his familiar melodic rap style to talk about his rough come-up, navigating the streets, and locking in on personal growth. Emotionally, it hits the notes you’d expect from him, blending vulnerability with grit in a way he’s always been good at.

My main issue, though, is that it sounds like about 95% of the rest of his catalog. It’s not bad by any means, but it doesn’t feel like a reinvention either.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.