Lil Tjay taps into pure emotion on this one.

Lil Tjay is in the news for reasons no one wants to be in the news for (I can tell you, he isn’t being accused of saving a kitten from a tree). But sometimes, bad publicity is good publicity, and right now, he’s on the minds of a lot of listeners. Maybe by coincidence, today he decided to release a new track called “First Time.” For him, I’m sure it’s refreshing to get back to the music.

From the start of “First Time,” you can hear it—this isn’t just about heartbreak, it’s everything that comes after it. Anger, resentment, regret, and that lingering hurt all collide in a way that feels almost overwhelming. The song centers on looking back at a relationship and realizing it might’ve been a mistake from the start, and Tjay doesn’t hold back when unpacking that realization.

His delivery is what really makes the track hit. You can hear the emotion in every word—he’s not just telling the story, he’s reliving it. There’s intensity in his tone, especially in the way he leans into certain lines, making it clear this situation left a mark. And honestly? He goes in.

There’s also something very real about how direct he is. It doesn’t feel polished or filtered—it feels like a vent session turned into a song. That authenticity is what makes it so relatable.

And then there’s the release itself—dropping the original along with sped-up and slowed-down versions? Yeah, he didn’t have to do that, but it definitely adds to the replay value (and the emotional damage, if we’re being honest).

“First Time” is messy, honest, and heavy in the best way—a heartbreak track that doesn’t try to clean itself up.

Ileyah

Ileyah is a mom, a writer and a musician. She loves late nights and gluten free snacks.