Lil Tjay Wants to Show Off His Acting Skills

Hip-hop was born in New York City 46 years ago, and still continues to produce young talents that contribute to the art form in different ways. At just 18 years old, Bronx native Lil Tjay is far past the 100-million streaming mark on Spotify, through his successful solo songs like "Brothers" and "Goat," along with his collaborative work, like the double-platinum Billboard Hot 100 hit "Pop Out," with his Columbia Records label mate Polo G. With his EP F.N and its title track in rotation now, Tjay is on the path to stay winning. He recently sat down with XXL to share the ins and outs of who he is, in the latest edition of Who Am I?

Even as a child, Lil Tjay knew fame was on the way. "My dream job growing up was always to be an artist," he shares. "It wasn't necessarily a rapper or singer... Actually, it was more like a public figure, to keep it a stack. So I didn't really care if it was actin' or what. And I always imagined it'd happen. I never really doubted it." That self-belief helped propel him to where he is today.

After Tjay got into some trouble with the law and was freed from jail, Tjay jumped right into music. "The next day [after coming home] I went to the studio," he reveals. "Some of my friends, they was making music... It was drilly music." Considering Tjay's music is more sing-songy and flows a bit more smoothly, he wasn't sure if he was ready to share the songs he wrote. "I hesitated at first, but I was like nah... this sound like I thought it would sound." Soon after, he started to regularly record in a local studio that also happened to be in someone's house, which was "wild hot."

Tjay is known for his rapping and singing, but he thinks he has more to offer. When asked about his hidden talents, Tjay reveals a few other arts that he might have at his disposal. "I used to be able to dance," he says with a laugh. "I think that acting could be a talent." He's still honest with himself, though: "I just gotta have somebody else judge it I'd probably just be gassin' myself up."

Learn more about Tjay's come up, the artists he listened to growing up and his favorite TV shows in the video below.

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