TRUE 2 MYSELF

MusicDigital Marketing
Written By Touré Ali

LIL TJAY STAYS TRUE 2 HIMSELF ON DEBUT ALBUM

In the Bronx, a young artist found his voice through the melodic blend of hip-hop, drill, and trap. This artist was Tione Jayden Merritt, known by his stage name Lil Tjay. An embodiment of New York City's youth energy, Lil Tjay quickly carved a lane within the city's buzzing drill music scene. His debut album, True 2 Myself, reflected his ascendance, marking a milestone in his journey from the streets of the Bronx to becoming one of New York City's breakout rap stars.

The first single, "F.N.," became the album's centerpiece, attracting attention due to its controversial backstory. During the video shoot, Tjay was "arrested" while filming, which inadvertently amplified the single's popularity. The origin of "F.N." can be traced back to a snippet previewed in his highly acclaimed documentary Prince Of New York. The documentary was more than just an exploration of Tjay's life and music; it was a window into his talent and creative process, showcasing his journey from a troubled teenager to a buzzing rap star. The documentary was pivotal in defining Tjay's brand and image. His vulnerability and candidness in the documentary offered a fresh perspective on his life and music. It added depth to his narrative and served as a stepping stone toward the album's success.

Following the first documentary, we released a second one focused on the making of the album, giving fans an even bigger window into Tjay's process behind the scenes. Visual storytelling played a significant role in bringing True 2 Myself to life.

Tjay's music videos provided a visual complement to some of the album's biggest tracks, the documentaries provided more context to his story, and the album's artwork and out-of-home positioned Tjay as the most prominent artist in the city. Each piece served as a way to further amplify the album's impact.

As he continues to shape his way in the music, Lil Tjay symbolizes the heart of New York City - ever pulsating, resilient, and boundless in its pursuit of dreams. His journey and the success of True 2 Myself prove that one's circumstances should never define one's potential. As he writes the next chapters in his career, one thing remains certain - Lil Tjay will always remain 'true to himself.'

Touré Ali

Touré Ali Shiver is a visual artist and brand-marketing specialist from Alexandria, VA seeking to create visual content and marketing strategies that change the way consumers interact with brands.

Born on September 14, 1994 in Washington D.C., Shiver grew up in Alexandria, VA where he completed his high school years at T.C. Williams High School. It was during his time year at T.C. when he discovered his passion for photography and design after enrolling in a digital photography and film course while freelancing for private clients.  

Now a recent graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Mr. Shiver’s plans to continue working on building his multimedia creative imprint TouréxAli Co. and ISSUé magazine while pursuing his long time goal of becoming a Creative Director.

With and a goal of changing the perspectives of those that view his work, Shiver brings a new refreshing outlook on creativity, art, design and the world through the visuals that he creates. Shiver often says, “creativity breeds excellence,” and excellence is what he strives to achieve.

 

http://www.tourexali.com
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