Lil Tjay returns today with “Beat the Odds,” his first single since being injured in a New Jersey shooting back in June. In a short video uploaded to Instagram before the song’s arrival, the Bronx rapper revealed that he was shot seven times during the incident in Edgewater, New Jersey, which was believed to be a botched robbery. “Seven shots, it was tough, y’know?,” he says in the video. “Most people don’t survive it, but I’m here. Here for a reason.”
Lil Tjay proves he’s back and stronger than ever on “Beat The Odds.” Produced by KXVI, Desirez Beats, and KBeaZy, the empowering track sees Tjay reflect on the hardships he’s endured in his life and find renewed hope in being given a second chance. On the chorus, Tjay acknowledges that he still has problems to face in his future and admits there are some memories he hopes to never revisit, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lot to be thankful for, too.
Grateful for the shit I got ‘cause I come from a hard life
Demons on my mental, saw some shit I wanna archive
Feds lookin’ out tryna bring a nigga down
Just thinkin’ ‘bout the possibility, I frown
On the first verse, Tjay shouts out rapper Baby Keem’s 2021 debut album, The Melodic Blue, and Louisiana MC Lil Wayne’s iconic No Ceilings mixtape series to show just how resilient he is. Ultimately, he wants his listeners to know that he doesn’t let the sadness in his life stop him from striving for greatness.
Melodic blue stories, I’m feelin’ like Baby Keem
I do my own thing, fuck it, I took seven shots, no shame
Back to wall, I’m still gon’ blow you down, I ain’t no stain
Flow on Wayne, I don’t give a fuck about no ceiling
On the second verse, Tjay questions how he’s survived after all these years of close calls with his rivals.
Seen bullets hit a opp, before he died, his face said, “Why me?”
How the fuck I’m livin’? All these niggas wan’ fry me
He also comes to the harsh realization that even though, against all odds, he’s managed to find fame and success, he isn’t totally happy. He still has a lot of things to worry about—like the invasive media and haters who doubt his talents.
One day they’ll stop overlookin’ my gift, that’s wallahi
Millies in my bank account, but still ain’t nothin’ jolly
These niggas back and forth tryna pop up like a ollie
You heard they killed who? Drugs talkin’, sound like molly
Can someone tell the vlogs, “Get off of my D”?
“Beat The Odds” arrived alongside a music video, in which we see footage of Lil Tjay’s recovery in the hospital.
You can read all the lyrics to “Beat The Odds” on Genius now.
