222 Tracklist
222 is New York native Lil Tjay’s third full-length studio album following his April 2021, top five charting, Destined 2 Win. Throughout the project, Tjay is expected to express his feelings regarding his June 2022 shooting.
The album began to be teased in early-2022 following the release of his April 2022, “In My Head.” The single was soon expected to be followed up by Strictly4MyFans, an EP from Tjay, however, its rollout was interrupted after Lil Tjay was shot seven times in June 2022.
On June 22, 2023, Tjay released the album’s first single, “June 22nd,” in which he went in-depth about the night he was shot. On the same day, Tjay announced the album’s official release date:
A year ago today, I almost lost my life but God got other plans 🙏🏾 “June 22nd” out now and new album ‘222’ July 14th! I appreciate y’all for all the support this past year 🫶🏾
The album’s title “222” is a reference to the angel number which refers to focusing on both ones romantic and family relationships. The numbers have a deeper meaning as Tjay was shot, and subsequently almost lost his life, on June 22, 2022, when he was air lifted to the airport at exactly 2:22 AM, therefore, with the title, Tjay suggests that since God has allowed him to live, he wishes to focus on his relationships which would have been severed if he died. Alternatively, marking this as a trilogy to his debut True 2 Myself and sophomore Destined 2 Win, this marks the third album in his “2” series, consequently making it 222.
“222” Q&A
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What have the artists said about the album?
The reason why I named the album 222, is my first album is True 2 Myself, the second one is Destined 2 Win, they both got “2"s in it, and this is my third so. Also, I got airlifted into the sky, like a helicopter pulled me up in the air and I seen the footage in there like from there they like: “Yo, we takin' off”, and the time was like 2:22, so I thought like that was another reason, and it’s an angel number for me so.
Basically, the project is just like the vibe or the aesthetic of the project is just me overcoming like the streets relating to people that’s in the streets right now, and just speaking my story. I got a little deeper than I normally do, I talk about family issues, June 22, I talk about expressing a little bit about how the day went, in a certain real halfway type of way, I just get real deep, you gotta hear it to understand, and I personally feel like every song is gold, and I feel like this is my best album.
— Lil Tjay, via MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME
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How has the creation of this album been different compared to past projects?
I feel like this album right here is more central to my career. The first album was still in the beginning of the hype and I feel like this album is just going to show what type of artist I am going to be like. I got the chance to go into this big huge superstar career or I’m going to be around? You know what I’m saying. The last album was, I felt like it was kid time. It was like, yeah, I blew up. So whatever. It wasn’t that serious.
— Lil Tjay, via Complex
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Official Album Trailer
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How did this album perform on the charts?
222 debuted and peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 for the chart week ending July 29, 2023. The album sold 22,000 equivalent units in its first sales week.
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Is there official animated cover?
Yes, Apple Music features an animated cover for this release.
