222

Lil Tjay set a high bar for himself with 2021’s *Destined 2 Win*. Coming a couple years after his standout features on Polo G’s and Pop Smoke’s albums, the Bronx rapper’s sophomore album showcased an artist creatively growing beyond his beginnings with notable cuts like the smash hit “Calling My Phone.” For his third album, he maintains that same authentic yet commercially savvy approach. *222*’s impeccably sleek production style gets augmented by the unflinching honesty of “Heart Felt Soul” and the balladic “Scared 2 Be Lonely.” A balancing act stays constant throughout, weighing the sincere rawness of “June 22nd” and “Nightshift” against the pop tendencies of “2 Grown,” the latter with The Kid LAROI in tow. He dips back into the drill of his *State of Emergency* period for “Bla Bla” with Fivio Foreign while moving into an R&B space for “Stressed” opposite Summer Walker. On the latter half, he teams with New York rap legend Jadakiss for the personal “Hole in My Heart” and collabs with the unstoppable YoungBoy Never Broke Again over the warbling boom of “Project Walls.”

222 is the third album from New York rapper Lil Tjay and continues the melodic R&B/drill hybrid of his previous efforts.