Farewell

In the five years since his Polo G team-up “Pop Out” broke big, Bronx-born melodic rapper Lil Tjay has experienced no shortage of success. Whether linking with drill and trap stars or going it alone, he represents New York proudly, and the charts respond in kind. On *Farewell*, an eight-track effort capping off a prodigious year of singles, he reunites with erstwhile collaborators, commemorates new studio alliances, and otherwise enjoys the glow of the spotlight. The initial four cuts showcase his solo swag, the first two—“Let it go baby” and “Told Ya”—assuredly familiar to fans. “Good Life” righteously celebrates his status in the game, while “Long way from the block” adjusts his gaze backward to reflect on fallen friends and paths not taken. As for the collabs, he’s an optimal foil for G Herbo and NLE Choppa on the tough yet reflective “Built like a soldier” and “Why,” respectively. Of course, the Polo G reunion “Back to the wall” proves immediately resonant, its piano-led beat soundtracking the pair’s life lessons and deep thoughts.

In sheer numerical terms Lil Tjay has come to define an entire corner of American rap music. The most-streamed rapper on Spotify this century, his melodic