222 (album)

222
Studio album by Lil Tjay
Released	July 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)
Length	46:19
Label	Columbia
Producer	A Lau Andy Ayaz Andyr Ari PenSmith Bak Ben Heet Bizness Boi Bordeaux Boston Decster Desirez Beats Drü Oliver Emrld Beats Fasbeats Geo Vocals G. Ry Harry East Indyah IOF Itamar Gov-Ari Jackum Jahaan Sweet JPBeatz KBeaZy K Hendrix KXVI Lala the DJ LavishBeatz LMC Marco Bernardis MesioMusic Mike Wavvs Non Native OBMusic OG Parker P2J Pat McManus Rvssian Savant SephGotTheWaves Smash David Sool Got Hits TwixBeats Venna VVS Melody Way9
Lil Tjay chronology
Destined 2 Win (2021) 222 (2023)
Singles from 222
"June 22nd" Released: June 22, 2023 "Project Walls" Released: July 7, 2023

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
HipHopDX	3.4/5[1]
AllMusic	[2]

222 is the third studio album by American rapper Lil Tjay. It was released on July 14, 2023, through Columbia Records. This serves as the follow-up to his 2021 album Destined 2 Win. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Ari PenSmith, Jahaan Sweet, OG Parker, P2J, and Smash David among others. The album also features guest appearances from Coco Jones, Fivio Foreign, Jadakiss, the Kid Laroi, Polo G, Summer Walker, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again.[3][4][5]

222 was supported by two singles: "June 22nd" and "Project Walls" featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again.[6]

Background

Lil Tjay began to tease the project in early 2022, however, the release of the project was indefinitely pushed back due to Tjay being shot seven times on June 22, 2022.[7] On June 22, 2023, alongside the release of the first single, "June 22nd", Tjay officially announced the album and its release date of July 14, 2023.[8] Two weeks following the announcement, Tjay announce the album's official tracklist, building anticipation due to the list of features on the project.[9]

Singles

The album's lead single, "June 22nd" was released on June 22, 2023, to streaming services, along with its music video.[10] The album's second single "Project Walls" featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again was released on July 7, 2023, just a week prior to the release of the complete album.[11][9]

Track listing

222 track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Nightshift"	Tione Merritt Luis Bordeaux Ryan Martinez Brendan Walsh Samuel David Jimenez Ariowa Irosogie Richard Isong Malik Venna Jack Nichols-Marcy Marco Bernadis	Bordeaux G. Ry Non Native Smash David Ari PenSmith^[a] P2J^[a] Venna^[a] Jackum^[a] Marco Bernardis^[a]	3:08
2.	"June 22nd"	Merritt Adrian Lau Andrew Oliver Evan Ellicott Indyah McAlister Itamar Gov-Ari Liam McAlister	A Lau Drü Oliver Emrld Beats Indyah Itamar Gov-Ari LMC	3:10
3.	"Nobody"	Merritt Ben Heet Lau Oliver Daniela Voznesensky Douglas Gibbs Ralph Johnson	Ben Heet A Lau^[b] Drü Oliver^[b] Lala the DJ^[b]	3:04
4.	"Scared 2 Be Lonely"	Merritt Andre Robertson Fedor Sommerfeld Georgia Boyden Michael Washington Jr. Florian Thi Nguyen Van Daniel Way	Bizness Boi^[a] Fasbeats Geo Vocals Mike Wavvs^[a] VVS Melody Way9	3:02
5.	"Stressed" (featuring Summer Walker)	Merritt Summer Walker Chancelor Bennett Kehlani Parrish Jahaan Sweet Keegan Bach Kavi Lybarger Oliver Larsson Andrew Decena Ian Viitala	Jahaan Sweet KBeaZy KXVI LavishBeatz JPBeatz	2:24
6.	"2 Grown" (featuring the Kid Laroi)	Merritt Charlton Howard Nguyen Van Margaret Chapman Luke Niccoli Ashley Kutcher	VVS Melody	3:52
7.	"Heart Felt Soul"	Merritt Kevin Webb Daniel Melika Shaun Cooper	K Hendrix Savant TwixBeats	2:35
8.	"Bla Bla" (featuring Fivio Foreign)	Merritt Maxie Ryles III Lau Bordeaux Gov-Ari Walsh	A Lau Bordeaux Gov-Ari Non Native	2:26
9.	"Someone Who Cares"	Merritt Martinez MesioMusic Rasool Diaz	G. Ry MesioMusic^[b] Sool Got Hits^[b]	3:23
10.	"Forgot I Was the 1?"	Merritt Lau Robertson Bordeaux Andrew Oliver Demetri Fincher Cristian Tejada Walsh Oritseniraro Bemigho-Amorighoye	A Lau Bizness Boi Bordeaux Drü Oliver^[b] Harry East^[a] Non Native OBMusic	3:32
11.	"Hole in My Heart" (featuring Jadakiss)	Merritt Jason Phillips Andrej Marko Martinez Walsh Joseph Boyden	Andyr G. Ry^[c] Non Native^[c] SephGotTheWaves	3:12
12.	"Project Walls" (featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again)	Merritt Kentrell Gaulden Declan Roberts Tarik Johnston Way	Decster Rvssian Way9	2:32
13.	"Beat the Odds Pt 2" (featuring Polo G)	Merritt Taurus Bartlett Desirez Beats Kavi Lybarger Brooderick Blanc Bach	Desirez Beats KBeaZy KXVI	3:32
14.	"Foster Baby"	Merritt Lau Andrew Ayaz Alexander Bak Nikolaos Grivellas Martinez Michael McCall Joshua Isaih Parker Pat McManus	A Lau^[a] Andy Ayaz^[a] Bak^[a] Boston G. Ry IOF OG Parker Pat McManus	3:33
15.	"Grateful" (featuring Coco Jones)	Merritt Courtney Jones Lau Robertson Gov-Ari Washington Francis Leblanc	A Lau Bizness Boi^[c] Gov-Ari Mike Wavvs^[c]	2:48
Total length:				45:14

Notes

• ^.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^[a] signifies an uncredited co-producer.
• ^^[b] signifies a co-producer
• ^^[c] signifies an additional co-producer

Sample credits

• "Stressed" samples "The Way" by Kehlani featuring Chance the Rapper.[12]
• "Nobody" samples "Song Cry" by Jay-Z.

Personnel

Musicians

• Lil Tjay – vocals (tracks 1–15)
• Itamar Gov-Ari – piano (3), guitar (10)
• Misha Ellis – violin (3)
• Geo Vocals – additional vocals (4)
• Summer Walker – vocals (5)
• Kehlani – additional vocals (5)
• The Kid Laroi – vocals (6)
• Ashley Kutcher – additional vocals (6)
• Fivio Foreign – vocals (8)
• IAM3AM – additional vocals (10)
• Jadakiss – vocals (11)
• YoungBoy Never Broke Again – vocals (12)
• Polo G – vocals (13)
• Coco Jones – vocals (15)
• Sunday Service Choir – additional vocals (15)

Technical

• Eric Lagg – mastering (1)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering (2-15)
• Robert Soukiasyan – mixing (1-15)
• Barrington Hall – recording (1, 4-10, 12-14)
• Raymond Kelly – recording (2, 3, )
• Bordeaux – recording (8, 15)
• Drü Oliver – recording (10)
• Robert Soukiasyan – recording (11)
• Jason "Cheese" Goldberg – mastering, mixing, recording (12)

• Frankie Ruggs – recording (15)

Charts

Chart performance for 222

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13]	41
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14]	30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15]	47
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16]	107
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17]	15
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[18]	19
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19]	35
French Albums (SNEP)[20]	101
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21]	50
Irish Albums (IRMA)[22]	38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23]	16
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24]	35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25]	15
UK Albums (OCC)[26]	26
US Billboard 200[27]	24
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[28]	9

References

1. Berry, Peter (August 2, 2023). "LIL TJAY '222' PLAYS IT SAFE & SOMBER". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
2. Staff, Tivo. "222 - Lil Tjay Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
3. Alexandria, Lavender (July 14, 2023). "Lil Tjay Makes His Long-Awaited Return On 222". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
4. Ech, Joey (July 14, 2023). "Lil Tjay, King Von, DDG and More – New Hip-Hop Projects". XXL. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
5. "New Music Friday: Stream new projects from J Hus, Alaska Reid, Blake Mills, and more". The Fader. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
6. Deville, Chris (July 7, 2023). "Lil Tjay – "Project Walls" (Feat. NBA Youngboy)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
7. "Three Men Charged in Edgewater, NJ Shooting". Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
8. Powell, Jon (June 22, 2023). "Lil Tjay reflects on "June 22nd" in new video". Revolt. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
9. Bras Nevares, Gabriel (July 7, 2023). "Lil Tjay Unveils "222" Tracklist". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
10. Grant, Shawn (June 23, 2023). "Lil Tjay Delivers "June 22nd," Remembering the Day He Was Shot One Year Ago". The Source. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
11. Cole, Alexander (July 7, 2023). "Lil Tjay Drops Off "Project Walls" With NBA YoungBoy". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
12. 222 (liner notes). Columbia Records. 2023.
13. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
14. "Austriancharts.at – Lil Tjay – 222" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
15. "Ultratop.be – Lil Tjay – 222" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
16. "Ultratop.be – Lil Tjay – 222" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
17. "Lil Tjay Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
18. "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 29, 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
19. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lil Tjay – 222" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
20. "Top Albums (Week 29, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lil Tjay – 222" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
22. "Irish Albums Chart: 21 July 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
23. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
24. "Album 2023 uke 29". VG-lista. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Lil Tjay – 222". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
26. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
27. "Lil Tjay Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
28. "Lil Tjay Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2023.