Lil Tecca
Biography
Tyler-Justin Anthony Sharpe, known professionally as Lil Tecca, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter born on August 26, 2002, in Queens, New York. Raised in a Jamaican household, he initially aspired to be a basketball player but shifted his focus to music in his early teens. His interest in rapping began at the age of nine, creating diss tracks against friends while playing video games on his Xbox.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Lil Tecca began uploading his music to SoundCloud, which helped him gain initial traction. His career surged in 2019 with the release of his hit single "Ransom". The song, produced by Nick Mira and Taz Taylor, became a massive success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and accumulating hundreds of millions of streams. The music video, released on the Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel, further amplified its reach. This single is widely considered his signature song.
Musical Style
Lil Tecca's music is characterized by its melodic, Auto-Tune-heavy flow and catchy hooks. His style is often described as melodic rap and trap. He has cited artists like Chief Keef as a primary influence. His Jamaican heritage also subtly influences his unique sound.
Discography
Following the success of "Ransom," Lil Tecca released his debut mixtape, "We Love You Tecca," in August 2019. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200. He has since released several studio albums:
Studio Albums
- Virgo World (2020): His debut studio album which peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200.
- We Love You Tecca 2 (2021): This follow-up also secured a top-ten position on the charts.
- Tec (2023): His third studio album which continued to perform well, debuting at number eleven on the Billboard 200.
- Plan A (2024): His fourth studio effort.
- Dopamine (2025): His fifth studio album, released in June 2025.
Notable Singles
Besides "Ransom," other successful singles include "Love Me," "Did It Again," "Never Left," and "500lbs," with the latter two achieving platinum certification. He has also collaborated with artists like Juice WRLD for a "Ransom" remix, The Kid Laroi on "Diva," and Internet Money.