Lil Tay (born July 29, 2007) is an American-Canadian rapper, singer, and internet personality. Born Claire Eileen Qi Hope and later known legally as Tay Tian, she first went viral at age ten in 2018 with her self-styled “youngest flexer of the century” persona.
Who is Lil Tay?
Tay Tian, known professionally as Lil Tay, is an American-Canadian internet personality and musician. She first gained worldwide attention in early 2018 at age ten, when videos of her rapping and boasting about wealth went viral on Instagram and YouTube.
She claimed to be “the youngest flexer of the century” and amassed millions of views across her social media accounts within just three months. Her content featured luxury cars, designer clothing, and aggressive on-camera behavior directed at her viewers.
After a five-year absence following a 2018 custody dispute, Lil Tay made a public comeback in late 2023. She released new music, addressed a widely-reported death hoax, and underwent open-heart surgery in September 2024 after a diagnosis of a heart tumor.
By 2025, she had returned to active music-making and social media engagement, also beginning a relationship with content creator Rakai, a member of the AMP collective.
Early Life of Lil Tay
Tay Tian was born on July 29, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father, Christopher J. Hope, works as a lawyer, while her mother, Angela Tian, worked as a real estate agent in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Her parents never married and maintained a shared custody arrangement. When Tay was still young, the family relocated from Atlanta to Vancouver, Canada, where she spent most of her childhood.
Tay’s older half-brother, Jason Tian, played a large role in the creation of her viral content. He coached her on what to say in her videos and managed her social media accounts during her 2018 rise to fame.
Their mother Angela facilitated the move to Los Angeles in 2018 after being contacted by a talent manager. During that period, Tay attended school inconsistently, and the situation later contributed to her father seeking custody.
Lil Tay Age
Lil Tay is 18 years old as of June 23, 2026, born on July 29, 2007. Her birthday falls in July, so it has not yet passed this year.
Her zodiac sign is Leo. As of 2026, Lil Tay remains active on social media and music platforms, continuing the comeback she began in late 2023.
Lil Tay Ethnicity and Nationality
Lil Tay holds dual American and Canadian nationality. Her father, Christopher J. Hope, is Canadian-born, while her mother, Angela Tian, was born in China.
She grew up in both Atlanta and Vancouver, giving her a background that spans American and Canadian culture. Her mother’s Chinese heritage contributed to her mixed cultural identity, reflected in her legal name change to Tay Tian in 2023.
Lil Tay Height and Weight
Lil Tay stands at approximately 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m) tall. Her weight is not publicly confirmed.
Her small frame was a central visual contrast to her outsized persona in her 2018 viral videos. Despite her age and stature, her confidence on camera contributed significantly to her rapid rise on Instagram and YouTube.
Lil Tay Musical Style and Influences
Lil Tay’s early music blended boastful rap lyrics with a flexing, wealth-focused aesthetic. Her style drew on trap and hip-hop influences from artists she encountered during her brief Los Angeles period in 2018.
She has mentioned rapper XXXTentacion as a significant influence, referring to him as a “father figure” in interviews. Her on-screen dynamic with XXXTentacion and Chief Keef brought her additional visibility within the rap community.
Her later music, including the 2024 single “Growing Up,” shifted toward a more personal and reflective tone, contrasting sharply with the loud, confrontational style that first made her famous.
Lil Tay Career
Lil Tay began posting content to Instagram in early 2018, starting with photos of herself posing in luxury vehicles and wearing designer clothing. Her content stood out because of both her age and the exaggerated bragging style she adopted.
Her mother Angela Tian’s job as a real estate agent provided access to upscale homes and vehicles, which Tay used in her videos, all without her employer’s permission. The situation ultimately cost Angela her job at Pacific Place Group.
Lil Tay earned early recognition from music industry insiders and rappers, including Chief Keef and XXXTentacion, within months of first posting.
Early Career
In April 2018, Lil Tay released her first official single, “Money Way.” The track received mixed responses but confirmed her musical ambitions beyond social media performance.
Around the same time, her videos gained additional momentum after she appeared with Jake Paul at his home and engaged in a public feud with rapper Bhad Bhabie. That feud and Paul’s association boosted her total YouTube views to the millions.
Her social media accounts fell silent in mid-2018, after her father applied to a Canadian court for full custody and control of her career. The resulting legal dispute silenced her public presence for five years.
Return and Breakthrough
Lil Tay’s most high-profile news cycle came in August 2023, when her dormant Instagram account posted a false announcement claiming both she and her brother Jason had died. The post triggered widespread media coverage before she confirmed her account had been hacked.
The death hoax revealed her legal name had changed to Tay Tian, and drew fresh attention to the unresolved tensions in her family situation. Her mother’s legal team announced that Angela Tian had been granted the ability to sign contracts on Tay’s behalf.
On September 30, 2023, Lil Tay released her single “Sucker 4 Green,” accompanied by a music video. She went live on Instagram that same day, addressing the death hoax directly and performing songs on piano and guitar.
Recent Work
In September 2024, Lil Tay announced via her social media accounts that she had been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart tumor. She underwent open-heart surgery on September 14, 2024, and posted an update confirming the procedure was successful.
Following her recovery, she released the single “Growing Up,” which reflected on her experiences and took a more reflective tone compared to her earlier work. By early 2025, she was actively posting content again and confirmed a relationship with AMP member Rakai in April 2025.
On August 5, 2025, she released another new single titled “Stuck in July,” continuing her musical output.
Lil Tay Discography
Singles
- “Money Way” (2018)
- “Sucker 4 Green” (2023)
- “Growing Up” (2024)
- “Stuck in July” (2025)
Lil Tay Boyfriend
Lil Tay began dating Rakai, a member of the popular content group AMP (Any Means Possible), in April 2025. Their relationship became public through social media posts and YouTube content shared by both of them.
Rakai is a streamer and content creator associated with a group that also includes Kai Cenat and other prominent online personalities. The relationship marked Lil Tay’s first publicly confirmed romance.
As of 2026, the relationship continues, with both sharing content and appearances together online.
Lil Tay Net Worth
Lil Tay’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes from music streaming, social media sponsorships, merchandise sold through her official store, and her comeback content since late 2023.
Her early viral fame generated income through YouTube advertising revenue and merchandise during her 2018 peak. Her return to public life in 2023 and 2024 brought fresh revenue streams as her social media accounts regained significant followings.
Her net worth saw meaningful growth between 2023 and 2025 as she rebuilt her audience and expanded her music catalog with new releases.
Lil Tay Social Media
Lil Tay is active on Instagram under the handle @liltay, where she shares music updates, personal moments, and content related to her comeback. Her account has millions of followers following its reactivation in 2023.
She also maintains a YouTube channel at @liltay, where she has posted music videos and personal content. Her Twitter/X handle is @LilTaybepoppin, which she has maintained alongside her other platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lil Tay’s net worth?
Lil Tay’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026, earned through music, merchandise, and social media content.
How old is Lil Tay?
Lil Tay is 18 years old as of June 23, 2026, born on July 29, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her birthday in July has not yet passed this year.
Who is Lil Tay married to or dating?
Lil Tay is not married. She began dating Rakai, a member of the AMP content group, in April 2025.
What is Lil Tay’s biggest hit song?
Lil Tay’s most recognized single is “Sucker 4 Green” (2023), which she released following her widely-reported death hoax and marked her official music comeback.
Where was Lil Tay born?
Lil Tay was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on July 29, 2007.
What is Lil Tay famous for?
Lil Tay is famous for going viral at age ten in 2018 with videos showing her boasting about wealth and rapping, for the widely-covered 2023 death hoax involving her Instagram account, and for her subsequent music comeback.
The Bottom Line
Lil Tay first went viral in early 2018 at age ten, amassing millions of YouTube and Instagram views before a custody dispute silenced her social media presence for five years.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Vancouver, she returned in 2023 after a death hoax brought renewed global attention to her story, and released the single “Sucker 4 Green” just weeks later. Her 2024 open-heart surgery, followed by the release of “Growing Up,” marked another chapter in her public life.
In 2025 and into 2026, Tay Tian continues to release new music and engage with her audience online. We hope you enjoyed reading about Lil Tay Rapper. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!